Garuda and the Quest for Freedom

In ancient times, Sage Kashyapa had two wives, Kadru and Vinata, each blessed with unique children. Kadru, granted a boon by her husband, became the mother of a thousand snakes. Vinata, with a special blessing, gave birth to two radiant sons, one of whom would become a powerful and luminous bird named Garuda. But between the two wives, jealousy simmered, and it would soon lead to unexpected consequences.

One day, Kadru and Vinata came upon the celestial horse, Ucchaishravas, a creature of unparalleled beauty. Vinata believed the horse to be entirely white, while Kadru insisted that its tail was black. They decided on a wager: the one who guessed wrong would serve the other as a slave. Secretly, Kadru instructed her snake sons to coil around the horse’s tail, making it appear black. With this deceit, Kadru won the wager, and Vinata became her servant, bound by her word.

Years passed, and Vinata waited patiently for her second son, Garuda, to be born. After five hundred years, a magnificent bird emerged from her egg, shining like a thousand suns. Garuda was not only powerful but also noble-hearted. He soon learned of his mother’s plight and felt a burning desire to free her from her servitude.

Garuda approached Kadru and her snake sons and pleaded for his mother’s freedom. They replied slyly, “Bring us amrit, the nectar of immortality from the heavens. Only then will we set you and your mother free.”

Determined to end their suffering, Garuda embarked on a perilous journey to the heavens. Battling fierce guards, overcoming divine obstacles, and outsmarting even the gods, Garuda managed to seize the sacred amrit. Triumphant, he returned with the nectar and presented it to the snakes, as demanded.

True to their word, the snakes released Vinata from her bondage. However, before the snakes could drink the amrit, Garuda placed it on a bed of sacred grass. The gods, aware of the theft, reclaimed the nectar before the snakes could partake, sparing them from immortality.

As a reward for his bravery and devotion, the gods offered Garuda a place among them. Thus, Garuda became the immortal mount of Lord Vishnu, a symbol of loyalty and freedom, revered by gods and men alike.

**Moral:** True courage and devotion can break even the heaviest chains, and freedom earned through sacrifice is the highest form of triumph.