Garuḍa’s Breach of the Amṛta-Guard and Boons with Viṣṇu; Encounter with Indra (Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 29)
द्विजोत्तम विनिर्गच्छ तूर्णममास्यादपावृतात् । नहि मे ब्राह्मणो वध्य: पापेष्वपि रत: सदा,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं--निषादोंके साथ एक ब्राह्मण भी भार्यासहित गरुडके कण्ठमें चला गया था। वह दहकते हुए अंगारकी भाँति जलन पैदा करने लगा। तब आकाशचारी गरुडने उस ब्राह्मणसे कहा--(द्विजश्रेष्ठ! तुम मेरे खुले हुए मुखसे जल्दी निकल जाओ। ब्राह्मण पापपरायण ही क्यों न हो मेरे लिये सदा अवध्य है”
dvijottama vinirgaccha tūrṇam amāsyād apāvṛtāt | nahi me brāhmaṇo vadhyaḥ pāpeṣv api rataḥ sadā ||
Wika ni Garuḍa: “O pinakadakila sa mga dalawang-ulit na isinilang, lumabas ka agad sa aking nakabukang bibig. Sapagkat para sa akin, ang isang brāhmaṇa ay kailanma’y hindi dapat patayin—kahit siya’y laging nalululong sa kasalanan.”
गरुड उवाच
The verse asserts a dharmic restraint: Garuḍa treats the Brāhmaṇa as avadhya (not to be slain), emphasizing reverence for the Brāhmaṇa-status and the principle that certain protected persons are not to be harmed even when morally compromised.
A Brāhmaṇa has ended up in Garuḍa’s mouth along with others; the Brāhmaṇa causes burning discomfort, and Garuḍa addresses him directly, ordering him to exit quickly because Garuḍa will not kill a Brāhmaṇa.