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Nectar Of Immortality

 

Garuda proceeded to the abode of the Devas. Various evil omens appeared there. Indra (The King Of The Devas), consulted Brihaspati (The Guru Of The Devas), about this. Brihaspati told him that Garuda was on his way to steal the Amrit (Nectar Of Immortality). Indra informed others about this and asked them to guard it. Garuda arrived and a terrible battle ensued between him and the Devas. He defeated them. He had to cross a wall of fire surrounding the Amrit. He filled his beak with water and put the fire out. He then saw the Amrit guarded by two poisonous serpents and a revolving wheel with a sharp edge. He reduced his size and slid under the wheel and killed the serpents and snatched the pot of Amrit and the wheel shattered. He rose to the sky carrying the Amrit. As he flew along, Vishnu saw him. Vishnu wondered that though Garuda had the Amrit, he didn't even have a drop of it. He decided to give him two boons and called Garuda. When Garuda arrived and was asked what boons he wanted, Garuda said he wanted to be above Vishnu, immortal and free from disease. Vishnu granted them and said he will be above him on his flag staff. Garuda was pleased and he also granted Vishnu a boon. Vishnu asked Garuda to be his vehicle. He said he will as soon as he finishes his mission. As Garuda proceeded towards the sky, Indra again tried to stop him with his thunderbolt. But, nothing happened to him. Indra was amazed at this and asked if he could become his friend and if he had no use of the Amrit, to return it. Garuda agreed to it and told him how to retrieve it. Indra was impressed and granted him a boon. Garuda said he wanted snakes to be his natural food. Indra granted it. Garuda went to Kadru's sons and told them that he would place the Amrit on a kusa grass and as soon as they return back from their ablutions, they can have it and asked for his mother's freedom. Kadru's sons agreed and went for their ablutions. Indra came there and took the Amrit away. From that day Vinata (Garuda's mother) was free from slavery.





PS: This story is a continuation from my previous posts. 


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