In the previous episode, we had witnessed an important “connection” in the loop, wherein Kadru is cursing all her sons for disobeying her order. She curses all of them to go and fall into the “Sarpa-Yaaga” that would be conducted by a king very soon and die in it. However, one “smart son” by name Karkotaka exempts himself from his mother’s curse by accepting to obey her order. Accordingly, Karkotaka hurries to the place where the “Ucchashravas” horse was standing. He quickly gets on to it and coils himself around its tail, thus making it appear black in color. Next morning when both Kadru and Vinata arrive at the scene, the tail of the horse seems to be black in color! Exclaiming the same, Kadru tells Vinata that the tail is really black in color and that Vinata has lost the contest straightaway! As a result of this, Vinata has to become Kadru’s slave from that very moment itself!
Unable to believe her eyes, Vinata couldn’t understand what was happening. How can a white horse’s tail become black overnight? She couldn’t digest what was happening, however, she was left with no other choice. She did not have anything to defend herself now! Thus, Vinata had no other option but to accept her defeat to Kadru. As a result, Vinata was enslaved by Kadru and she had to do all whatever Kadru was asking her to do. This went on for a while. As days and months were progressing, Vinata’s son Garuda was seeing how his mother was being tortured by Kadru. He was fuming within himself upon seeing how Kadru was ill-treating his mother. However, he wasn’t able to step in, because he had no connection with what was happening, and Vinata had accepted her failure as well. However, Garuda was thinking within himself thus, “Oh my God! Although I’m so powerful physically, I’m unable to relieve my mother of the torture she’s experiencing. However, I can’t see my mother suffering like this. Hence, let us do something out of the box!”
Thinking thus, Garuda decides to go and talk to Kadru’s sons and see if they could do something about this. As Garuda approaches the snakes, he sees all of them sitting in one corner, shaking with fear! All of us know by now as to why they are shaking with fear, isn’t it? However, Garuda was unaware of what had conspired. He was expecting the snakes to be overconfident and roaming around with pride. However, what he saw was totally the opposite. Their faces were faded and something was worrying them so badly. All of them seemed to be in some sort of a fear. Garuda approached them and asked why they were like this. Upon Garuda asking, the snakes told him the entire story as to how their mother herself cursed them to go and fall into the “Sarpa-Yaaga” and die. Fearing death, all of them were in a deep sense of worry and anxiety was gripping them!
As Garuda hears the story, he feels sorry for his brothers. However, within himself, Garuda was smart too. He saw this as an opportunity to save his mother and pull her out of Kadru’s slavery treatment. He asks the snakes thus, “Oh my dear brothers! I understand the trouble that is mounting upon you. If at all there’s a chance that I can save all of you from this trouble, will you help me in saving my mother from Kadru’s torture?” Upon this, the snakes reply back, “Oh Garuda! It is nice of you to propose this idea to us. However, please understand – Our mother did not listen to our words! We requested her not to enslave your mother Vinata. It is only for this reason that we’re cursed! However, let us give it another try. You’ve to do us a favor – Can you somehow get the “Amrita” (The divine nectar) to us and make us drink it? With that, we would escape death, and with that, we shall take on our mother and release Vinata! What do you say?”
Listening to this, Garuda too thought that this is a good idea – This seems to be a “win-win” situation for both! On one hand, the snakes would escape the “Sarpa Yaaga” and with that, Kadru’s curse can be neutralized. Once this is done, on the other hand, these snakes can go back to their Kadru and command her to leave Vinata alone. Thus, with the “Amrita”, both the snakes and Vinata can be freed up! Hence, Garuda replies in the affirmative thus, “Oh brothers! This is an excellent idea! I shall somehow get you the “Amrita” very soon. Give me some time. I shall find out its whereabouts and somehow bring that to all of you. You can consume it and become immortal. With that, you can save Vinata from Kadru!
Upon agreeing to the snakes thus, Garuda went to his mother Vinata to convey this deal. Vinata too was very happy and blessed her son with victory in his pursuit. So what happens next? Was Garuda going to be successful in his attempt of bringing the “Amrita” to the snakes? Let us wait and watch the show in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 