Shloka 16
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama
भक्षितो वैनतेयेन दुःखातास्तेन वै वयम् । पुनरेव च तेनोक्तं वैनतेयेन गच्छता । मासेनान्येन सुमुखं भक्षयिष्य इति प्रभो
bhakṣito vainateyena duḥkhātās tena vai vayam | punar eva ca tenoktaṃ vainateyena gacchatā | māsenānyena sumukhaṃ bhakṣayiṣya iti prabho ||
Āryaka disse: “Meu filho—o pai deste menino—foi devorado por Vainateya (Garuḍa). Por isso somos afligidos pela dor. E, ao partir daqui, Garuḍa disse de novo: ‘Dentro de mais um mês, ó senhor, também comerei Sumukha.’ Isso certamente se cumprirá, pois conhecemos a firmeza do propósito de Garuḍa. Por essa declaração de Garuḍa, minha alegria e meu sossego foram destruídos, e permaneço ansioso, enfraquecido pela causa deste temor.”
आर्यक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the certainty of a powerful being’s resolve can create sustained anxiety and moral urgency: elders feel responsible to protect the vulnerable, and grief can become a continuing ethical pressure to seek a remedy rather than remain passive.
Āryaka laments that Garuḍa has already eaten his son (the father of the boy Sumukha) and, while leaving, declared he would return in a month to devour Sumukha as well. Knowing Garuḍa’s determination, Āryaka is overwhelmed with fear and sorrow.