The story unfolds with a sense of urgency and hope. The serpents, under the shadow of a curse, look to their mother, Kadrū, for deliverance. They reason among themselves, “If our mother is pleased, O beautiful one, she will surely release us from this curse. Let us, therefore, make the horse’s tail appear black.” Resolute in their plan, they gather together, standing as one—each like a single black hair of a horse’s tail. At that very moment, a new intrigue is born. Kadrū and her co-wife, Vinatā, the two daughters of Dakṣa, enter into a wager, their hearts light and joyful. With the wager set, the sisters soar through the sky, eager to reach the distant shore of the vast ocean. As they travel, their gaze falls upon the mighty, unshakable ocean, the inexhaustible treasure of waters. The wind whips the surface into a frenzy, filling the air with a great roaring sound, as whales and giant fish, along with fearsome makaras, churn beneath the waves. This ocean teems with myriad and wondrous creatures, dreadful and unassailable, deep and terrifying beyond measure. It is the source of all gems, the abode of Varuṇa, the dwelling place of the Nāgas—delightful, sovereign lord of all rivers. Here lies the fire of the netherworld, home to the Asuras and other fearsome beings, an endless storehouse of waters. The ocean glows with a divine radiance, the fount of immortality for the gods, supreme and immeasurable, as pure as the celestial waters. Countless great rivers pour into it, their waves dancing in joyous motion. With waves surging swiftly, deep and wide, the ocean shines like the open sky, its body lit by the flames of the netherworld, roaring in its might. The two sisters quickly approach this wondrous sight. Crossing the ocean together, Kadru and Vinatā swiftly descend to where the divine horse, Uccaiḥśravas, stands. They behold this splendid horse, swift as the wind, shining with the radiance of the moon, its manes as dark as time itself. At the root of its tail, many black hairs are visible. Seeing this, Kadru triumphs, and Vinatā, her heart sinking, is bound to servitude, having lost the wager. Thus, Vinatā, defeated and sorrowful, enters into a state of bondage, her spirit weighed down by grief. But even as she suffers, destiny stirs anew. When the appointed time arrives, from the egg that had lain waiting, Garuda, radiant and mighty, is born. He bursts forth, breaking the shell without his mother’s aid, endowed with immense strength and power, able to take any form, go anywhere, and act at will. The newly born bird shines like a blazing fire, fearsome to behold, his eyes bright as lightning, his radiance rivaling the fire that ends the world. In an instant, Garuda grows to immense size, and with a terrible roar, he soars into the sky, fierce as the submarine fire that burns beneath the waves. The gods, beholding this wondrous and terrifying being, are seized with fear. Seeking protection, they approach Agni, the god of fire, and bow before him, addressing him in reverence: “O Agni, do not increase your flames further; surely you do not intend to burn us? That great mass of energy rushes forth from you.” Agni reassures them: “It is not as you think, O destroyers of Asuras. This Garuda is powerful, equal in energy to myself. Born with supreme brilliance, the joy of Vinatā, his radiance has confused you all. He is the destroyer of serpents, the mighty son of Kaśyapa, devoted to the welfare of the gods and the harm of Daityas and Rākṣasas. There is no need for fear here; behold him with me.” The gods then praise Garuda with reverence, declaring, “You are a sage, greatly fortunate, a god, the lord of birds. You are the illuminator, the Sun, the supreme creator, the progenitor; you are Indra, the lord of horses, Śarva, master of the world. You are the face of Brahmā, the priest, Agni, the wind; the sustainer and arranger, Viṣṇu, best among the gods. You are great, unconquered, eternal, immortal, the very radiance and fame we seek, our supreme protector. All that is, and all that is yet to come, is contained in you. You are the highest; all that moves and does not move shines by your rays, as the sun by its beams. You withdraw light from the luminous, ending all that is stable and unstable. As the enraged sun would burn all creatures, so you burn with fire’s brilliance. Terrifying as the fire of dissolution, you destroy at the end of the age. “We have come to you for refuge, O lord of birds, mighty as fire, radiant as lightning, dispeller of darkness, moving among clouds, Garuda, who soars across the sky. You are the giver of boons, lord of both distant and near, unconquerable in valor. By your energy all is heated, O lord of the world, shining with the brilliance of refined gold. Protect us, O great-souled one! Those who travel in the sky, filled with fear, are driven astray by your presence. Compassionate lord, son of the sage Kaśyapa, do not be angry with us; show supreme compassion to the world. Be calm and protect us, for your thunderous voice makes the very heavens and earth tremble. O blessed one, bring us happiness and auspiciousness.” Thus praised by the gods and hosts of sages, Garuda, the mighty Suparṇa, withdrew his overwhelming energy. Now, Garuda, free to go wherever he wished, of great strength and power, approached his mother at the far shore of the great ocean. There he found Vinatā, his mother, afflicted by sorrow and bound in servitude, the consequence of her lost wager. The stage was set for Garuda’s deeds of power and compassion, as he beheld his mother’s suffering and prepared to act for her deliverance.