Shloka 10
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama
पितृहीनमपि होनं गुणतो वरयामहे । बहुमानाच्च भवतस्तथैवैरावतस्य च
pitṛhīnam api hīnaṃ guṇato varayāmahe | bahumānāc ca bhavatas tathaivairāvatasya ca
نارد نے کہا—اگرچہ کوئی شخص پدری نسب سے محروم ہو اور سماج کی نظر میں ‘کم تر’ سمجھا جائے، پھر بھی ہم صرف اس کی خوبیوں کے زور پر اسے اختیار کرتے ہیں؛ اور یہ انتخاب تمہارے اور اسی طرح ایراوت کے احترام میں بھی ہے۔
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prioritizes guṇa (personal virtue and merit) over inherited status or lineage, asserting that ethical worth can justify choosing someone even if they lack conventional social credentials, while also emphasizing that choices should be made with due respect to all concerned.
Nārada is explaining a decision of preference/selection: despite someone being ‘pitṛhīna’ and considered ‘hīna’ by social measures, they are chosen because of their qualities, and the choice is framed as being made with respectful consideration toward the addressed person and toward Airāvata.