Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 5

धन-निरुक्ति तथा गालवस्य गुरुदक्षिणा-प्रसङ्गः

Etymology of Wealth and the Gurudakṣiṇā Predicament of Gālava

मांसपिण्डोपमो5भूत्‌ स मुखपादान्वित: खग: । गालवस्तं तथा दृष्टवा विमना: पर्यपृच्छत,आकाशचारी गरुड़ मुख और हाथोंसे युक्त होते हुए भी उन पंखोंके बिना मांसके लोंदे- से हो गये। उन्हें उस दशामें देखकर गालवका मन उदास हो गया और उन्होंने पूछा --

māṃsapiṇḍopamo 'bhūt sa mukhapādānvitāḥ khagaḥ | gālavastaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā vimanāḥ paryapṛcchat ||

ముక్కు (చంచు) మరియు కాళ్లు ఉన్నప్పటికీ రెక్కలు లేక ఆకాశచారి గరుడుడు మాంసపు ముద్దలా అయ్యాడు. అతన్ని అలా చూసి గాలవుడు విషణ్ణుడై ప్రశ్నించాడు.

मांसपिण्डोपमःlike a lump of flesh
मांसपिण्डोपमः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमांसपिण्डोपम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभूत्became
अभूत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormAorist (simple past), 3rd, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मुखपादान्वितःendowed with mouth and feet
मुखपादान्वितः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमुखपादान्वित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
खगःthe bird
खगः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootखग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गालवःGālava
गालवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगालव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तथाthus / in that condition
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage)
विमनाःdejected
विमनाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविमनस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पर्यपृच्छत्asked (inquired)
पर्यपृच्छत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रच्छ्
FormImperfect, 3rd, Singular
आकाशचारीO sky-roamer
आकाशचारी:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootआकाशचारिन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
गरुडO Garuḍa
गरुड:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootगरुड
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

नारद उवाच

N
Nārada
G
Gālava
K
khaga (the bird/sky-roamer)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights compassionate attention and moral sensitivity: seeing a being reduced from its natural strength to helplessness, one should not be indifferent but inquire and seek understanding—an ethical impulse that precedes right action (dharma).

Nārada narrates that a bird (a sky-roamer) has become wingless and helpless, like a lump of flesh despite still having beak and feet. Gālava, saddened by this sight, questions him to learn the cause and meaning of the misfortune.