नारद उवाच
ऋषभस्य ततः शृङ्गे निपत्य द्विजपक्षिणौ ॥
शाण्डिलीं ब्राह्मणीं तत्र ददृशाते तपोन्विताम् ॥
अभिवाद्य सुपर्णस् तु गालवश् चाभिपूज्य ताम् ॥
तया च स्वागतेनोक्तौ विष्टरे संनिषीदतुः ॥
सिद्धम् अन्नं तया क्षिप्रं बलिमन्त्रोपबृंहितम् ॥
भुक्त्वा तृप्ताव् उभौ भूमौ सुप्तौ ताव् अन्नमोहितौ ॥
मुहूर्तात् प्रतिबुद्धस् तु सुपर्णो गमनेप्सया ॥
अथ भ्रष्टतनूजाङ्गम् आत्मानं ददृशे खगः ॥
मांसपिण्डोपमो ऽभूत् स मुखपादान्वितः खगः ॥
गालवस् तं तथा दृष्ट्वा विषण्णः पर्यपृच्छत ॥
nārada uvāca
ṛṣabhasya tataḥ śṛṅge nipatya dvijapakṣiṇau ||
śāṇḍilīṃ brāhmaṇīṃ tatra dadṛśāte taponvitām ||
abhivādya suparṇas tu gālavaś cābhipūjya tām ||
tayā ca svāgatenoktau viṣṭare saṃniṣīdatuḥ ||
siddham annaṃ tayā kṣipraṃ balimantropabṛṃhitam ||
bhuktvā tṛptāv ubhau bhūmau suptau tāv annamohitau ||
muhūrtāt pratibuddhas tu suparṇo gamanepsayā ||
atha bhraṣṭatanūjāṅgam ātmānaṃ dadṛśe khagaḥ ||
māṃsapiṇḍopamo 'bhūt sa mukhapādānvitaḥ khagaḥ ||
gālavas taṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā viṣaṇṇaḥ paryapṛcchata ||
Narada said: "Then, having descended upon the peak of Rishabha, the brahmin and the bird saw there the brahmin woman Shandili, full of austerity. Suparna bowed to her, and Galava paid her homage; she welcomed them, and the two sat down upon mats. Shandili quickly served them food that was ready, consecrated with offering and mantras. Having eaten and being satisfied, the two lay down on the ground and fell asleep, stupefied by the food. After a short while Suparna awoke, wishing to continue on his way, and then the bird saw that he had been deprived of his body and limbs. He had become like a lump of flesh, having only a mouth and legs. Seeing him thus, Galava, distressed, began to question him."
4894ace694ef · published Jul 17, 2026, 5:35:25 AM UTC
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The meeting with Shandili shows that the power of austerity is not measured by outward appearance. Garuda possesses cosmic might, yet in the house of the ascetic woman he finds himself dependent on her spiritual worth. The hospitality here is not a mere domestic scene but a test of respect for a holy place and its mistress.