Shloka 136
Garuḍa’s Assault on the Devas and the Fire-Barrier (अमृत-रक्षा-युद्धम्)
प्रीता परमदु:खार्ता नागैर्विप्रकृता सती । पुत्रके प्रति स्नेह होनेके कारण विनताने पुनः इस प्रकार कहा--वह पुत्रके अनुपम बलको जानती थी तो भी नागोंद्वारा ठगी जानेके कारण बड़े भारी दुःखसे आतुर हो गयी थी। अत: अपने पुत्रको प्रेमपूर्वक आशीर्वाद देने लगी
prītā paramaduḥkhārtā nāgair viprakṛtā satī | putrake prati sneha honeke kāraṇa vinatāne punaḥ isa prakāra kahā—vaha putrake anupama balako jānatī thī to bhī nāgoṃdvārā ṭhagī jāneke kāraṇa baṛe bhārī duḥkhase ātura ho gayī thī | ataḥ apane putrako prem-pūrvaka āśīrvāda dene lagī |
Vinatā—though devoted and aware of her son’s incomparable strength—was overwhelmed by extreme sorrow because the Nāgas had deceived and mistreated her. Moved by motherly affection, she spoke again in this manner and began to bless her son with love. The passage highlights how even knowledge of power does not erase the pain of injustice, and how a mother’s dharmic response in suffering is to guide and bless rather than to collapse into despair.
गरुड उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethical contrast: wrongdoing and deception cause deep suffering, yet a virtuous person (here, Vinatā) responds through dharmic affection—offering guidance and blessings—rather than being consumed by bitterness. It also suggests that knowing one has power (through a strong protector) does not automatically remove the moral and emotional weight of injustice.
In the Garuḍa–Vinatā–Nāga storyline of Ādi Parva, Vinatā has been wronged and kept in distress by the Nāgas. Although she knows her son Garuḍa’s extraordinary strength, she is still overwhelmed by grief at the Nāgas’ deceit. She speaks again and begins to bless Garuḍa lovingly.