Shloka 22

Ananta-Śeṣa Tapas and the Bearing of the Earth (अनन्त-शेष-तपस् तथा महीधारणम्)

Devanagari script

तान्‌ कृत्वा पतगश्रेष्ठ: सर्वनित्क्रान्तजीवितान्‌ | अतिक्रान्तो$मृतस्यार्थे सर्वतो5$ग्निमपश्यत,पक्षिराज उन सबके प्राण लेकर जब अमृत उठानेके लिये आगे बढ़े, तब उसके चारों ओर उन्होंने आग जलती देखी

Transliteration

śaunaka uvāca | tān kṛtvā patagaśreṣṭhaḥ sarvanitkrāntajīvitān | atikrānto 'mṛtasyārthe sarvato 'gnim apaśyata |

Translation

Śaunaka said: Having rendered them all lifeless, the foremost of birds advanced with the aim of obtaining amṛta. As he moved forward, he saw fire blazing all around him—an ominous barrier set to test and restrain even the mighty when desire presses beyond rightful bounds.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कृत्वा: having made / having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• पतगश्रेष्ठः: the best of birds
• पतगश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतग-श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वनिष्क्रान्तजीवितान्: whose lives had all departed / completely lifeless
• सर्वनिष्क्रान्तजीवितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-निष्क्रान्त-जीवित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अतिक्रान्तः: having gone beyond / having advanced
• अतिक्रान्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अमृतस्य: of nectar (amrita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अर्थे: for the sake/purpose
• अर्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपश्यत्: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Garuḍa (patagaśreṣṭha/pakṣirāja)
• Amṛta (nectar of immortality)
• Fire (Agni as a barrier)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even extraordinary strength and resolve meet moral and cosmic limits: the pursuit of a coveted goal (amṛta) is framed by tests and safeguards (encircling fire), implying that desire must confront restraint, consequence, and rightful order.

What is happening in the narrative?

After killing certain beings and leaving them lifeless, Garuḍa proceeds to seize amṛta; as he advances, he perceives fire burning on all sides, indicating a protective obstacle around the nectar.