Shloka 3
Garuḍa–Śakra Saṃvāda and the Retrieval of Amṛta (गरुड–शक्र संवादः अमृत-अपहरण-प्रसङ्गः)
ऋष यो ह्वात्र लम्बन्ते न हन््यामिति तानूषीन् । तपोरतान् लम्बमानान ब्रह्मर्षीनभिवीक्ष्य सः
ṛṣayo hvātra lambante na hanyāmīti tān ūṣīn | taporatān lambamānān brahmarṣīn abhivīkṣya saḥ |
Melihat para Brahmarṣi yang tekun bertapa itu tergantung terbalik pada cabang tersebut, Garuḍa berpikir: “Para resi sedang bergantung di sini; jangan sampai aku menjadi sebab kematian mereka. Cabang yang jatuh ini pasti akan membinasakan para ṛṣi.” Maka sang raja burung yang gagah itu mencengkeram gajah dan kura-kura dengan kukunya, lalu—karena takut para maharsi itu celaka—ia menyambar dan menahan cabang itu dengan paruhnya. Semata-mata demi melindungi para muni itulah Garuḍa memperlihatkan keperkasaan yang luar biasa.
रौहिण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when pursuing great strength or a difficult task, one must remain vigilant about unintended harm—especially toward the innocent and the spiritually devoted. Garuḍa’s power is guided by dharma: restraint, compassion, and protection of sages.
Garuḍa notices ascetic Brahmarṣis hanging from a tree-branch and fears that the branch may fall and kill them, possibly making him the cause. He therefore secures his prey (elephant and tortoise) while also taking the branch in his beak to prevent the sages’ destruction, performing an extraordinary feat to protect them.