Shloka 10
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama
पितृहीनमपि होनं गुणतो वरयामहे । बहुमानाच्च भवतस्तथैवैरावतस्य च
pitṛhīnam api hīnaṃ guṇato varayāmahe | bahumānāc ca bhavatas tathaivairāvatasya ca
Nārada berkata: “Walaupun seseorang tidak mempunyai susur galur bapa dan tampak ‘rendah’ pada pandangan masyarakat, dia tetap boleh dipilih semata-mata kerana kebajikan dan keutamaannya. Dan hal ini juga demikian kerana penghormatan—baik kepada tuan, mahupun kepada Airāvata.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prioritizes guṇa (personal virtue and merit) over inherited status or lineage, asserting that ethical worth can justify choosing someone even if they lack conventional social credentials, while also emphasizing that choices should be made with due respect to all concerned.
Nārada is explaining a decision of preference/selection: despite someone being ‘pitṛhīna’ and considered ‘hīna’ by social measures, they are chosen because of their qualities, and the choice is framed as being made with respectful consideration toward the addressed person and toward Airāvata.