Shloka 32
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 104: Nārada on Suhṛt and Nirbandha; the Viśvāmitra–Gālava Exemplum Begins
राजेन्द्र! तत्पश्चात् भगवानने अपने पैरके अँगूठेसे सुमुख नागको उठाकर गरुड़के वक्ष:स्थलपर रख दिया। तभीसे गरुड़ उस सर्पको सदा साथ लिये रहते हैं ।।
rājendra! tatpaścāt bhagavān anena pādāṅguṣṭhena sumukha-nāgaṃ utthāpya garuḍasya vakṣaḥsthale nyadhāt | tata eva garuḍaḥ taṃ sarpaṃ sadā saha bibharti || evaṃ viṣṇu-balākrānto garva-nāśam upāgataḥ | garuḍo balavān rājan vainateyo mahāyaśāḥ ||
¡Oh señor de los reyes! Después, el Bienaventurado Señor, con el dedo del pie, alzó a la serpiente Sumukha y la colocó sobre el pecho de Garuḍa. Desde entonces, Garuḍa lleva siempre consigo a esa serpiente. Así, abatido por el poder de Viṣṇu, el fuerte y muy renombrado Garuḍa—hijo de Vinatā—vio quebrado su orgullo y abandonó su arrogancia.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even extraordinary power must be governed by humility: Garuḍa’s strength and fame are shown to be subordinate to Viṣṇu’s supreme authority, and pride (garva) is portrayed as something that must be relinquished for true greatness.
Viṣṇu lifts the serpent Sumukha with His toe and places him on Garuḍa’s chest; thereafter Garuḍa carries Sumukha always. This act simultaneously establishes a lasting association (Garuḍa bearing the serpent) and symbolically breaks Garuḍa’s arrogance through the overpowering force of Viṣṇu.