Shloka 43

Garuḍa–Śakra Saṃvāda and the Retrieval of Amṛta (गरुड–शक्र संवादः अमृत-अपहरण-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

सौतिरुवाच श्रुत्वैतद्‌ वचन शक्र: प्रोवाचामृतरक्षिण: । महावीर्यबल: पक्षी हर्तु सोममिहोद्यतः

Transliteration

sautir uvāca śrutvaitad vacanaṃ śakraḥ provācāmṛtarakṣiṇaḥ | mahāvīryabalaḥ pakṣī hartu somam ihodyataḥ ||

Translation

叙帝说道：听罢此言，释迦（因陀罗）便对奉命守护不死甘露的诸天说道：“守护者们！那只勇力无边的鸟——迦楼罗——已在此处，意欲夺走苏摩（甘露）。”

Word by Word

• सूतिः: Sauti (Ugraśravas), the narrator
• सूतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Active

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचनम्: speech, statement
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• अमृतरक्षिणः: to the guardians of the nectar
• अमृतरक्षिणः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत-रक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महावीर्यबलः: of great prowess and strength
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्यबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पक्षी: the bird (Garuḍa)
• पक्षी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हर्तुम्: to carry off, to steal
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Active

• सोमम्: Soma (nectar)
• सोमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• उद्यतः: ready, intent, prepared
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-यत्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

कश्यप उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sauti (Ugraśravas)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Amṛta (nectar of immortality)
• Soma
• Garuḍa (implied by 'pakṣī' of great strength)
• Amṛta-guarding deities (amṛtarakṣiṇaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as guardianship of a sacred trust: those appointed to protect what sustains cosmic order must remain alert and act responsibly, even when confronted by overwhelming power.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the preceding counsel, Indra addresses the deities guarding amṛta/Soma, warning them that the mighty bird Garuḍa is poised to seize the nectar and urging them to defend it.