Shloka 9

Garuḍa’s Assault on the Devas and the Fire-Barrier (अमृत-रक्षा-युद्धम्)

Devanagari script

किंस्विदग्निनिभो भाति किंस्वित्‌ सौम्यप्रदर्शन: । यथाहमभिजानीयां ब्राह्मणं लक्षणै: शुभै:

Transliteration

kiṁ svid agninibho bhāti kiṁ svit saumyapradarśanaḥ | yathāham abhijānīyāṁ brāhmaṇaṁ lakṣaṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ ||

Translation

Garuḍa thưa: “Điều gì rực sáng như lửa? Điều gì lại mang dáng vẻ hiền hòa, cát tường? Xin nói cho con những dấu hiệu cao quý để con có thể nhận biết đúng đắn một Bà-la-môn chân chính.”

Word by Word

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• स्वित्: indeed/possibly (interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वित्

• अग्नि-निभः: fire-like
• अग्नि-निभः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निनिभ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• भाति: shines/appears
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा
• Form: present, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• स्वित्: indeed/possibly (interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वित्

• सौम्य-प्रदर्शनः: of gentle/pleasant appearance
• सौम्य-प्रदर्शनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्यप्रदर्शन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• यथा: so that/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: nominative, singular

• अभिजानीयाम्: might recognize/know
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-ज्ञा
• Form: optative (vidhiling), 1st, singular, parasmaipada

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• लक्षणैः: by signs/marks
• लक्षणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण
• Form: neuter, instrumental, plural

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ
• Form: neuter, instrumental, plural

Speaker

गरुड उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Agni (fire, as a simile)
• Brāhmaṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry: true brahminhood should be discerned through ‘śubha-lakṣaṇas’—noble, auspicious characteristics—rather than mere claim or appearance, emphasizing discernment of virtue and conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Garuḍa asks for criteria to identify a genuine brāhmaṇa, contrasting fiery radiance and gentle demeanor, seeking reliable signs by which he can recognize brahminical character in the unfolding encounter.