Once, Kadrū, ever concerned for her sons’ welfare and her own prosperity, approached Vinatā, the mother of the great bird Garuḍa. With a mixture of longing and admiration, Kadrū said, “Your son goes to salute the sun unhindered; indeed, among all the three worlds, you are truly blessed—even though you are a servant.” Vinatā, though astonished and concealing her own sorrow, replied to Kadrū, “But why do your sons not go to see the sun?” Then, with a gentle tone, she continued, “O fortunate one, let my sons carry your children to the abode of the serpents. Near the ocean there is a cool lake where they dwell.” Heeding this, Suparṇa—Garuḍa himself—carried the serpents, along with Kadrū and Vinatā, to that place. Kadrū, delighted by Garuḍa’s kindness, spoke with gratitude to Vinatā, the mother of Vainateya. Then, with humility, Kadrū addressed Garuḍa, the leader of the birds: “My sons wish to see the swan, the guru of the three worlds; after offering their respects, they will then proceed to the sun, which is my abode. Please, each day, lead my sons to the solar sphere.” Hearing this, Vinatā trembled, distressed at Kadrū’s request. She said, “O mother of serpents, I am not able; my son will not lead your children. After seeing the sun god, let them return again.” Vinatā then spoke to her son, Garuḍa, the lord of birds: “The serpents wish to offer their respects, having attained mastery. The mother of serpents said to me, ‘Lead us to the radiant one.’” Garuḍa consented, saying, “So be it,” and allowed the serpents to ascend onto his mighty form. Thus, the host of serpents mounted Garuḍa, and he carried them slowly towards the place where the sun god resided. As they drew near, the fierce heat of the sun scorched them, and the serpents trembled in agony. “Turn back, O wise one!” they cried. “Salutations to the sun-bird! Enough of the sun’s abode; we are burned by the sun’s radiance. Let us depart with you, Garuḍa, or leave you and go ourselves.” Hearing their plea, Garuḍa said, “I will show you the sun.” So saying, he swiftly soared through the sky, facing the sun directly. But the serpents, their bodies burning from the sun’s intense radiance, fell upon a nearby island of reeds—hundreds of thousands of them, scorched and afflicted. Their anguished cries reached Kadrū, who, greatly distressed, hurried to comfort her sons. In her grief, she turned to Vinatā and accused, “Your son has committed a great wrong, acting with excessive malice, for whom there is no peace.” Vinatā replied, “There is no other way to act; the lord of serpents must follow the master’s command. If the great sage Kāśyapa, full of splendor, were here, there would be no harm. How, then, can there be peace for my sons, O beautiful one?” Hearing these words, Vinatā became fearful. She spoke to her son Garuḍa, the mighty king of birds, “This is not proper, my son; it is fitting to act with humility, not with pride. What has been done is not appropriate; reversal is not suitable. The virtuous should never act deceitfully, even towards enemies. Whether to a learned person or an outcaste, the moon shines equally. Those who are unable to act openly, my son, perform harmful deeds by trickery; those base men, powerless to act directly, resort to force.” Then, Vinatā turned to Kadrū, the mother of serpents. “What should I do so that peace may come to your sons? I will do that. Old age has seized them—tell me, and I will bring them peace.” Kadrū replied, “Peace will come to my sons if they are anointed with the water from Rasātala.” Upon hearing this, Vinatā quickly brought water from Rasātala and anointed the serpents with it. Then Garuḍa spoke to Maghavān, Indra, the wielder of a hundred sacrifices, “Let the clouds rain here, for the benefit of the three worlds.” Thus, the rain-god poured down his blessings, and well-being returned to the serpents. The water from Rasātala, born of the Ganges, revived them. That water, brought by Garuḍa for the destruction of old age and sorrow—where the serpents were anointed—became known as the abode of serpents. The water that Garuḍa brought from Rasātala is the Ganges water, which destroys all sins for everyone. Because it removed old age for the serpents, the water from Rasātala, born of the Ganges, is known as the reviver of serpents. For the destruction of old age and sorrow, on the southern bank of the Ganges, the river Vaṃjarā arose, directly carrying the essence of immortality. The Ganges, born of Rasātala, which removes the pain of old age, poverty, and suffering, is the same as that which appeared in the world of mortals. What more can be said of the place where these two rivers meet? By merely remembering it, heaps of sins are destroyed. Who can describe the fruit of bathing and giving gifts there? The wise say that there are a hundred thousand sacred places at that confluence. Nowhere else is there a holy place equal to the confluence with Vaṃjarā, which grants all prosperity and destroys all heaps of sin; even by remembering it, calamities are dispelled. There is a holy place called Devāgama, which grants all desires and well-being, bestowing enjoyment and liberation to people, and satisfaction to ancestors. And now, O Nārada, let me recount with care the event that took place there: a rivalry arose between the gods and the asuras over wealth.