Vinatā, the mother of Garuda, approached her son, the mighty lord of birds, and spoke: “The serpents wish to offer their respects, having attained mastery.” She explained that Kadrū, the mother of serpents, had requested, “Lead us to the radiant one.” Garuda, hearing this, agreed: “So be it.” He allowed the serpents to climb onto his back. Thus, the great host of serpents ascended Garuda, and together they slowly made their way toward the place where the sun god dwelled. As they neared the sun, the serpents were scorched by its intense heat and began to tremble. Overwhelmed, they cried out, “Turn back, O wise one! Salutations to the sun-bird. Enough of the sun’s abode; we are burned by its radiance. Let us depart with you, Garuda, or leave you and go ourselves.” Hearing their pleas, Garuda replied, “I will show you the sun.” With these words, he swiftly soared through the sky, facing the sun. But the serpents’ bodies were burned by the sun’s fierce rays, and in their agony, they fell upon an island of reeds—hundreds of thousands afflicted and scorched. Kadrū, distressed by the anguished cries of her sons fallen to the earth, hurried to comfort them. She turned to Vinatā and reproached her: “Your son has committed a great wrong, acting with excessive malice, for whom there is no peace. 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?” Vinatā, hearing these words, became extremely fearful. She addressed her son Garuda, the great-souled lord of birds: “This is not proper, my son. It is fitting to act with humility, not with pride. What has been said is not appropriate; reversal is not suitable. The virtuous should never act deceitfully, even toward 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 spoke 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 water from Rasātala.” Vinatā, hearing Kadrū’s words, quickly fetched the water from Rasātala and anointed the serpents with it. At that moment, Garuda spoke to Maghavān, Indra, the wielder of a hundred sacrifices: “Let the clouds rain here, for the benefit of the three worlds.” The rain-god poured down, and well-being came to the serpents; the water from Rasātala, born of the Ganges, revived them. The place where Garuda brought water for the destruction of old age and sorrow, where the serpents were anointed, became known as the abode of serpents. The water Garuda brought from Rasātala is none other than 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 called the reviver of serpents. For the destruction of old age and sorrow, on the southern bank of the Ganges, the river Vaṃjarā arose, carrying the very 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. And 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 a hundred thousand sacred places are found at this 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. Now, O Nārada, I will recount with care the event that took place there: a rivalry arose between the gods and the asuras over wealth. Heaven belonged to the gods, and the earth belonged to the asuras; having seized the realm of action, the asuras were everywhere. The asuras then killed the donors of the gods’ shares of sacrifice, depriving all the hosts of gods of their sacrificial portions. Distressed, the gods approached and asked, “What should be done?” I told them: “Having defeated the asuras by force in battle, you shall regain the earth, your rites, offerings, and fame.” Encouraged, the gods departed, eager for battle. The Daityas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas, proud of their strength, united and set out, eager for victory. Among them were Ahi, Vṛtra, Bali, Tvaṣṭṛ, Namuci, Śambara, Maya, and many other warriors, filled with pride. On the side of the gods were Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, Tvaṣṭṛ, Pūṣan, the Aśvins, the Maruts, and the guardians of the worlds—all skilled in various forms of warfare. All those Dānavas, stationed in the southern ocean, exerted themselves greatly in battle, facing toward the southern direction. Trikūṭa, the foremost of mountains, was once the city of the Rākṣasas. Through its forests, they all went together to the southern ocean. There, on Mount Malaya, all assembled; that region of Malaya then became the meeting place of the enemies of the gods.