Chapter 31
“Saunaka said, ‘O son of Suta, what was Indra’s fault, what his act ofcarelessness? How was Garuda born in consequence of the ascetic penancesof the Valakhilyas? Why also Kasyapa–a Brahman–had the king of birdsfor a son? Why, too, was he invincible of all creatures and unslayable ofall?
Why also was that ranger of the skies capable of going into everyplace at will and of mustering at will any measure of energy? If theseare described in the Purana, I should like to hear them.’
“Sauti said, ‘What thou askest me is, indeed, the subject of the Purana.O twice-born one, listen as I briefly recite it all.
“Once upon a time, when the lord of creation, Kasyapa, was engaged in asacrifice from desire of offspring, the Rishis, the gods, and theGandharvas, all gave him help. And Indra was appointed by Kasyapa tobring the sacrificial fuel; and with him those ascetics the Valakhilyas,and all the other deities. And the lord Indra, taking up according to hisown strength, a weight that was mountain-like, brought it without anyfatigue. And he saw on the way some Rishis, of bodies of the measure ofthe thumb, all together carrying one single stalk of a Palasa (Buteafrondosa) leaf. And those Rishis were, from want of food, very lean andalmost merged in their own bodies. And they were so weak that they weremuch afflicted when sunk in the water that collected in an indentation onthe road produced by the hoof of a cow. And Purandara, proud of hisstrength, beheld them with surprise, and laughing at them in derisionsoon left them behind insulting them, besides, by passing over theirheads. And those Rishis being thus insulted were filled with rage andsorrow. And they made preparations for a great sacrifice at which Indrawas terrified. Hear, O Saunaka, of the wish for accomplishment of whichthose vow-observing wise, and excellent ascetics poured clarified butterof the sacrificial fire with loudly uttered mantras, ‘There shall beanother Indra of all gods, capable of going everywhere at will, and ofmustering at will any measure of energy, and striking tear into the(present) king of the gods. By the fruit of our ascetic penance, let onearise, fleet as the mind, and fierce withal.’ And the lord of thecelestials of a hundred sacrifices, having come to know of this, becamevery much alarmed and sought the protection of the vow-observing Kasyapa.And the Prajapati Kasyapa, hearing everything from Indra, went to theValakhilyas and asked them if their sacrifice had been successful. Andthose truth-speaking Rishis replied to him, saying, ‘Let it be as thousayest!’ And the Prajapati Kasyapa pacifying them, spake unto them asfollows, ‘By the word of Brahman, this one (Indra) hath been made theLord of the three worlds. Ye ascetics, ye also are striving to createanother Indra! Ye excellent ones, it behoveth you not to falsify the wordof Brahman. Let not also this purpose, for (accomplishing) which ye arestriving, be rendered futile. Let there spring an Indra (Lord) of wingedcreatures, endued with excess of strength! Be gracious unto Indra who isa suppliant before you.’ And the Valakhilyas, thus addressed by Kasyapa,after offering reverence to that first of the Munis, viz., the PrajapatiKasyapa, spake unto him:
“The Valakhilyas said, ‘O Prajapati, this sacrifice of us all is for anIndra! Indeed this hath also been meant for a son being born unto thee!Let this task be now left to thee. And in this matter do whatsoever thouseest to be good and proper.’
“Sauti continued, ‘Meanwhile, moved by the desire of offspring, the gooddaughter of Daksha, the vow-observing, amiable, and fortunate Vinata, herascetic penances over, having purified herself with a bath in that seasonwhen connubial companionship might prove fruitful, approached her lord.And Kasyapa spake unto her, ‘Respected one, the sacrifice commenced by mehath borne fruit. What hath been desired by thee shall come to pass. Twoheroic sons, shall be born unto thee, who shall be the lords of the threeworlds. By the penances of the Valakhilyas and by virtue of the desirewith which I commenced my sacrifice, those sons shall be of exceedinglygood fortune and worshipped in the three worlds!’ And the illustriousKasyapa spake unto her again, ‘Bear thou these auspicious seeds withgreat care. These two will be the lords of all winged creatures. Theseheroic rangers of the skies will be respected in all the worlds, andcapable of assuming any form at will.
“And the Prajapati, gratified with all that took place, then addressedIndra of a hundred sacrifices, saying, ‘Thou shalt have two brothers ofgreat energy and prowess, who shall be to thee even as the helpmates.From them no injury shall result unto thee. Let thy sorrow cease; thoushalt continue as the lord of all. Let not, however, the utterers of thename of Brahma be ever again slighted by thee. Nor let the very wrathfulones, whose words are even the thunderbolt, be ever again insulted bythee. Indra, thus addressed, went to heaven, his fears dispelled. AndVinata also, her purpose fulfilled, was exceedingly glad. And she gavebirth to two sons, Aruna and Garuda. And Aruna, of undeveloped body,became the fore-runner of the Sun. And Garuda was vested with thelordship over the birds. O thou of Bhrigu’s race, hearken now to themighty achievement of Garuda.'”
“So ends the thirty-first section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.
