Section CXIII - Garuda and Galava: The Story of Sandili and Visvamitra
Book index: Mahabharata (English)
This page contains a summary of the Mahabharata Section CXIII including examples of moral lessons in daily life. The Maha-Bharata is one of the largest epics ever written containing roughly 100,000 Sanskrit verses. It deals with the legendary history of ancient India and contains a large number of interwoven tales.
Short summary of the chapter:
Narada tells the story of Galava, who along with Garuda, a prince of birds, meets a Brahmana lady named Sandili while on their journey. Sandili offers them food and hospitality, but upon awakening, Garuda finds that his wings have fallen off due to a sinful thought he had of carrying her away to a holy place. Galava questions Garuda about his condition, and Garuda confesses his sin and asks for forgiveness from Sandili. Sandili forgives Garuda and restores his wings, advising him to never show contempt towards her or other women.
Garuda and Galava continue their journey but do not find the specific steeds they were looking for. They encounter Visvamitra, who reminds Galava about the wealth he had promised him. Garuda suggests that they discuss the matter and come up with a plan to fulfill the promise. Visvamitra insists that Galava fulfill his promise soon, and they must find a way to succeed in this task.
Galava, feeling overwhelmed with sorrow, seeks guidance from Garuda on how to fulfill his promise to Visvamitra. They both understand that Galava must give his preceptor the wealth promised to him, or he cannot even sit down. They decide to come up with a plan to fulfill the promise and ensure that Galava honors his word to Visvamitra. Galava realizes the importance of keeping his word and must find a way to fulfill his promise to his preceptor without delay.
Full English translation:
This page is merely a summary which is automatically generated. If you are looking for authentic sources such as the Sanskrit text or the Full English translation of Mahabharata Section CXIII - Garuda and Galava: The Story of Sandili and Visvamitra, have a look at the following articles:
Section CXIII, online text
English translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli.
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Mahabharata (English Summary)
by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | ISBN-10: 8121505933
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FAQ of Mahabharata, Section CXIII:
What was the consequence of Garuda's disrespectful thought towards the Brahmana lady Sandili?
Garuda lost his wings and became like a ball of flesh, only with head and legs.
How did Sandili forgive Garuda and restore his wings?
Sandili forgave Garuda after he expressed remorse and respect, allowing him to regain his wings.
Daily life: Garuda and Galava: The Story of Sandili and Visvamitra:
The story teaches the importance of humility, respect towards others, and adhering to promises. It tells us how Garuda and a Brahmana, despite their own power and intentions, faced consequences when they underestimated someone else's value, in this case, that of a devoted lady absorbed in her penances. It serves as a reminder that underestimating others or harboring contempt can lead to our downfall. The respect and apology Garuda offers her, recognizing his mistake, demonstrates the power of humility and asking for forgiveness. Moreover, the need to fulfill promises is highlighted through the interaction between Galava and Visvamitra, suggesting that not adhering to our word can lead to distress and disappointment. Implementing these lessons in daily life means treating everyone with respect, acknowledging our mistakes and making amends, and always striving to keep our word, which ultimately leads to personal growth and harmony in relationships.