Shloka 9
Garuḍa’s Inquiry on Permissible Prey and Vinatā’s Counsel (ब्राह्मणावध्यता–उपदेशः)
सहाय एव कार्येषु न च कृच्छेषु दृश्यते । पश्यन्ति ग्रस्यमानं मां सहन्ते वै दिवौकस:,“संकटके अवसरोंपर मुझे अपना कोई सहायक ही नहीं दिखायी देता। देवतालोग मुझे राहुसे ग्रस्त होते देखते हैं तो भी चुपचाप सह लेते हैं
sahāya eva kāryeṣu na ca kṛcchreṣu dṛśyate | paśyanti grasyamānaṃ māṃ sahante vai divaukasaḥ ||
“Việc thường thì còn thấy người trợ giúp, nhưng lúc nguy khốn lại chẳng ai xuất hiện. Chư thiên nhìn ta bị Rāhu chụp lấy mà vẫn lặng im chịu đựng, không hề cứu viện.”
युपर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Support is often visible in routine matters, but true loyalty is tested in संकट (crisis). The verse critiques passive spectatorship—especially by the powerful—when someone is being wronged or overwhelmed.
Suparṇa speaks in complaint: when he is in severe trouble, no ally comes forward. Even the heavenly beings merely watch him being overpowered (evoking the image of Rāhu seizing the luminary) and do nothing.