Shloka 3

Garuḍa’s Inquiry on Permissible Prey and Vinatā’s Counsel (ब्राह्मणावध्यता–उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

सौतिरुवाच तत: कामगम: पक्षी कामवीर्यों विहंगम: । अरुणं चात्मन: पृष्ठमारोप्य स पितुर्गहात्‌

Transliteration

sautir uvāca tataḥ kāmagamaḥ pakṣī kāmavīryo vihaṅgamaḥ | aruṇaṃ cātmanaḥ pṛṣṭham āropya sa pitur gṛhāt ||

Translation

Sauti dit : Alors cet oiseau, rapide comme le désir lui-même et pourvu d’une puissance qui exauce les vœux, souleva Aruṇa sur son propre dos et quitta la demeure de son père. L’épisode souligne l’action délibérée et le devoir filial : la force et la vitesse ne servent pas à se donner en spectacle, mais à accomplir l’obligation due aux siens.

Word by Word

सूतिःSūti (a female name)

उवाचsaid

ततःthen; thereafter

कामगमःKāmaga(ma), the one who goes as he wishes (a bird's name)

पक्षीbird

कामवीर्यःKāmavīrya, the one whose strength is as desired (a bird's name)

विहंगमःbird; one that moves in the sky

अरुणम्Aruṇa

चand

आत्मनःof himself

पृष्ठम्back

आरोप्यhaving mounted/placed (upon)

सःhe

पितुःof (his) father

गृहात्from the house

Speaker

युपर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sauti (Ugraśravas)

Aruṇa

the bird (vihaṅgamaḥ/pakṣī)

father’s house (pituḥ gṛha)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Extraordinary power (kāmavīrya) is portrayed as meaningful when harnessed for duty and care—here, the act of carrying Aruṇa from the father’s house highlights purposeful service and responsibility toward one’s own.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator (Sauti) describes a wondrous bird, able to move at will, placing Aruṇa on its back and departing from the father’s home—marking the start of a decisive movement/journey in the episode.