In the celestial realms, a serpent found itself bound in the house of Garuda. Observing this, a command was given: Nandi was instructed to go swiftly and praise Vishnu, Janardana, the Lord of all worlds, and to bring the bound serpent—son of Kashyapa—himself, as ordered by his master. Faithful to his duty, Nandi approached the Lord of Fortune, Vishnu, and conveyed the message as he had been asked. Hearing these words, Vishnu, the refuge of the worlds, was pleased and turned to Garuda, his devoted carrier. “Noble son of Vinata,” Vishnu said, “at my command, give the serpent to Nandi.” But Garuda, trembling at this request, refused. With agitation, he spoke to Vishnu in the presence of Nandi: “O mighty Lord, others may offer their most cherished possessions to their servants, but what I have brought is for you alone—no one else may take it. The three-eyed god, Shiva, may release the serpent for Nandi, but as for the serpent I have brought, it is yours to give, not mine. I always bear you, my master; what is mine is rightfully yours. It would not be proper for me to hand over this serpent to Nandi.” Garuda continued, his words impassioned: “Such conduct is not fitting for noble masters toward their loyal servants. The virtuous reward their servants, but you, for whom I have brought this serpent, now take it away. In battle, you conquer the demons only through my strength, O Kesava, yet you boast as if it were yours alone.” Hearing Garuda’s bold words, Vishnu, the wielder of discus and mace, laughed gently, standing beside Nandi as the guardians of the worlds looked on. “This wise one claims I am weak,” Vishnu declared, “but by your strength, O best of birds, I shall defeat all demons.” Thus speaking, the Lord, his anger calmed, turned to Brahma and said, “Quickly, place your little finger near Nandi.” Brahma did as instructed, placing his finger atop Garuda’s head. “It is true, O Garuda, that you always carry me. Now, witness the righteousness of the master.” As Brahma’s finger touched him, Garuda’s head was pressed into his belly, and his belly into his foot—he was crushed and utterly humbled. Distressed, afflicted, and filled with shame, Garuda folded his wings in supplication. “Save me, Lord of the universe! I am your servant and have erred. You are the master of all worlds, the supporter and the supported. O mighty Lord, you forgive thousands of offenses. Even when a fault is committed, your compassion is boundless. All the sages proclaim you alone as the embodiment of compassion, O lotus-dwelling Kamala, mother of the world. Protect me, your child, helpless and distressed, O you who cherish your offspring.” Moved by his plight, the goddess Śrī also interceded with Janardana. “Protect your own servant Garuda, who has fallen into misfortune,” she pleaded. Janardana then turned to Nandi, bearer of Śaṃbhu, and said, “Bring the serpent and Garuda before Śaṃbhu; by his grace, Garuda will regain his true form.” Nandi, accepting the command, took the serpent and Garuda and proceeded slowly to Śaṃkara, the moon-crested Lord, reporting all that had transpired. Śaṃkara addressed Garuda with compassion: “Go to the sacred Gaṅgā, the Gautamī, purifier of the worlds and granter of all desires. Bathe there, and you will regain your form. You shall receive all you desire, a hundredfold and a thousandfold. For those scorched by sin and misfortune, Gautamī is a refuge, fulfilling all wishes.” Garuda listened, bowed in reverence, and went to the Gaṅgā. There, he bathed in her sacred waters, then offered salutations to both Śiva and Viṣṇu. Restored, the golden-winged bird, his body shining like thunder, full of strength and speed, returned wisely to Viṣṇu. From that time, the holy place known as Gāruḍa became celebrated as a site that grants all desires. Whatever ritual, bathing, or act of devotion is performed there becomes imperishable, beloved of both Śiva and Viṣṇu. Thereafter, Govardhana, another sacred place, came to be renowned for destroying all sins, generating merit for ancestors, and removing sin even by remembrance alone. “Such is its power, O Nārada, as I have witnessed,” the sage recounted. In that land lived a brāhmaṇa farmer named Jābāli. He was harsh with his oxen, never releasing them from their yoke, even under the hot midday sun, and striking them with his goad. Surabhi, the wish-fulfilling cow and mother of the world, saw two cows with tears in their eyes and was deeply moved. She told Nandi of their suffering, and Nandi, distressed, reported it to Śaṃbhu. Śaṃbhu answered, “Let all your words be fulfilled.” With Śiva’s command, Nandi brought forth all that was born of cows, and suddenly, all cows vanished from heaven and earth, causing great urgency. The hosts of gods approached, saying, “Without cows, life cannot be sustained.” They were told, “Go to Śaṃkara and petition him.” The gods praised the Lord and explained their plight. Śaṃkara replied, “Nandi knows my will.” The gods then turned to Nandi, requesting, “Give us back the cows, O benefactor.” Nandi answered, “Let a sacrifice called Gosava be performed. Then you shall regain all cows, both celestial and earthly.” Thus, the Gosava sacrifice was established by the gods. By the auspicious side of the Gautamī river, cows multiplied once more, and Govardhana became a sacred place that increases the joy of the gods. Bathing there grants the merit of a thousand cows; the full results of gifts and offerings made there are beyond measure. There is yet another sacred place, Pāpapraṇāśana, destroyer of sin and fear of evil. Listen attentively, O Nārada, to its story. A renowned Brahmin named Dhṛtavrata, famous throughout the world, lived there with his youthful and beautiful wife, Mahī.