Shloka 5
धन-निरुक्ति तथा गालवस्य गुरुदक्षिणा-प्रसङ्गः
Etymology of Wealth and the Gurudakṣiṇā Predicament of Gālava
मांसपिण्डोपमो5भूत् स मुखपादान्वित: खग: । गालवस्तं तथा दृष्टवा विमना: पर्यपृच्छत
māṃsapiṇḍopamo 'bhūt sa mukhapādānvitāḥ khagaḥ | gālavastaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā vimanāḥ paryapṛcchat ||
चोच व पाय असूनही पंख नसल्याने तो आकाशचारी गरुड मांसाच्या गोळ्यासारखा झाला. त्याला त्या अवस्थेत पाहून गालव खिन्न झाला आणि विचारू लागला.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights compassionate attention and moral sensitivity: seeing a being reduced from its natural strength to helplessness, one should not be indifferent but inquire and seek understanding—an ethical impulse that precedes right action (dharma).
Nārada narrates that a bird (a sky-roamer) has become wingless and helpless, like a lump of flesh despite still having beak and feet. Gālava, saddened by this sight, questions him to learn the cause and meaning of the misfortune.