Shloka 3
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 104: Nārada on Suhṛt and Nirbandha; the Viśvāmitra–Gālava Exemplum Begins
गरुड उवाच भगवन् किमवज्ञानाद् वृत्ति: प्रतिहता मम । कामकारवरं दत्त्वा पुनश्नलितवानसि,गरुड बोले--भगवन्! आपने अवहेलना करके मेरी जीविकामें क्यों बाधा पहुँचायी है? एक बार मुझे इच्छानुसार कार्य करनेका वरदान देकर अब फिर उससे विचलित क्यों हुए हैं?
garuḍa uvāca | bhagavan kim avajñānād vṛttiḥ pratihatā mama | kāmakāra-varaṃ dattvā punaś calitavān asi ||
ครุฑกล่าวว่า “ข้าแต่พระผู้เป็นเจ้า ไฉนด้วยความดูหมิ่นท่านจึงขัดขวางปากท้องของข้า? เมื่อครั้งหนึ่งท่านประทานพรให้ข้ากระทำได้ตามใจแล้ว บัดนี้เหตุใดจึงกลับคำและถอนพรนั้น?”
गरुड उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when freedom or a boon is granted, it is not necessarily absolute; ethical order (dharma) can impose restraints. The verse highlights the tension between personal license (kāmakāra) and higher regulation, and questions the justice of restricting someone’s established means of living.
Garuḍa confronts the Lord he is addressing, complaining that his livelihood has been obstructed as if through contempt. He reminds the Lord that he was previously granted a boon to act as he wished, and asks why that permission is now being curtailed.