Shloka 25

Adhyaya 2 — The Lineage of Garuda and the Birth of the Wise Birds: Kanka and Kandhara

Sanskrit

पतगेन्द्रश्च तं खड्गं किञ्चिदुत्प्लुत्य भूतलात् ।

वक्त्रेण जग्राह तदा गरुडः पन्नगं यथा ॥

Transliteration

patagendraś ca taṃ khaḍgaṃ kiñcid utplutya bhūtalāt /

vaktreṇa jagrāha tadā garuḍaḥ pannagaṃ yathā

Translation

അപ്പോൾ പക്ഷിരാജനായ ഗരുഡൻ നിലത്തിൽ നിന്ന് അല്പം ചാടിയുയർന്ന്, ആ വാൾ തന്റെ കൊക്കുകൊണ്ട് പിടിച്ചു—പാമ്പിനെ പിടിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ।

Word by Word

पतगेन्द्रःthe lord of birds (Garuḍa)

चand

तम्that (it/him)

खड्गम्sword

किञ्चित्slightly/a little

उत्प्लुत्यhaving leapt up

भूतलात्from the ground

वक्त्रेणwith (his) beak/mouth

जग्राहseized

तदाthen

गरुडःGaruḍa

पन्नगम्a serpent

यथाas/like

Speakers

Narratorial verse (frame-speaker not determinable from the single verse alone)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

Garuḍa

Key Themes

Heroic actionProtective powerPredator-prey simile (Garuḍa and serpent)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse highlights decisive, skillful action: a powerful protector neutralizes danger swiftly and appropriately. The Garuḍa–serpent simile conveys mastery over threats and the readiness to remove harmful instruments from circulation.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse functions as itihāsa/ākhyāna-style narration within the Purāṇic flow rather than a direct pancalakṣaṇa unit. It aligns most closely with secondary narrative (vaṃśānucarita/ākhyāna context) rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa as a standalone datum.

What is the esoteric significance?

Garuḍa symbolically represents a higher, liberating force that overcomes ‘serpentine’ constriction (fear, poison, bondage). Seizing the sword with the beak suggests mastery over violent instruments—power subordinated to discernment—so that destructive agency is disarmed rather than allowed to escalate.