19. Lord Indra extending invitation for friendship

 

The Suta said: “With a golden body shining like the rays of the sun, that bird entered swiftly like a river flowing into the sea.

In front of the nectar, he saw a fierce wheel with sharp teeth, constantly rotating, blazing like the rays of the sun, created by the gods in an effort to cut down those who came to steal the nectar. Seeing a path between them, Khechara in an instant slipped through the teeth of the wheel. Behind that wheel he saw two great serpents, with tongues protruding like lightning, mouths that blazed like fire, and eyes that blazed with fire, poisonous, fierce, mighty, always angry, always vigilant without blinking an eye, protecting the nectar. Whoever the serpent's eye fell on, they would immediately turn into ashes.

Then Suparna covered their eyes with dust, made them blind, and attacked them from all sides. The spaceman Vainateya cut them into pieces and without delay rushed towards Soma. The mighty warrior Vainateya lifted the nectar from there, broke the wheel into pieces, and rose swiftly.

That brave bird picked up the nectar without drinking it and flew up without getting tired in the slightest, even dimming the rays of the sun. In the sky, Vishnu Narayana was pleased to see Vainateya's self-control and actions. The indestructible god said: “O bird! I will grant you a boon.” To this, the spaceman said, “Give me a place above you.”

He further asked Narayana: “May I become immortal and invulnerable without drinking nectar.” Garuda, who accepted those two boons, said to Vishnu: “Lord! I will also give you a boon. Ask.” At that, Krishna chose the mighty Garutmanta as his vehicle. He placed him on the flag and said, “In this way, you will be on me too.”

Indra struck Garuda, the enemy of the gods, with a thunderbolt, as he was forcibly stealing and carrying away the nectar. Garuda, the greatest of birds, with the diamond-wielding Vajra, smiled and spoke laudatory words to the enraged Indra: "I pay homage to the sages from whose bones this diamond was made, to this diamond, and to you, Shatakrata!"

"I am shedding this one feather of mine. Even you cannot see the end of it. The blow of the diamond did not hurt me at all." All living beings, amazed by the sight of that beautiful feather, said, "May this one be called Suparna!" Seeing that miracle, Sahasraksha Purandara noticed that this bird was a great creature and said:

“I want to know your infinite, supreme power. And, O God of Heaven! I want infinite friendship with you.”

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