O Nārada, listen attentively as I recount the greatness of the sacred place called Gāruḍa, renowned for removing all obstacles. In ancient times, there lived a mighty serpent named Maṇināga, the illustrious son of Śeṣa. Out of deep fear of Garuḍa, the king of birds, and with sincere devotion, Maṇināga sought the favor of Lord Śaṃkara, the supreme Maheśvara. Pleased by the serpent’s devotion, the blessed Lord addressed Maṇināga: “Choose a boon, O great serpent.” With folded hands, Maṇināga pleaded, “O Lord, grant me freedom from fear of Garuḍa.” Śaṃbhu, ever compassionate, replied, “So be it; you shall be free from the fear of Garuḍa.” Now fearless, Maṇināga departed and dwelled near the ocean of milk, where the younger brother of Aruṇa, who himself rests in the Milk Ocean, resides. There, the serpent moved about in comfort and coolness, untroubled. Garuḍa, too, frequented that place, and it happened that one day he saw Maṇināga moving about fearlessly. Garuḍa, astonished and angered, seized the great serpent and carried him off to his own abode. Binding Maṇināga with his own powerful bonds, Garuḍa held him fast. At that moment, Nandī, the faithful attendant of Śiva, spoke to the Lord of the worlds, expressing concern: “Surely the serpent does not come; he must have been eaten or bound by Garuḍa, O Lord of the gods. If he were alive, he would not delay.” Hearing Nandī’s words and understanding the situation, Śaṃbhu responded, “The serpent is bound in Garuḍa’s house. Go quickly and praise Viṣṇu, Janārdana, the Lord of the worlds. Bring the bound serpent, the son of Kaśyapa, here at my command.” Receiving these instructions, Nandī went to Viṣṇu, the refuge of all. Nandī conveyed the message to Nārāyaṇa, who was pleased in mind and turned to Garuḍa: “Son of Vinatā, at my command, give the serpent to Nandī.” But Garuḍa trembled and, unwilling, spoke angrily to Viṣṇu in Nandī’s presence: “O mighty Lord, others may give their most dear possessions to their servants, but what I have brought shall be given to no one but you. See, the three-eyed god will release the serpent for Nandī, but what I have brought must be given only to you. I always carry you, my master—what is mine should remain yours. It is not proper for me to give the serpent I have captured to Nandī. This should not be the conduct of noble masters toward virtuous servants. The good reward their servants, but you, whom I have brought, now take away from me. You conquer the demons in battle only by my strength, O Keśava. Though I am powerful, you boast in vain.” Hearing Garuḍa’s words, Viṣṇu, wielder of the discus and mace, laughed gently, standing beside Nandī and watched by the guardians of the worlds. “This wise one says to me, ‘You are weak.’ By your strength, O best of birds, I will defeat all demons,” he replied. Then, with anger calmed, the Lord of fortune addressed Brahmā: “Place your little finger quickly near Nandī.” As Brahmā placed his finger on Garuḍa’s head, Viṣṇu spoke, “It is true you always carry me. Now, O bird, behold righteousness.” At the touch of the finger, Garuḍa’s head was pressed into his belly, and his belly into his foot—he was crushed and became utterly humbled. Distressed, afflicted, and filled with shame, Garuḍa cried out, “Save me, save me, Lord of the universe! I am your servant and offender. You are the master of all worlds, the supporter and the one to be supported. O mighty Lord, you forgive even thousands of offenses. Even when someone has committed a fault, your compassion is boundless. All the sages declare you alone to be the embodiment of compassion, the mother of the world, O Kamala dwelling on the lotus. Protect me, a helpless and distressed child, O you who cherish your offspring.” Moved by Garuḍa’s plight, the goddess Śrī herself spoke to Janārdana, “O Lord, protect your own servant Garuḍa, who has fallen into misfortune.” Janārdana then turned to Nandī, the bearer of Śaṃbhu, and said, “Bring the serpent along with Garuḍa to Śaṃbhu’s presence; by his grace, Garuḍa, upon being seen by Maheśvara, will regain his own form.” Nandī replied, “So be it,” and together with the serpent and Garuḍa, he slowly went to Śaṃkara and reported all that had transpired. Śaṃkara, crowned with the moon, addressed Garuḍa: “Go to the Gaṅgā, O mighty-armed one, to the Gautamī, purifier of the worlds and bestower of all desires. After bathing there, you will regain your form. You will obtain all desires, a hundredfold and a thousandfold. Those scorched by sins and afflicted by misfortune will find their wishes fulfilled; for them, O bird, Gautamī is a true refuge.” Listening to these words, Garuḍa bowed and went to the Gaṅgā. After bathing in her sacred waters, he paid homage to both Śiva and Viṣṇu. Then, restored in form and splendor, the golden-winged bird—mighty, swift, and radiant as thunder—wisely returned to Viṣṇu. From that time onward, that sacred place became known as Gāruḍa, a tirtha that grants all desires. Whatever ritual, bathing, or act is performed there with devotion, O child, becomes imperishable, beloved of both Śiva and Viṣṇu. Afterward, the tale turns to Govardhana, another sacred place, which destroys all sins, brings merit to ancestors, and even by mere remembrance removes sin. Such is its power, O Nārada, as I have witnessed. Now, there was a brāhmaṇa farmer named Jābāli. He was harsh with his oxen, never releasing them from their yoke even when the sun was at its zenith, and he struck them with his goad on their backs and sides. Seeing these two cows, their eyes full of tears, Surabhi, the wish-fulfilling cow and mother of the world, told everything to Nandī. Thus, O Nārada, the greatness of these sacred places and the compassion of the divine are revealed, shining forth for the benefit of all beings.