Shloka 12
अध्याय ३४ — एलापत्रस्योपदेशः
Elāpatra’s Counsel on the Nāgas’ Deliverance
सौतिर्वाच इत्युक्त: प्रत्युवाचेदं कद्रपुत्राननुस्मरन् । स्मृत्वा चैवोपधिकृतं मातुर्दास्यनिमित्तत:,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--इन्द्रके ऐसा कहनेपर गरुडको कद्रुपुत्रोंकी दुष्टताका स्मरण हो आया। साथ ही उनके उस कपटपूर्ण बर्तावकी भी याद आ गयी, जो माताको दासी बनानेमें कारण था। अतः उन्होंने इन्द्रसे कहा--“इन्द्र! यद्यपि मैं सब कुछ करनेमें समर्थ हूँ, तो भी तुम्हारी इस याचनाको पूर्ण करूँगा कि अमृत दूसरोंको न दिया जाय। साथ ही तुम्हारे कथनानुसार यह वर भी माँगता हूँ कि महाबली सर्प मेरे भोजनकी सामग्री हो जाये!
Sautir uvāca: ity uktaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ kadrāputrān anusmaran | smṛtvā caivopadhikṛtaṃ mātur dāsyanimittataḥ ||
Sauti disse: Assim interpelado, Garuḍa respondeu, lembrando-se dos filhos de Kadrū. Recordou também o ardil enganoso que fora a causa da escravidão de sua mãe. Com essa mágoa no peito, respondeu a Indra: embora fosse capaz de realizar todas as coisas, atenderia ao pedido de Indra para que o néctar não fosse dado a outros; e pediu ainda um dom: que as poderosas serpentes se tornassem seu alimento.
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical action amid grievance: Garuḍa’s memory of injustice (his mother’s enslavement through deceit) motivates his stance, yet he still honors a commitment to Indra. It highlights how power should be guided by restraint and purpose, and how boons and alliances are negotiated within a moral landscape shaped by past wrongs.
After Indra speaks, Garuḍa replies while recalling the Nāgas’ treachery that led to his mother’s bondage. He agrees to Indra’s request that amṛta not be distributed to others, and he asks in return that the serpents become his food—setting up Garuḍa’s enduring enmity toward the Nāgas.