mahabharata stories

Suta said: “Hey the superior one among all the bramhins! While all the deities were standing ready for battle, Gurutmanta, the king of birds, reached them. Seeing that mighty one, all the gods trembled with fear and began to fight among themselves with all their weapons. Among the protectors of Soma Ameyatma, Vidyudagnisamaprabha and Sumahavirya Bhauvana were also there. He fought for a moment with Patagendra and fell having stuck in between the wings, beak and tentacles of Patagendra and died in the battlefield. That khechara raised a huge dust storm by stretching his wings wide and plunging the three worlds into darkness and gave tension to the gods. Since the entire area was covered with dust, the gods fainted. Those who stood waiting for Amrita were unable to see him in the dust. Thus Garuda smashed the guardian deities of the three worlds by giving a blow using his wings and beaks. Then the god Sahasraksha was terrified and thus gave command to the god vayu in this manner: “Hey ...

Shaunaka said: “Sutaja! What was Mahendra's crime and mistake? How did the birth of Garuda happen due to Valakhilya's penance? How was a bird born as the son of Brahmin Kasyapa? How did he become the one who cannot be killed and invisible everywhere? How did that khechara become Kamachari and Kamavirya? I want to hear all this as told in Puranas.” Suta said: “Dwija! All the things you have heard are explained in Puranas. Let me summarize them all. Listen. When Prajapati Kasyapa undertook the yajna for the sake of his children, the sages, deities and Gandharvas all helped a lot. Kasyapa was tasked with bringing samit to Indra, Valakhilya sages and other gods. Shakra, without tiring at all, carried a mountain's worth of materials according to his strength. On the way he saw all the sages who were as small as a thumb in size carrying a single stick of Palasha. Those Tapodhanas, who were poor from starvation, fell into a hole caused by a cow's foot on the road and were tor...

Suta said: “As soon as Mahabali Garuda touched that branch with his talons, he also grabbed the severed branch to break it. He saw Valakhilya hanging upside down while smiling at that severed branch. Afraid of their destruction, Khagadhipa, desiring to save them, took the branch in his beak and slowly ascended, shaking the mountain itself. Flying like this with elephants-kachchapa-valakhilyas, he saw many countries but did not find any land worthy of landing. Then Avyaya went to Mount Gandhamadana and found his father Kasyapa engaged in penance. His father, Lord Kashyapa, knowing what his intention was, saw that divine figure, brimming with brilliance and strength, swift as the wind, gigantic as a Shailasringa, sharp as the curse of a Brahman, inconceivable and unknowable, all-terrifying, mighty, brilliant as the veritable fire, invincible by the demons, able to crush mountain peaks like Kritanta, who could absorb all the waters of the ocean, and destroy all the worlds, and addresse...

Suta said: “Then Mahavira, Mahabala, that bird who can go at will came to the mother on the other side of the ocean. There, Vinatha lost the bet and became a slave, and was very sad. Then once Kadru called Vinatha and said to her who was bowing before her son: “Bhadre Vinate! Take me to the solitude of the temple of Nagas, which is very beautiful located at the bottom of the sea.” Then the mother of Suparna left with the mother of serpents and Garuda carrying the Pannagas on the shoulders as the mother said. As that Vihangama Vainateya ascended towards the sun, all the pannagas were struck by the rays of the sun. Seeing the plight of the children, Kadru praised Shakra Indra: “Save the snakes from the scorching sun by raining. Amarottama! You alone are our greatest strength. Purandara! You are the lord of rain and you can make it rain as much as you want. You are the cloud, you are the air, and you are the lightning that shines in amber. You are the one who disperses the clouds and ...

The Suta said: “I have told you everything about the churning of nectar. At the same time, a beautiful horse of unparalleled strength was born. Watching it, Kadru asked Vinata: “Bhadra! What color is that ucchaishrava? Tell me quickly.” Vinata said: “This horse is white. Good luck! What do you think? Tell me what color it is. Let’s bet on it.” Kadru said: “Suchishmitha! I think this horse’s tail is black. Bhamini! The loser in this should become the other’s maid.” Suta said: “Thus, having made a vow to become each other’s maidservants, they went to their respective homes, saying, “Come tomorrow and see the horse.” With the intention of deceiving her, Kadru ordered her thousand sons, "If I do not want to be a maidservant, immediately go and wrap yourself around the tail of that horse and make it appear black." She cursed those Bhujangas who were unwilling to obey her words, saying, "Pavaka will burn you all to ashes in the yaga run by the wise Pandava king and sage Janame...

The Suta said: “Then the leading giants-danavas, armed with armor and various weapons, pursued and attacked the gods. Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu, the god of strength, accompanied Nara and took the nectar from Danavendra. Then all the gods received the nectar from Vishnu and drank it together with joyous cheers. While the gods were eagerly drinking the nectar, the demon Rahu, who was in the form of a god, also drank it. Just as the nectar reached the demon's throat, the benevolent moon and sun informed him of the matter. Immediately, the Lord severed his adorned head while he was drinking the nectar with His Chakra weapon. The giant head, like a rock, was severed by the wheel and soared into the sky, while the headless body fell to the ground. Since then, a permanent enmity has developed between Rahu's face and the Moon and Sun, and eclipses of both of them have been occurring continuously. Then Lord Hari, abandoning his incomparable female form, threw various types of fierce weapo...

The Suta said: “Tapodhana! At this same time, both the sisters saw Ucchaishrava, who was born during the churning of nectar, samudra mathana worshipped by all the gods, beautiful in form, the finest horse jewel, divine, endowed with all attributes, wealthy, eternally youthful, the best, most excellent, and most powerful of horses, coming towards them.” Shaunaka said: “How and why did the gods churn the nectar? Where was Mahavira Mahadyuti Ashvaraja born? Explain.” The sage Suta said: “There is a mountain called Meru, shining with infinite brilliance. The rays of the sun, falling on its bright glassy peak, were emanating from there. Adorned with golden ornaments, adorned with the perfume of the gods, unappealing and invisible, it is invisible to the bad people. Wild animals roam the highest peak of that mountain, illuminated by divine herbs. It is surrounded by many riverside trees and filled with the melodious sounds of various birds. All the great sages had formed a congregation on i...