Garuḍa saw his mother Vinatā weighed down with sorrow and approached her with deep concern. “Mother, tell me the reason for your grief,” he said gently. “I promise, I will act so that your suffering is removed.” Vinatā, her spirit wounded, replied, “My son, I have become a servant to my co-wife. What more can I say, burdened as I am?” She continued, “Today she commands me to carry her, and because of this, I am deeply distressed.” With devotion, Garuḍa reassured her, “I will carry you wherever she wishes to go. Do not grieve, O blessed one. I will free you from all care.” With his mother’s heart somewhat eased by his words, Vinatā went to the side of her rival, Kadrū. To remove his mother’s servitude, the mighty Garuḍa lifted both Vinatā and himself and carried her to the far shore of the ocean, as Kadrū desired. There, he bowed before his mother and asked, “How can I, without doubt, free you from this bondage?” Kadrū answered, “Bring the nectar of immortality from the realm of the gods and give it to my sons. Only then will your powerless mother be released from servitude.” Hearing this, Garuḍa, resolute and swift, soared to Indra’s world. After a fierce struggle, the best of birds seized the pot of nectar and returned. He presented the nectar to his mother, and by this act, Vinatā was truly freed from her bondage. Yet, as the serpents—Kadrū’s sons—went to bathe, Indra reclaimed the nectar. Still, Vinatā’s freedom had been secured through her son’s valor. At that place, kusa grass had been spread out. When the serpents touched the tips of this grass with their tongues, they became two-tongued, for the grass had been licked and thus transformed them. Distressed by a curse from their mother and troubled by their fate, the serpents, led by Vasuki, sought refuge with Brahma. They earnestly described their fear and suffering. The blessed Brahma offered them hope. “Give your sister, who is named, to the great sage Jaratkaru as his wife. A son born from her will save your race; he will be known as Āstīka, without doubt.” Taking Brahma’s words to heart, Vasuki went to the forest and respectfully offered his sister to the sage Jaratkaru. The sage, learning her name, said, “If ever she does anything displeasing to me, I will abandon her.” With this agreement, Jaratkaru accepted her, and Vasuki, his wish fulfilled, returned to his own abode. Jaratkaru built a pure leaf-hut in the great forest, where he lived happily with his new wife. One day, after a meal, the sage fell asleep, with Vasuki’s beautiful sister nearby. Before sleeping, he told her, “Beloved, you must not wake me under any circumstance.” As the sun dipped behind the western mountain and evening approached, she grew anxious. “What should I do?” she wondered. “If I wake him, he will abandon me, but if I let him sleep, the time for his evening rites will pass.” Torn between her fear of abandonment and her duty, she thought, “Better to be abandoned than to destroy righteousness. For the destruction of righteousness leads only to suffering.” Resolving to uphold virtue, she gently awakened the sage. “The time of twilight has come, rise, rise, O virtuous one!” she said softly. Jaratkaru awoke, angered. “I am leaving,” he declared. “You, who have disturbed my sleep, return to your brother’s house.” Trembling, she pleaded, “O one of immeasurable radiance, how can the purpose for which my brother gave me to you be fulfilled if you abandon me now?” The sage calmly replied, “So be it.” Thus, abandoned, she returned to Vasuki’s abode and recounted to her brother all that had transpired. “He said, ‘So be it,’ and then departed, that best of sages.” Vasuki, hearing this, recognized the sage’s truthfulness and, trusting his sister, sheltered her with care. In time, a son was born to the sage and Vasuki’s sister—a son who became renowned as Āstīka. This Āstīka, O noble king, protected your sacrifice, acting for the sake of his mother’s lineage, guided by his own purity and wisdom. A blessed deed has been accomplished: you have honored this sage, born of Vasuki’s sister, and shown respect to the wandering ascetics. May all be well with you, mighty-armed king. You have heard the full story of the Bhāratas, given many gifts, and honored the sages. Yet, even with many virtuous deeds performed, your father did not attain heaven, nor was your entire lineage purified, O best of kings. Therefore, establish a grand temple for the Goddess with devotion. By this act, O Janamejaya, all success will surely be yours. When Śivā is worshipped with supreme devotion, she bestows all perfections, ensures the growth of the lineage, and keeps the kingdom stable. Having performed the Goddess-sacrifice according to proper rule, now listen to the supreme Purāṇa, the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. I will cause you to hear this most sacred story, which delivers from worldly existence, is divine, and filled with many flavors. There is no Purāṇa on earth more worthy of hearing than this, O king, nor is there any worship apart from the lotus feet of the Goddess. Blessed, wise, and fortunate are those in whose hearts the Goddess always dwells, overflowing with love. But those who have not always worshipped the great Māyā, the ever-compassionate Mother, are seen to be greatly afflicted in this world, O Bhārata.