Shloka 16
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama
भक्षितो वैनतेयेन दुःखातास्तेन वै वयम् । पुनरेव च तेनोक्तं वैनतेयेन गच्छता । मासेनान्येन सुमुखं भक्षयिष्य इति प्रभो
bhakṣito vainateyena duḥkhātās tena vai vayam | punar eva ca tenoktaṃ vainateyena gacchatā | māsenānyena sumukhaṃ bhakṣayiṣya iti prabho ||
アーリヤカは言った。「我が子—この童の父—は、ヴァイナテーヤ（ガルダ）に食われました。ゆえに我らは悲嘆に沈んでおります。さらにガルダがここを去るとき、またこう言いました。『もう一月ののち、主よ、スムカも食らう』と。それは必ず成就しましょう。われらはガルダの決意の堅固さを知っておりますゆえ。ガルダのその宣言によって、わたしの喜びも安らぎも失われ、恐れの因に心を弱らせながら、なお不安のうちにおります。」
आर्यक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the certainty of a powerful being’s resolve can create sustained anxiety and moral urgency: elders feel responsible to protect the vulnerable, and grief can become a continuing ethical pressure to seek a remedy rather than remain passive.
Āryaka laments that Garuḍa has already eaten his son (the father of the boy Sumukha) and, while leaving, declared he would return in a month to devour Sumukha as well. Knowing Garuḍa’s determination, Āryaka is overwhelmed with fear and sorrow.