By “Soota said, ‘That bird (Garuda), assuming a golden body bright as the rays of the Sun, entered with great force (the region where the Amrita was), like a flood entering the ocean. He (Garuda) saw, placed near the Soma (Amrita), a wheel of steel keen-edged, and sharp as the razor, revolving incessantly. That fierce instrument, of the splendour of the blazing Sun and of terrible form, had been devised by Devas for cutting in pieces all robbers of the Soma.
“Garuda, seeing a passage through it, stopped there for a moment. Diminishing his body, in an instant he passed through the spokes of that wheel. Within the line of the wheel, he saw, stationed there for guarding the Soma (Amrita) two great snakes of the brightness of blazing fire, with tongues bright as the lightning-flash, of great energy, with mouth emitting fire, with blazing eyes, containing poison, very terrible, always in anger, and of great activity. Their eyes were ceaselessly inflamed with anger and were also winkless. He who may be seen by even one of the two would instantly be reduced to ashes.
“The bird of fair feathers (Garuda) suddenly covered their eyes with dust. Unseen by them he attacked them from all sides. The son of Vinata (Garuda), that traveller of the skies, attacking their bodies, injured them into pieces. He then approached the Soma (Amrita) without loss of time. Then the mighty son of Vinata (Garuda), taking up the Amrita from the place where it was kept, rose on his wings with great speed, breaking into pieces the machine that had surrounded it. The bird soon came out, taking the Amrita but without drinking it himself. He then travelled on his way without the least tiredness, darkening the splendour of the Sun.
“The son of Vinata (Garuda) then met (Lord) Vishnu on his way along the sky. (Lord) Narayana was pleased at that act of self-denial (of not eating Amrita) on the part of Garuda. That deity (Lord Narayana), knowing no deterioration, said to the ranger of the skies (Garuda), ‘O, I am inclined to grant you a boon.’
“The ranger of the skies (Garuda) immediately said, ‘I shall stay above you.’ He (Garuda) again spoke to (Lord) Narayana these words, ‘I shall be immortal and free from disease without (drinking) Amrita.’ (Lord) Vishnu said to the son of Vinata, ‘Be it so.’
“Garuda, receiving those two boons, told (Lord) Vishnu, ‘I also shall grant you a boon; therefore, let the possessor of the six attributes (Gnana, Vairaagya, Aishwarya, Balaa, Sri and Keerthi) ask of me.’ (Lord) Vishnu then asked the mighty Garuda to become his vehicle. He made the bird (Garuda) sit on the flagstaff of his chariot, saying, ‘Thus you shall stay above me.’ The ranger of the skies, of great speed (Garuda), saying to (Lord) Narayana, ‘Be it so,’ swiftly travelled on his way, mocking the wind with his speed.
“While that foremost of all traveller of the skies, that first of winged creatures, Garuda, was travelling through the air after getting the Amrita, (Lord) Indra hurled at him his Vajra. Then Garuda, the lord of birds, struck with Vajra, spoke laughingly to (Lord) Indra engaged in the encounter, in sweet words, saying, ‘I shall respect the Rishi (Dadhichi) of whose bone the Vajra has been made. I shall also respect the Vajra, and you also of a thousand yagnas (Lord Indra). I cast this feather of mine whose end you shall not attain. Struck with your Vajra I have not felt the slightest pain.’
“Having said this, the king of birds (Garuda) cast a feather of his. All creatures became exceedingly glad, seeing that excellent feather of Garuda so cast off. Seeing that the feather (of Garuda) was very beautiful, they (all creatures) said, ‘Let this bird be called Suparna (having fair feathers).’ Purandara (Lord Indra) of a thousand eyes, witnessing this wonderful incident, thought that bird (Garuda) to be some great being and addressed him thus.
“(Lord) Indra said, ‘O best of birds, I desire to know the limit of your great strength. I also desire eternal friendship with you.’”
SRIMAD MAHABHARATA – AADI PARVA – AASTIKA (UPA) PARVA – PART 33 – GARUDA GETS AMRITA
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