Shloka 106

Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 103: Garuḍa’s Protest, Viṣṇu’s Demonstration, and Counsel Toward Śama

Devanagari script

सुमुखस्य गुणैश्नैव शीलशौचदमादिभि: | आपके और ऐरावतके प्रति हमारे हृदयमें विशेष सम्मान है और यह सुमुख भी शील

Transliteration

sumukhasya guṇaiś naiva śīlaśaucadamādibhiḥ |

Translation

那罗陀说：“选择苏穆迦，并非只凭血统，而是凭德行——端正的品行、清净、克制诸根等。故而，纵使他失却父亲的庇护，我们仍因其品质而择取他，并对他怀有特别的敬重（正如我们敬重你与爱罗婆多一般）。”

Word by Word

• सुमुखस्य: of Sumukha (the good-faced one)
• सुमुखस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमुख
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• गुणैः: by/with virtues
• गुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• शील: by good conduct/character
• शील: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शील
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शौच: by purity/cleanliness
• शौच: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• दम: by self-control
• दम: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• आदिभिः: and the like; etc.
• आदिभिः: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि
• Form: Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Sumukha
• Airāvata

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worthiness is grounded in guṇa (virtue)—such as good conduct, purity, and self-restraint—rather than in mere parentage or social standing; ethical qualities justify honor and acceptance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada explains why Sumukha is being accepted/selected: despite lacking paternal support, his exemplary virtues make him deserving, and he is held in special esteem alongside figures like Airāvata.