When Garuda, the mighty Suparna, approached Indra, the thousand-eyed lord of the three worlds, he declared, “Wherever I myself place this Soma, O Indra, you may then take the kusa grass and carry it away.” Pleased by Garuda’s words, Indra, egg-born and best among birds, said graciously, “Ask of me any boon you desire, for your words have pleased me.” Garuda, thus addressed, responded without recalling the fate of Kadru’s sons, “Let the mighty serpents, O Shakra, become my food.” Indra, lord of all, agreed, “So be it. The mighty serpents shall become your food.” With this promise, Indra, the destroyer of the Danavas, followed Garuda—the great-souled yogi, Hari, god of gods—approving all that Garuda had spoken. Indra then said once again, “I will take the Soma once it is placed.” Thus assured, Garuda swiftly flew to his mother, Vinata. With deep humility, bowing his head, he addressed her, “Mother, I have brought this nectar of immortality from the abode of the gods. Command me, O you of auspicious vows—what shall I do? This nectar that I have brought, I will place for you upon the sacred kusa grass. Once the serpents have bathed and adorned themselves with auspicious rites, as you have wished, they shall partake of it. As you are seated here, so shall it be done for you.” He continued, “Let this mother be mine from today onward; as you all have spoken, your words have been fulfilled for me.” The serpents, hearing this, agreed and went to bathe, replying, “So be it.” Meanwhile, Indra seized the nectar and returned to heaven. After their purification, the serpents returned, eager for the Soma, having bathed and recited prayers, adorned with auspicious rites. Yet, harboring mutual hatred, they rushed forward, each declaring, “I will go first! I will go first!” But when they reached the kusa grass where the nectar had been placed, they discovered it was gone, replaced by an imitation. Realizing what had happened, they understood the deception. Thinking, “This is the place of the Soma,” the serpents licked the blades of darbha grass. Because of this, their tongues were split in two. The kusa grass, having been touched by the nectar, became immortal and purifying, but the serpents, deceived and abandoned by Vinata, fell into despair by Garuda’s power. Thus, Garuda, the great-souled one, had taken the nectar and left the serpents two-tongued. Filled with supreme joy, his aim accomplished, Garuda delighted his mother Vinata in the forest. Honored by the birds as the devourer of serpents, his fame, however, was diminished. It is said that whoever hears or recites this story in the assembly of foremost Brahmins will surely gain merit and attain heaven by praising the great-souled lord of birds. At this point, the sage Sauti was addressed, “O Sutanandana, you have told us the cause of the curse upon the serpents, and the story of Vinata and her son. You have spoken of the boons granted by their husband to Kadru and Vinata, and the names of Vinata’s two bird sons. But, O son of Suta, you have not yet recounted the names of the serpents; we wish to hear their principal names.” Sauti replied, “O ascetic, the names of the serpents are many, and I cannot recite them all. But listen as I tell you their chief names: First was born Shesha, then Vasuki; after them came Airavata, Takshaka, Karkotaka, and Dhananjaya. Kaliya, Maninaga, Apurana, Pinjaraka, Elapatra, and Vamana were also born as serpents. Nila and Anila, Kalmasha and Shabala, Aryaka and Ugraka, and Kalashapotaka followed. Sumanakhya, Dadhimukha, Vimalapindaka, Apta, Kotaraka, Shankha, and Valishikha; Nishtanaka, Hemaguha, Nahusha, Pingala, Bahyakarna, Hastipada, and Mudgarapindaka; Kambala and Ashvatara, Kalikeya, the two Vrttasamvartakas, and the two known as Padma; Shankhamukha, Kushmandaka, Kshema, and Pindaraka; Karavira, Pushpadamshtra, Bilvaka, Bilvapandura, Mushakada, Shankhashira, Purnabhadra, and Haridraka; Aparajita, Jyotika, Pannaga, Shrivaha, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, and the mighty Shankhapinda; Viraja, Subahu, the mighty Shalipinda, Hastipinda, Pitharaka, Sumukha, and Kaunapashana; Kuthara, Kunjara, Naga, Prabhakara, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Tittiri, and Halika; Kardama the great Naga, Bahumulaka, Karkara and Akarkara, Kundodara and Mahodara. These, O best of twice-born, are the principal Nagas named; the rest, being many, are not mentioned by name. The offspring of these, and their descendants, are countless; knowing this, I do not recount them all, O ascetic. In truth, there are thousands, tens of thousands, and crores of serpents—impossible to enumerate.” Thus was the tale of Garuda, the nectar, and the great serpents told, bringing blessings to all who hear it.