Shloka 28
Garuḍa’s Breach of the Amṛta-Guard and Boons with Viṣṇu; Encounter with Indra (Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 29)
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत आदिपव॑के अन्तर्गत आस्तीकपर्वमें गरुडचरित्रविषयक अट्ठाईसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,यं दृष्टवा वेष्टितकर: पतत्येष गजो जलम् | दन्तहस्ताग्रलाडूलपादवेगेन वीर्यवान् उसे देखते ही यह पराक्रमी हाथी अपनी सूँड़ लपेटे हुए जलमें टूट पड़ता है तथा दाँत, सूँड़, पूँछ और पैरोंके वेगसे असंख्य मछलियोंसे भरे हुए समूचे सरोवरमें हलचल मचा देता है। उस समय पराक्रमी कच्छप भी सिर उठाकर युद्धके लिये निकट आ जाता है
yaṃ dṛṣṭvā veṣṭita-karaḥ pataty eṣa gajo jalam | danta-hastāgra-lāṅgūla-pāda-vegena vīryavān ||
Seeing him, the mighty elephant—coiling up his trunk—plunges into the water. With the force of his tusks, the tip of his trunk, his tail, and his feet, he churns the entire lake, crowded with countless fish, into violent turmoil. At that moment, the powerful tortoise too raises his head and draws near, ready for battle.
गरुड उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how raw power and impulsive reaction can agitate an entire environment—one forceful act creates widespread disturbance. Ethically, it suggests vigilance about the ripple effects of one’s actions, especially when driven by aggression or rivalry.
An elephant, upon seeing the opponent, plunges into the lake and violently churns the waters with tusks, trunk, tail, and feet, disturbing the fish-filled lake. The tortoise then lifts its head and approaches, prepared to fight.