In this epic continuation of Garuda and Amrita, omens began to manifest, striking fear in the hearts of the gods. The sky was filled with meteors, thunderstorms raged, and the natural balance seemed disturbed. Indra’s thunderbolt blazed with a sense of dread. Alarmed by these ominous signs, Indra turned to Vrihaspati, the guru of the gods, and asked, “Why have these disturbances occurred? Who could challenge us now?”
Vrihaspati, knowing the root of the turmoil, calmly replied, “It is due to your own carelessness, Indra. The son of Vinata, Garuda, blessed by the Valakhilya Rishis and possessing immense strength, is coming to claim the Amrita. He can take it away from you with ease. He is unstoppable.”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Indra immediately rallied the gods, stationing them as guards around the sacred Amrita. The gods armed themselves with powerful weapons—battle axes, swords, and sharp missiles that even the mightiest Asuras could not withstand. Indra also forewarned the gods of the impending threat posed by Garuda.
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Vrihaspati’s Warning and Indra’s Carelessness
In response to this revelation, Rishi Saunaka, listening to Sauti’s narration, asked, “Why did Vrihaspati blame Indra for this? And how is it that Kasyapa, a Brahmin, fathered the mighty Garuda, king of birds? Also, what makes Garuda so powerful that he is invincible?”
Sauti explained that this tale comes from the ancient Puranas. Once upon a time, when Prajapati Kasyapa sought offspring, he performed a grand sacrifice with the help of Rishis, gods, and Gandharvas. Indra himself participated in this ritual, tasked with gathering fuel along with the Valakhilya Rishis. Indra, boasting his strength, collected massive amounts of fuel, but on his way back, he noticed the frail Valakhilya Rishis carrying mere stalks of Palasa leaves as fuel.
Mocking their meager offerings and weak appearance, Indra laughed. Insulted, the Valakhilya Rishis, enraged by his arrogance, used the power of their mantras to declare that a new “Indra” would be born, a being even more powerful than the current king of gods. This new Indra would instill fear in Indra’s heart. Alarmed, Indra sought out Prajapati Kasyapa, who intervened with the Valakhilyas. He proposed that the new Indra they prophesied be born as the ruler of winged creatures. The Valakhilyas agreed.
Kasyapa then turned to his wife Vinata and told her she would bear two sons who would be powerful beyond measure. One of those sons was Garuda, who would come to challenge the gods.
The Battle Begins
As Garuda approached the heavens with the intent to capture the Amrita, the gods grew increasingly anxious. His sheer size and strength terrified them. Among the gods was a celestial architect, who rose to challenge him but was swiftly slain. Garuda then unleashed the power of his wings, creating a massive cloud of dust that blinded the gods guarding the Amrita.
Indra, desperate to restore order, called upon Vayu, the god of wind, to blow away the dust. Vayu complied, clearing the skies, but the gods were no match for Garuda’s overwhelming power. In a matter of moments, he began defeating the gods, one by one. The Sadhyas and Gandharvas fled to the east, the Vasus and Rudras retreated to the south, the Adityas moved west, and the twin Ashvins escaped northward.
Garuda continued to wreak havoc, defeating celestial beings like the Yakshas and other divine warriors. Blood flowed across the battlefield, forming lakes due to the sheer scale of the slaughter.
Overcoming Divine Obstacles
Upon reaching the chamber where the Amrita was stored, Garuda was confronted with a wall of fire surrounding the nectar of immortality. Undeterred, he changed his form, expanding to a massive size with 90 heads and 90 mouths. He gathered water from the rivers, lakes, and seas and doused the flames, clearing the way to his prize.
Next, he faced a razor-sharp steel wheel spinning at an incredible speed. Its purpose was to slice apart anyone attempting to steal the Amrita. Garuda, with remarkable dexterity, shrank in size and passed through the gaps in the blades. As he advanced, two massive serpents guarded the Amrita. Using his wings to kick up dust and blind the snakes, he swiftly decapitated them, leaving the path clear to the Amrita.
Despite his proximity to the nectar, Garuda refrained from drinking it. His mission was not for himself but to free his mother from bondage. At this moment, Lord Vishnu appeared, impressed by Garuda’s strength and unwavering resolve. Vishnu offered him a boon, and the mighty bird asked for three things: immortality, freedom from disease without drinking the Amrita, and the honor of always being above Lord Vishnu.
In return, Garuda became Vishnu’s divine mount and placed himself on the Flagstaff as a symbol of his new role.
Indra’s Strike and Garuda’s Resolve
As Garuda flew away with the Amrita, Indra caught up and struck him with his thunderbolt. Garuda, unphased by the blow, graciously respected the thunderbolt made from the bones of the sage Dadhichi. He even shed one feather out of respect for Indra, earning the name “Suparna” (one with beautiful wings).
Realizing Garuda’s incredible power, Indra offered friendship. Garuda explained that he needed the Amrita to free his mother, and Indra, understanding the bird’s plight, made a pact with him. Once Garuda placed the Amrita before the Nagas to secure his mother’s release, Indra would immediately retrieve it, preventing the snakes from gaining immortality.
When Garuda placed the Amrita on Kusa grass, the Nagas freed his mother. As soon as they turned to perform their ablutions, Indra swooped in, reclaiming the nectar and ensuring that the Nagas could not drink it. In a desperate attempt, the Nagas licked the Kusa grass, splitting their tongues in the process, a feature they retain to this day. With his mother freed, Garuda returned to the forest, spending his days devouring the Nagas, fulfilling his destiny as the mortal enemy of snakes.
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