Shloka 8
अध्याय ३४ — एलापत्रस्योपदेशः
Elāpatra’s Counsel on the Nāgas’ Deliverance
न कार्य यदि सोमेन मम सोम: प्रदीयताम् । अस्मांस्ते हि प्रबाधेयुरय्येभ्यो दद्याद् भवानिमम्,“यदि तुम्हें स्वयं अमृतकी आवश्यकता नहीं है तो वह मुझे वापस दे दो। तुम जिनको यह अमृत देना चाहते हो, वे इसे पीकर हमें कष्ट पहुँचावेंगे”
na kārya yadi somena mama somaḥ pradīyatām | asmāṁs te hi prabādheyur ayye bhyo dadyād bhavān imam ||
Garuḍa dijo: «Si no necesitas tú mismo el Soma (el néctar), devuélveme mi Soma. Pues aquellos a quienes piensas dárselo, tras beberlo, sin duda nos hostigarán y oprimirán. Por tanto, no se lo concedas».
गरुड उवाच
Educational Q&A
Powerful boons like Soma/amṛta should not be granted without considering consequences; ethical judgment includes foreseeing harm to innocents and preventing empowerment of those who would misuse it.
Garuḍa argues that if the other party does not personally need the nectar, it should be returned to him, because giving it to the intended recipients would make them stronger and lead them to oppress Garuḍa’s side.