Shloka 24
Ananta-Śeṣa Tapas and the Bearing of the Earth (अनन्त-शेष-तपस् तथा महीधारणम्)
ततो नवत्या नवतीर्मुखानां कृत्वा महात्मा गरुडस्तरस्वी । नदी: समापीय मुखैस्ततस्तै: सुशीघ्रमागम्य पुनर्जवेन,तब वेगशाली महात्मा गरुडने अपने शरीरमें आठ हजार एक सौ मुख प्रकट करके उनके द्वारा नदियोंका जल पी लिया और पुनः बड़े वेगसे शीघ्रतापूर्वक वहाँ आकर उस जलती हुई आगपर वह सब जल उड़ेल दिया। इस प्रकार शत्रुओंको ताप देनेवाले पक्षवाहन गरुडने नदियोंके जलसे उस आगको बुझाकर अमृतके पास पहुँचनेकी इच्छासे एक दूसरा बहुत छोटा रूप धारण कर लिया
tato navatyā navatīr mukhānāṁ kṛtvā mahātmā garuḍas tarasvī | nadīḥ samāpīya mukhais tatas taiḥ suśīghram āgamya punaḥ javena ||
Então Garuḍa, o grande de alma, poderoso e veloz, manifestou noventa vezes noventa bocas. Com elas bebeu as águas dos rios e, retornando com grande rapidez, derramou-as sobre o fogo em chamas. Assim Garuḍa—atormentador de inimigos—apagou as labaredas com água fluvial; e, desejoso de alcançar o néctar, assumiu outra forma, muito menor.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary power is portrayed as meaningful when directed toward a purposeful vow: Garuḍa uses his might and speed not for display but to remove an obstacle and continue his mission toward amṛta, emphasizing determined effort and strategic action in pursuit of a chosen duty.
Śaunaka describes Garuḍa manifesting 8100 mouths, drinking up river-water, rushing back, and dousing a blazing fire that blocks the way to the nectar; after extinguishing it, Garuḍa assumes a smaller form to proceed toward amṛta.