Garuḍa, the mighty son of Vinatā, approached the place where the nectar of immortality was guarded. There, he beheld two serpents of extraordinary power, their eyes venomous and fiercely wrathful, never blinking, always alert. These formidable guardians, set to protect the soma, possessed such strength that anyone upon whom their gaze fell would be instantly reduced to ashes. Faced with such terrifying adversaries, Garuḍa was momentarily dismayed. He wondered how he could possibly overcome these two mighty serpents, known as devourers of the tawny. Yet, after a brief moment of doubt, Garuḍa shook off his fear and devised a clever plan. He stirred up dust and cast it over their eyes, blinding them. While unseen, he struck them from all sides, overwhelming them with his speed and power. Mounting their bodies, Garuḍa, who moves freely through the sky, swiftly cut them in two and rushed toward the soma. With great strength, he seized the nectar, tore apart the device that held it, and soared upwards, his speed so great that he blocked the brilliance of the sun as he departed. Garuḍa did not drink the nectar; instead, he carried it away, tireless and undiminished in his vigor. In the sky, Garuḍa encountered Viṣṇu, the imperishable god, who was pleased with Garuḍa’s selfless deed, performed without any trace of greed. Viṣṇu spoke kindly to Garuḍa, offering him a boon. Garuḍa requested, “Let me always remain above you.” He then asked for another blessing: “May I be ageless and immortal, even without drinking the nectar.” Viṣṇu granted both wishes, and Garuḍa, grateful, spoke to Viṣṇu, offering him a boon in return. “May a boon be given to you as well; let the Blessed Lord choose.” Viṣṇu chose Garuḍa as his vehicle, making him his banner and declaring, “You shall remain above me.” Garuḍa agreed and departed. With tremendous speed and force, rivaling the wind, Garuḍa continued his journey. As he went, Indra, king of the gods, struck Garuḍa with his thunderbolt, angered by Garuḍa’s possession of the nectar. Yet Garuḍa, though struck, laughed and spoke gently to Indra. “I will honor the sage whose bone became the thunderbolt. I will honor the thunderbolt and you, O Śatakratu. I will shed a single feather, whose end you will not find. Nor do I feel any pain here from the blow of the thunderbolt.” With these words, Garuḍa released his son. Those who witnessed the beautiful feather declared, “Let him be Suparṇa.” Purandara, the thousand-eyed Indra, recognizing Garuḍa’s greatness, spoke with awe: “I wish to know your supreme and unsurpassed strength, and I desire endless friendship with you, O best of birds.” Garuḍa responded warmly, “Let there be friendship between us as you wish, O Purandara. But know that my strength is truly great and unbearable. The virtuous do not praise their own strength unprompted, for such boasting brings reproach. Even when asked, one should speak of one’s virtues, but not proclaim them without cause. Yet, since you have called me friend and asked, I will tell you. O Śakra, with a single wing I can bear this earth with its mountains, forests, waters, and you as well, if you rely on me. I could carry, without fatigue, all the worlds together with their stationary and moving beings; know this to be my great strength.” Having spoken thus, Garuḍa was addressed by Shaunaka, lord of the gods, benefactor of all worlds. “Just as you have said, so it shall be; all is possible in you. Now accept from me this supreme and everlasting friendship. If there is no need for Soma by me, let Soma be given. Those who would trouble us are those to whom you would give this. For a certain reason, I am taking this Soma. I will not give Soma to anyone for consumption. Wherever I myself place this Soma, O thousand-eyed one, you may then take the grass and carry it away, O lord of the three worlds. Pleased by your words, O egg-born one, take from me whatever boon you desire, O best of birds.” Garuḍa replied, not recalling the sons of Kadru, “Let the mighty serpents, O Shakra, become my food.” Indra, lord of all, agreed, “Let the mighty serpents become your food.” Having said “so be it,” the destroyer of the Danavas followed Garuḍa, the great-souled lord of yogis, Hari, god of gods. Indra also approved all that Garuḍa had said and promised, “I will take the Soma once it is placed.” Garuḍa, swift as ever, went to his mother. With humility and bowed head, he spoke, “This nectar of immortality has been brought from the gods’ abode by me. Command me, O mother, what shall I do, O you of auspicious vows? This nectar of immortality that I have brought, I will place for you upon the kusa grass.