Shloka 4

Devanagari script

मुहूर्तात्‌ प्रतिबुद्धस्तु सुपर्णो गमनेप्सया । अथ भ्रष्टतनूजाज्रमात्मानं ददृशे खग:,दो ही घड़ीके बाद मनमें वहाँसे जानेकी इच्छा लेकर गरुड़ जाग उठे। उठनेपर उन्होंने अपने शरीरको दोनों पंखोंसे रहित देखा

Transliteration

muhūrtāt pratibuddhas tu suparṇo gamanepsayā | atha bhraṣṭa-tanūjājam ātmānaṃ dadṛśe khagaḥ ||

Translation

சிறிது நேரத்திற்குப் பின் புறப்பட வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்துடன் சுபர்ணன் (கருடன்) விழித்தான். எழுந்தவுடன் அந்தப் பறவை தன்னைச் சிறகுகள் இன்றிக் கண்டான்.

Word by Word

मुहूर्तात्after a moment; from (the lapse of) a moment

प्रतिबुद्धःawakened; having awakened

तुbut; indeed

सुपर्णःSuparṇa (Garuḍa)

गमन-ईप्सयाwith the desire to go; intending departure

अथthen

भ्रष्ट-तनूज-अज्रम्having lost (his) body-born wings/feathers (i.e., wingless)

आत्मानम्himself

ददृशेsaw; beheld

खगःthe bird (Garuḍa)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Suparṇa (Garuḍa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the fragility of worldly power: even the mighty can suddenly be deprived of their capacities. Ethically, it encourages humility and vigilance, reminding one not to presume permanence in strength, status, or advantage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada narrates that Garuḍa awakens intending to leave, but upon waking he discovers he is without his wings—an unexpected loss that changes his situation and sets up the next turn of the story.