By “Soota said, ‘At the very touch by Garuda of great might with his feet, the branch of the (huge banyan) tree broke as it was caught by Garuda. Casting his (Garuda’s) eyes around in wonder, he saw Vaalakhilyaa Rishis hanging therefrom with head downwards and engaged in Tapas. Thinking that if that branch fell down, the (Vaalakhilyaa) Rishis would be slain, the mighty one (Garuda) held the elephant and the tortoise still more firmly with his claws. From fear of slaying the Rishis and desire of saving them, (Garuda) held that branch in his beaks, and rose on his wings. The great (Vaalakhilyaa) Rishis were struck with wonder at the sight of that act of his which was beyond the power of Devas, and gave that mighty bird a name. They (Vaalakhilyaa Rishis) said, ‘As this traveler of the skies rises on its wings bearing a heavy burden, let this foremost of birds having snakes for his food be called Garuda (meaning bearer of heavy weight).’
“Shaking the mountains by his wings, Garuda leisurely traveled through the skies. As he soared with the elephant and the tortoise (in his claws), he saw various regions below. Desiring as he did to save the Vaalakhilyaas, he saw not a spot whereon to sit. At last he went to that foremost of mountains called Gandhamadana (Gandhamadana mountain is near Mount Kailasha). There he saw his father (Maharishi) Kashyapa engaged in Tapas devotions.
“Kashyapa also saw his son (Garuda), that traveler of the skies, of divine form, possessed of great splendor, energy and strength, endued with the speed of the wind or the mind, huge as a mountain peak, a ready attacker like the curse of a Brahmana, unthinkable, indescribable, frightful to all creatures, possessed of great skills, terrible, of the splendour of Agni himself, and incapable of being overcome by Devas, Daanavaas, and invincible Raakshasaas, capable of splitting mountain summits and sucking the ocean itself and destroying the three worlds, fierce, and looking like Yama himself.
“The illustrious (Maharishi) Kashyapa, seeing him approach and knowing also his motive, spoke to him these words:
“Kashyapa said, ‘O child, do not commit a rash act, for then you would have to suffer pain. The Vaalakhilyaas, supporting themselves by drinking the rays of the Sun, might, if angry, blast you.’
“Soota continued, ‘Kashyapa then pacified, for the sake of his son, the Vaalakhilyaas of exceeding good fortune and whose sins had been destroyed by severe Tapas.’
“Kashyapa said, ‘O whose wealth is Tapas, the effort of Garuda is for the good of all creatures. The task is great that he is striving to accomplish. It is your duty to grant him your permission.’
“Soota continued, ‘Those (Vaalakhilyaa) Rishis thus addressed by the illustrious Kashyapa, abandoned that branch and went to the sacred mountain of Himavat (Himalayas) for purposes of Tapas. After those Rishis had gone away, the son of Vinata (Garuda), with voice obstructed by the branch in his beaks, asked his father Kashyapa saying, ‘O illustrious one, where shall I throw this arm of the tree? O illustrious one, indicate to me some region without human beings.’
“Then Kashyapa spoke of a mountain without human beings with caves and valley always covered with snow and incapable of approach by ordinary creatures even in thought. The great bird (Garuda) bearing that branch, that elephant, and that tortoise, proceeded with great speed towards that mountain. The great arm of the tree with which that bird of huge body flew away could not be encircled round with a cord made of a hundred (cow) hides. Garuda, the lord of birds, then flew away for hundreds of thousand of yojanas within the shortest time. Going according to the directions of his father to that mountain almost in a moment, that traveller of the skies let fall the gigantic branch. It fell with a great noise.
“That Prince of mountains shook, struck with the storm raised by Garuda’s wings. The trees immediately dropped showers of flowers. The peaks decked with gems and gold adorning that great mountain itself, were loosened and fell down on all sides. The falling branch struck down numerous trees which, with golden flowers amid dark leaves, shined there like clouds charged with lightning. Those trees, bright as gold, falling down upon the ground and, dyed with mountain metals, shined as if they were bathed in the rays of the Sun.
“Then that best of birds, Garuda, sitting on the summit of that mountain, ate both the elephant and the tortoise, rose on his wings with great speed from the top of the mountain.
“Various omens began to appear among Devas alarming fear. (Lord) Indra’s favourite Vajra blazed up in a fright. Meteors with flames and smoke, loosened from the sky, shot down during the day. The weapons of the Vasus, the Rudraas, the Adityas, the Saadhyaas, the Marutaas, and other Devas, began to spend their force against one another. Such a thing had never happened even during the war between Devas and Asuras. Winds blew accompanied with thunder, and meteors fell by thousands. The sky, though cloudless, roared tremendously. He who was the Devon ke Dev shed showers of blood. The flowery garlands on the necks of Devas faded and their skills suffered diminution. Terrible masses of clouds dropped thick showers of blood. The dust raised by the winds darkened the splendour of the very crown of Devas.
“He of a thousand yagnas (Lord Indra), with the other Devas, perplexed with fear at the sight of those dark forebodings spoke to (Deva Guru) Brihaspati thus, ‘Why, O worshipful one, have these natural disturbances suddenly arisen? No enemy do I see who would oppress us in war.’
“Brihaspati answered, ‘O chief of Devas (Lord Indra), O you of a thousand yagnas, it is from your fault and carelessness, and also owing to the severe Tapas of the high-souled Maharishis, the Vaalakhilyaas, that the son of Kashyapa and Vinata (Garuda), a traveller of the skies endued with great strength and possessing the capacity of assuming at will any form, is approaching to take away the Soma (Amrita). That bird, foremost among all endued with great strength, is able to rob you of the Soma. Everything is possible with him; the unachievable he can achieve.’
“Soota continued, ‘(Lord) Indra, having heard these words, then spoke to those that guarded the Amrita, saying, ‘A bird endued with great strength and energy has set his heart on taking away the Amrita. I warn you beforehand so that he may not succeed in taking it away by force. (Deva Guru) Brihaspati has told me that his strength is immeasurable.’
“Devas hearing of it were amazed and took precautions. They stood surrounding the Amrita and (Lord) Indra also of great skills, the wielder of Vajra, stood with them. Devas wore curious breastplates of gold, of great value, and set with gems, and bright leather armour of great toughness. The mighty deities (Devas) wielded various sharp-edged weapons of terrible shapes, countless in number, all of them emitting sparks of fire with smoke. They were also armed with many a chakra and iron mace furnished with spikes, Trishul, battle-axe, and various kinds of sharp-pointed missiles and polished swords and maces (Gadaa in Sanskrit) of terrible form, all befitting their respective bodies. Decked with divine ornaments and brilliant with those bright arms, Devas waited there, their fears decreased. Devas, of incomparable strength, energy, and splendour, resolved to protect the Amrita. Capable of splitting the towns of the Asuras, all displayed themselves in forms brilliant as Agni. In consequence of Devas standing there, that (would be) battle-field, owing to hundreds of thousands of maces furnished with iron spikes, shined like another sky illumined by the rays of the Sun.’”
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – AASTIKA (UPA) PARVA – PART 30 – VAALAKHILYAAS ASSIGN THE NAME GARUDA
