Section XXIII

"Sauti said, 'Having crossed the Ocean, Kadru of swift speed, accompanied by Vinata, soon alighted near the horse. They then both beheld that foremost of steeds of great speed, with body white as the rays of the moon but having black hairs (in the tail). And observing many black hairs in the tail, Kadru put Vinata, who was deeply dejected, into slavery. And thus Vinata having lost the wager, entered into a state of slavery and became exceedingly sorry.

"In the meantime, when his time came, burst forth from the egg without (the help of his) mother, Garuda of great splendour, enkindling all the points of the universe, that mighty being endued with strength, that bird capable of assuming at will any form, of going at will everywhere, and of calling to his aid at will any measure of energy. Effulgent like a heap of fire, he shone terribly. Of lustre equal to that of the fire at the end of the Yuga, his eyes were bright like the lightning-flash.

And soon after birth, that bird grew in size and increasing his body ascended the skies. Fierce and vehemently roaring, he looked as terrible as second Ocean-fire. And all the deities seeing him, sought the protection of Vibhavasu (Agni).

And they bowed down to that deity of manifold forms seated on his seat and spake unto him these words,

'O Agni, extend not your body! Will you consume us? Lo, this huge heap of your flames is spreading wide!'

And Agni replied,

'O, you persecutors of the Asuras, it is not as you imagine. This is Garuda of great strength and equal to me in splendour, endued with great energy, and born to promote the joy of Vinata. Even the sight of this heap of effulgence has caused this delusion in you. He is the mighty son of Kasyapa, the destroyer of the Nagas, engaged in the well-being of the gods, and the foe of the Daityas and the Rakshasas. Be not afraid of it in the least. Come with me and see.'

Thus addressed, the gods from a distance.

"The gods said,

'You are a Rishi (i.e., one cognisant of all mantras), share of the largest portion in sacrifices, ever resplendent, the controller along with the Rishi wended their way towards Garuda and adored him of birds, the presiding spirit of the animate and the inanimate universe.

You are the destroyer of all, the creator of all; you are the very Hiranyagarbha; you are the progenitor of creation in the form of Daksha and the other Prajapatis; you are Indra (the king of the gods), you are Hayagriva the steed necked incarnation of Vishnu; you are the arrow (Vishnu himself, as he became such in the hands of Mahadeva at the burning of Tripura); you are the lord of the universe; you are the mouth of Vishnu; you are the four-faced Padmaja; you are the Brahmana (i.e., wise), you are Agni, Pavana, etc. (i.e., the presiding deity of every object in the universe).

You are knowledge, you are the illusion to which we are all subject; you are the all-pervading spirit; you are the lord of the gods; you are the great Truth; you are fearless; you are ever unchanged; you are Brahma without attributes; you are the energy of the Sun; you are the intellectual functions; you are our great protector; you are the ocean of holiness; you are purity; you are bereft of the attributes of darkness; you are the possessor of the six high attributes; you are he who cannot be withstood in contest. From you have emanated all things; you are of excellent deeds; you are all that has not been and all that has been.

You are pure knowledge; you displayest to us, as Surya does by his rays, this animate and inanimate universe; you darkenest the splendour of Surya at every moment, and you are the destroyer of all; you are all that is perishable and all that is imperishable.

O you resplendent as Agni, you burnest all even as Surya in his anger burns all creatures. O terrible one, you resistest even as the fire that destroys everything at the time of the Universal Dissolution. O mighty Garuda who movest in the skies, we seek your protection. O lord of birds your energy is extraordinary, your splendour is that of fire, your brightness is like that of the lightning that no darkness can approach.

You reachest the very clouds, and art both the cause and the effect; the dispenser of boons and invincible in prowess. O Lord, this whole universe is rendered hot by your splendour, bright as the lustre of heated gold. Protect these high-souled gods, who overcome by you and terrified withal, are flying along the heavens in different directions on their celestial cars.

O you best of birds, you Lord of all, you are the son of the merciful and high-souled Rishi Kasyapa; therefore, be not wroth but have mercy on the universe.

You are Supreme. O pacify your anger and preserve us. At your voice, loud as the roar of the thunder, the ten points, the skies, the heavens, the Earth and our hearts, O bird, you are continuously shaking. O, diminish this your body resembling Agni. At the sight of the splendour resembling that of Yama when in wrath, our hearts lose all equanimity and quake.

O you lord of birds, be propitious to us who solicit your mercy! O illustrious one, bestow on us good fortune and joy.'

And that bird of fair feathers, thus adored by the deities and diverse sections of Rishis, reduced his own energy and splendour.'"

And thus ends the twenty-third section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.