As Garuda soared through the skies, he beheld a mighty elephant, its trunk curled in readiness, leaping into the waters with tremendous force. The elephant’s tusks, trunk, tail, and powerful limbs churned the lake, sending ripples through the waters teeming with countless fish. From within the lake, a formidable turtle, its head raised high, emerged to meet the elephant in battle, brimming with strength and resolve. The elephant stood six yojanas tall and twice as long, while the turtle was three yojanas high and ten yojanas in circumference—both colossal beings. Maddened for combat and intent on each other’s destruction, they unleashed their full might, each determined to accomplish what they thought best for themselves. Meanwhile, a voice instructed Garuda: “Take that elephant, immense as a great mountain, terrifying in form, like a thundercloud, and consume it together with the nectar.” Having said this, Garuda’s father performed auspicious rites for his son, blessing him with words of good fortune for the coming battle with the gods. He promised Garuda a full vessel, brahmins, cows, and all that is most excellent and auspicious, along with blessings for his journey. As Garuda prepared to face the mighty gods, his father assured him that the Rig, Yajur, and Sama hymns, the purifying mantras, sacrificial offerings, secret teachings, and the entirety of the Veda itself would strengthen him in the struggle. Thus blessed and encouraged by his father, Garuda departed. He soon came upon pure waters alive with many kinds of birds. Remembering his father’s words, the swift king of the skies dove down. With one talon he seized the elephant, with the other the tortoise, and then, bearing both, the great bird soared high into the heavens. Ascending, Garuda reached a place of support and approached the divine, wish-fulfilling trees. The force of his wings made those trees tremble in fear. Seeing the golden-branched, wish-fulfilling trees with their moving limbs, the trees themselves thought, “Let us not be broken.” Garuda then approached other incomparable trees, radiant with fruits of gold, silver, and beryl, their trunks encircled by the ocean’s waters. Among these stood the most splendid of all: the Rauhina tree, a thousand yojanas tall, with countless branches, the divine abode of birds. Whoever rested in its shade found instant contentment. As Garuda rushed toward it, the Rauhina tree spoke: “This great branch of mine, a hundred yojanas long—rest upon it and consume the elephant and tortoise.” Garuda, swift and strong as a mountain, shook the Rauhina tree, which was home to thousands of birds, and broke off its massive branch, dense with leaves. With the force of his feet, the branch snapped off clearly, and Garuda held it aloft. Looking around with a smile, Garuda saw the Valakhilya sages—ascetic Brahmarshis—hanging upside down from the branch. Seeing them, Garuda thought, “The sages are hanging here; I must not harm them.” Deciding, “I will kill these as they fall,” the mighty bird firmly grasped the elephant and tortoise with his powerful claws. But out of fear for the sages’ safety, Garuda leapt and seized the branch gently with his mouth, carefully observing their condition. Witnessing this astonishing feat, the great sages were amazed and their hearts trembled as they spoke of Garuda’s might. Now, bearing this heavy burden—the elephant, the tortoise, and the great branch with the sages—Garuda, the foremost of birds and eater of serpents, soared through the sky. Slowly he flew, shaking mountains with the wind of his wings, traveling across many lands. Moved by compassion for the Valakhilyas, Garuda searched for a suitable place to set them down but found none. So, he swiftly flew to Gandhamādana, the greatest of mountains. There he saw his father, Kaśyapa, deep in austerity. Kaśyapa beheld his divine-formed son, radiant with brilliance, strength, and power, swift as thought and wind, resembling a mountain peak, and as awe-inspiring as Brahma’s raised staff. Garuda appeared unthinkable and indescribable, terrifying to all beings, of immense might, fierce as fire, unassailable even by gods, demons, or rākṣasas, destroyer of mountain peaks, and one who could dry up the oceans—a dreadful mover of worlds, resembling Death itself. Seeing his son approach, the venerable Kaśyapa, knowing his intent, spoke gently: “Son, do not act rashly; do not bring suffering upon yourself. Let not the anger of the Valakhilyas and Marīcis burn you.” For Garuda’s sake, Kaśyapa sought to appease the illustrious Valakhilyas, purified by their austerities. “For the welfare of all creatures,” he said, “Garuda wishes to perform a great deed; O ascetics, please grant him your permission.” Thus addressed, the sages departed from the branch and made their way to the sacred mountain Himavat to continue their austerities. When they had gone, Garuda, his face still partly hidden by the branch, turned to his father and asked, “Lord, where shall I release this branch? Please tell me of a place devoid of humans.” Kaśyapa then directed him to a mountain without people, its caves blocked by snow, inaccessible even to the mind. Thus, with his father’s guidance, Garuda could safely lay down his burden and continue on his great quest.