Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 22

Garuda defeats the Devatas
Garuda flapped his wings filling heaven totally with dust. Devatas were blinded as their eyes were filled with dust. Garuda pierced with his beak and claws anyone who came to attack him.
Grasping that it was impossible to win the war unless the dust was cleared, Indra instructed the wind-god to scatter it. Wind-god drove it away. When darkness vanished, Garuda was visible. All the Devatas collectively attacked him. Garuda abruptly flew away into the skies and roared loudly startling the Devatas. With renewed energy Garuda, while remaining in the skies, fought fiercely with them. Devatas released spikes, tridents, maces, swords, fiery crescent shaped arrows, discus that burnt like Sun and many other weapons.
Although attacked simultaneously, Garuda did not waver. From the skies he attacked them so fiercely with his wings that blood began to flow from their bodies. Unable to withstand this onslaught they ran for shelter. Sadhyas and Gandharvas fled eastwards, Vasus and Rudras fled southwards, Adityas fled westwards and Ashwini devatas to the North. Petrified, they ran, repeatedly turning and looking at him they ran.
Yakshas Ashwakranda, Renuka, Tapana, Uluka, Shvasana, Praruja and Pulina jumped in to fight. Garuda pierced them with his beak, mangled them with his wings, scratched with claws and defeated them all. Seeing this, other Yakshas collectively attacked him. Garuda intensified the attack causing them to vomit blood.
Just as the clouds get dispersed, the Devatas dispersed. Now Garuda reached the place where the nectar was stored. He saw a huge ring of fire around the nectar pot. At that time, assisted by wind, the fire burnt fiercely and began to stretch to the skies.
Garuda, who travels at unimaginable speeds, saw this. Taking on 8000 faces he travelled to different rivers, drank those waters, quickly returned and pouring that water put out the fire. Suddenly he shrunk himself and flew towards the nectar pot. Here, a burning discus with razor sharp spikes, glowing fiercely like the fire and sun was guarding the pot. It would shred anyone who came to steal nectar.
Garuda saw the discus. Taking on a subtle body he entered into that ring. Within that ring were 2 snakes whose tongues glowed like flashes of lightning. The snakes appeared like burning fires. Their eyes emitted poison. Merely with their gaze they could burn down the entity. They were zealously guarding the nectar. In mad rage they were rushing forward.
Garuda quickly assessed their might. He filled dust into their eyes. Swiftly, from all directions, he pierced them with his nose. Descending swiftly from the skies, he caught those snakes and tore them apart. Again descending at unbelievable speeds, he broke the burning ring, carried the nectar pot and flew away.
Having completed his mission, he was now on his way back. Although the nectar pot was in his hand, he had no desire to sip nectar. He was eager to return home and free his mother from bondage. Sri Mahavishnu was carefully watching Garuda. Seeing that Garuda was free from desire, He was elated. He manifested before Garuda and said, ‘Impressed with you, I seek to give you a boon. Seek what you want’.
Garuda said, ‘O Lord, I shall stay on your flag. Although I have not sipped nectar, I should not be troubled by old-age and death’. Vishnu happily blessed him.
Garuda then said, ‘O Lord, I too seek to give you a boon’. Saying, ‘I want you to be my vehicle’, Mahavishnu made place for Garuda on his flag. Bowing to Him, Garuda sped away.
Indra was angered that nectar was stolen. He released the infallible thunderbolt. Seeing the weapon rushing towards him, Garuda stopped and laughingly said, ‘O Devendra! This weapon was made with the bones of Maharishi Dadhici. Insulting this weapon amounts to insulting that great sage. As such, with respect for that sage I am giving you one feather from my wing. You do not have the ability even to harm this feather. You cannot even see its end. I will not even be slightly harmed by your weapon’.
Saying this, he left a feather. All living beings rejoiced witnessing this. Seeing the beautiful feather, they named him Suparna (multicoloured).
Stunned, Indra grasped that Garuda was no ordinary bird. He said, ‘O best among birds. I seek to know more about your unsurpassed prowess. I want eternal friendship with you’.
Garuda said, ‘Let it be so. I am willing to be your friend. My strength is unbearable. Virtuous people never seek to boast about their strength and good qualities’.