Shloka 149

Brahmin Conduct, Purificatory Baths, and the Garuḍa–Nectar Episode

Illustrative Narrative

Devanagari script

ऐरावतं समारूढो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह । खगरूपधरः कस्त्वं पीयूषं हरसे बलात्

Transliteration

airāvataṃ samārūḍho vākyametaduvāca ha | khagarūpadharaḥ kastvaṃ pīyūṣaṃ harase balāt

Translation

他骑乘爱罗婆多（Airāvata），说道：“你是谁，化作飞鸟，竟以强力夺走甘露？”

Word by Word

• ऐरावतम्: Airāvata (Indra’s elephant)
• ऐरावतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐरावत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समारूढः: mounted
• समारूढः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-रुह् (धातु √रुह्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाक्यम्)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु √वच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• खग-रूप-धरः: one who bears the form of a bird
• खग-रूप-धरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगरूपं धरति)

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पीयूषम्: nectar
• पीयूषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीयूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरसे: you carry off
• हरसे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु √हृ)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बलात्: by force
• बलात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial ablative: 'by force')

Speaker

Indra (implied, as rider of Airāvata)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाक्यमेतदुवाच = वाक्यम् + एतत् + उवाच; खगरूपधरः = खग-रूप-धरः; कस्त्वं = कः + त्वम्।

Characters & Entities

• Airāvata
• Pīyūṣa (Amṛta/nectar)

FAQs

Who is speaking in this verse and how is it identified?

The speaker is implied to be Indra because the verse states “mounted upon Airāvata,” who is traditionally Indra’s elephant.

What is the central action described in the verse?

A figure in bird form is accused of forcibly carrying away pīyūṣa (nectar/ambrosia), prompting the rider of Airāvata to challenge their identity.

What ethical theme is suggested by this dialogue?

The verse frames a moral tension between rightful guardianship and unlawful seizure—questioning forceful appropriation even of coveted, life-giving substances like amṛta.