Shloka 15
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama
महर्षे! मेरी दृष्टिमें आपके इस वचनका कम आदर नहीं है और ये मातलि तो इन्द्रके साथ रहनेवाले उनके सखा हैं; अत: ये किसको प्रिय नहीं लगेंगे? ।।
Mahārṣe! merī dṛṣṭi meṃ āpake isa vacana kā kama ādara nahīṃ hai, aura ye Mātali to Indra ke sātha rahane-vāle unake sakhā haiṃ; ataḥ ye kisako priya nahīṃ lageṃge? || kāraṇasya tu daurbalyāc cintayāmi mahāmune | asya deha-karaḥ tāta mama putro mahādyute |
Disse Āryaka: “Ó grande vidente, não tenho em menor conta as tuas palavras. E este Mātali é companheiro de Indra, vivendo junto dele—quem não o teria por querido? Contudo, venerável sábio, inquieta-me que a própria causa seja fraca e incerta. Ó ilustre, o pai deste menino—meu próprio filho—foi feito alimento de Garuḍa. Somos atormentados por essa dor. E quando Garuḍa partiu daqui, disse ainda: ‘No segundo mês, também comerei Sumukha.’ Assim será, sem dúvida, pois conhecemos a firmeza do propósito de Garuḍa. Por essa fala de Garuḍa, minha alegria e meu riso foram destruídos.”
आर्यक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when divine help and respected counsel are present, a person may still be bound by grief and fear if the practical means (kāraṇa) seem weak. The passage highlights the ethical tension between honoring wise guidance and confronting harsh realities—showing how sorrow can eclipse joy and cloud confidence.
Āryaka acknowledges the sage’s words and praises Mātali as Indra’s close companion, hence worthy of affection. However, he confesses deep anxiety: Garuḍa has already devoured Āryaka’s son (the boy’s father) and has declared he will return in the next month to eat Sumukha as well. Knowing Garuḍa’s firm resolve, Āryaka’s happiness is shattered.