Shloka 29
Garuḍa’s Breach of the Amṛta-Guard and Boons with Viṣṇu; Encounter with Indra (Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 29)
विक्षोभयंस्ततो नाग: सरो बहुझषाकुलम् । कूर्मोड्प्यभ्युद्यतशिरा युद्धायाभ्येति वीर्यवान्,उसे देखते ही यह पराक्रमी हाथी अपनी सूँड़ लपेटे हुए जलमें टूट पड़ता है तथा दाँत, सूँड़, पूँछ और पैरोंके वेगसे असंख्य मछलियोंसे भरे हुए समूचे सरोवरमें हलचल मचा देता है। उस समय पराक्रमी कच्छप भी सिर उठाकर युद्धके लिये निकट आ जाता है इति श्रीमहाभारते आदिपर्वणि आस्तीकपर्वणि सौपर्णे एकोनत्रिंशो5ध्याय:
vikṣobhayaṃs tato nāgaḥ saro bahujhaṣākulam | kūrmo 'py abhyudyataśirā yuddhāyābhyeti vīryavān ||
Wika ni Kāśyapa: “Pagkaraan, ang makapangyarihang nāga ay ginulo ang lawa na hitik sa maraming isda at ginawa itong magulo. At ang malakas na pagong, itinaas ang ulo at lumapit—handa sa labanan.”
कश्यप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how disruptive force (vikṣobha) in a common space provokes reaction and escalates into conflict. Ethically, it suggests restraint and awareness of consequences: agitation harms the wider community (the fish-filled lake) and invites retaliation, turning a situation into yuddha.
Kaśyapa describes a powerful nāga (here, an elephant) violently stirring a lake full of fish. In response, a strong tortoise raises its head and comes forward to fight, indicating an imminent clash triggered by the elephant’s disturbance.