Glories of Garudaji

2013-04-04
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.17.01-06 - Glories of Garudaji (download mp3)
by Jagannath Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net




SB 10.17.1
sri-rajovaca
nagalayam ramanakam
 katham tatyaja kaliyah
krtam kim va suparnasya
 tenaikenasamañjasam

Translation:
[Having thus heard how Lord Krsna chastised Kaliya,] King Pariksit inquired: Why did Kaliya leave Ramanaka Island, the abode of the serpents, and why did Garuda become so antagonistic toward him alone?


SB 10.17.2-3
sri-suka uvaca
upaharyaih sarpa-janair
 masi masiha yo balih
vanaspatyo maha-baho
 naganam pran-nirupitah
svam svam bhagam prayacchanti
 nagah parvani parvani
gopithayatmanah sarve
 suparnaya mahatmane

Translation:
Sukadeva Gosvami said: To avoid being eaten by Garuda, the serpents had previously made an arrangement with him whereby they would each make a monthly offering of tribute at the base of a tree. Thus every month on schedule, O mighty-armed King Pariksit, each serpent would duly make his offering to that powerful carrier of Visnu as a purchase of protection.

Purport:
Srila Sridhara Svami has given an alternate explanation of this verse. Upaharyaih may also be translated as “by those who are to be eaten,” and sarpa-janaih as “those human beings who were dominated by or who belonged to the serpent race.” According to this reading, a group of human beings had fallen under the control of the serpents and were prone to be eaten by them. To avoid this, the human beings would make a monthly offering to the serpents, who in turn would offer a portion of that offering to Garuda so that he would not eat them. The particular translation given above is based on the commentary of Srila Sanatana Gosvami and the translation by Srila Prabhupada in his Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In any case, all the acaryas agree that the serpents purchased protection from Garuda.



SB 10.17.4
visa-virya-madavistah
 kadraveyas tu kaliyah
kadarthi-krtya garudam
 svayam tam bubhuje balim


Translation:
Although all the other serpents were dutifully making offerings to Garuda, one serpent — the arrogant Kaliya, son of Kadru — would eat all these offerings before Garuda could claim them. Thus Kaliya directly defied the carrier of Lord Visnu.


SB 10.17.5
tac chrutva kupito rajan
 bhagavan bhagavat-priyah
vijighamsur maha-vegah
 kaliyam samapadravat


Translation:
O King, the greatly powerful Garuda, who is very dear to the Supreme Lord, became angry when he heard of this. Desiring to kill Kaliya, he rushed toward the serpent with tremendous speed.

Purport:
Srila Sanatana Gosvami explains that the word maha-vega indicates that the great speed of Garuda cannot be checked by anyone.


SB 10.17.6
tam apatantam tarasa visayudhah
 pratyabhyayad utthita-naika-mastakah
dadbhih suparnam vyadasad dad-ayudhah
 karala-jihrocchvasitogra-locanah

Translation:
As Garuda swiftly fell upon him, Kaliya, who had the weapon of poison, raised his numerous heads to counterattack. Showing his ferocious tongues and expanding his horrible eyes, Kaliya then bit Garuda with the weapons of his fangs.

Purport:
The acaryas explain that Kaliya used his weapon of poison at a distance by spitting venom upon his enemy and at short range by biting him with his terrible fangs.