Within the line of the wheel, he beheld, stationed there for
guarding the Soma two great snakes of the effulgence of blazing fire, with
tongues bright as the lightning-flash, of great energy, with mouth
emitting fire, with blazing eyes, containing poison, very terrible, always
in anger, and of great activity. Their eyes were ceaselessly inflamed with
rage and were also winkless. He who may be seen by even one of the two
would instantly be reduced to ashes. The bird of fair feathers suddenly
covered their eyes with dust. And unseen by them he attacked them from all
sides. And the son of Vinata, that ranger of the skies, attacking their
bodies, mangled them into pieces. He then approached the Soma without loss
of time. Then the mighty son of Vinata, taking up the Amrita from the
place where it was kept, rose on his wings with great speed, breaking into
pieces the machine that had surrounded it. And the bird soon came out,
taking the Amrita but without drinking it himself. And he then wended on
his way without the least fatigue, darkening the splendour of the Sun.
"And the son of Vinata then met Vishnu on his way along the sky. And
Narayana was gratified at that act of self-denial on the part of Garuda.
And that deity, knowing no deterioration, said unto the ranger of the
skies, 'O, I am inclined to grant thee a boon.' The ranger of the skies
thereupon said, 'I shall stay above thee.' And he again spake unto
Narayana these words, 'I shall be immortal and free from disease without
(drinking) Amrita.
Pages:
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167