Shloka 48

Garuḍa–Śakra Saṃvāda and the Retrieval of Amṛta (गरुड–शक्र संवादः अमृत-अपहरण-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

शिततीक्ष्णाग्रधाराणि समुद्यम्य सुरोत्तमा: | सविस्फुलिड्गजज्वालानि सधूमानि च सर्वश:

Transliteration

śitatīkṣṇāgradhārāṇi samudyamya surottamāḥ | savisphuliṅgajajvālāni sadhūmāni ca sarvaśaḥ

Translation

カーシャパは言った。「神々のうち最も優れた者たちは、刃先が剃刀のごとく鋭い武器を高く掲げ、四方へと振るった—炎の舌が燃え立ち、火花が散り、煙がまとわりついていた。」

Word by Word

• शिततीक्ष्णाग्रधाराणि: sharp, keen-edged blades (lit. streams/edges with sharp-pointed tips)
• शिततीक्ष्णाग्रधाराणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शित-तीक्ष्ण-अग्र-धारा
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• समुद्यम्य: having lifted/raised
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-यम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• सुरोत्तमाः: the best of the gods
• सुरोत्तमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर-उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सविस्फुलिङ्गजज्वालानि: having flames born of sparks (spark-producing flames)
• सविस्फुलिङ्गजज्वालानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-विस्फुलिङ्ग-जा-ज्वाला
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• सधूमानि: smoke-filled / with smoke
• सधूमानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-धूम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वशः: on all sides / entirely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः

Speaker

कश्यप उवाच

Characters & Entities

• कश्यप (Kāśyapa)
• सुरोत्तमाः (foremost gods/devas)
• weapons (sharp-edged, blazing, smoky)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the terrifying momentum of divine wrath: even exalted beings can be drawn into violent escalation. Implicitly, it highlights the ethical tension in dharma—power must be governed by restraint, or it becomes destructive despite noble status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kāśyapa describes the devas preparing for confrontation: they lift and brandish extremely sharp weapons that blaze with fire, throw off sparks, and emit smoke, indicating imminent battle and heightened intensity on all sides.