Souti Recounts the Birth of Garuda and Aruna
Indra, swollen with pride, steps over the heads of the tiny valakhilya sages. Enraged, they begin a ritual to create a new, more powerful Indra to replace him. To avert disaster, the sage Kashyapa intervenes, redirecting their terrible power into a blessing for his own wife.
Souti began his tale. The great progenitor Kashyapa once undertook a sacrifice to obtain a son. For this, he enlisted the help of gods, sages, and gandharvas. He appointed Indra, the other gods, and the valakhilya sages to gather firewood.
Indra, lord of the gods, carried a mountain-sized load with ease. On his way back, he saw the valakhilyas — rishis no larger than a thumb-joint — struggling together to carry a single palasha leaf. They were emaciated from fasting, and they were grieving because a cow’s hoof-print had filled with water, creating a puddle that was an obstacle to them. Vain about his own strength, Indra laughed contemptuously. He stepped over their heads and passed on.
The insult ignited their anger. They began a great sacrificial act, pouring libations into the fire and chanting mantras. “The gods will have another Indra,” they declared, “capable of going anywhere at will, capable of summoning any power at will. He will bring great fear to the present king of the gods. Through the fruits of our austerities, there will be born one, swift as the mind, who will be a hundred times better than Indra in strength and valour.”
When Indra learned of this, he was terrified. He sought refuge with Kashyapa.
Kashyapa went to the valakhilyas and asked if their act had succeeded. They told him it had. The sage then tried to pacify them. “O ones blessed with austerities,” he said. “The present Indra was appointed by Brahma himself as lord of the three worlds. You are trying to make his words false. But I do not wish to make your intentions false either. Let there be another Indra — for winged beings. Let him be endowed with great strength and valour. Show mercy to Indra, who is now a supplicant before you.”
The valakhilyas saluted Kashyapa. “O Prajapati,” they replied. “Our act was to create an Indra. It is also something you wish, for it was meant to bring you a son. Please accept this act and its fruits. Do what you think is best.”
At that time, Kashyapa’s wife, the goddess Vinata, desired to have a son. She performed austerities and rites, bathed, and served her husband. Kashyapa told her, “O goddess, this act will bear fruit. You will give birth to two valorous sons, lords of the three worlds. Owing to the austerities of the valakhilyas and through my own desire, they will be extremely fortunate and worshipped in all worlds.” He added a warning: “Take good care when you bear these auspicious seeds. One will be a valorous bird, the Indra of all winged beings, capable of summoning every power at will and esteemed by the worlds.”
Pleased, Kashyapa then spoke to Indra. “O Purandara, you will have two powerful birds as brothers. They will cause you no injury. Stop worrying. You will continue to be Indra. But in your arrogance, never again insult those who have knowledge of the brahman. Their words are like poison; their anger is fearsome.”
Indra’s fears were dispelled. Vinata was delighted. In time, she gave birth to two sons: Aruna and Garuda. Aruna, born with a malformed body, became the one who comes before the sun — the charioteer of Surya. Garuda was instated as the Indra of the birds.
“O descendant of the Bhrigu lineage,” Souti concluded. “Now listen to his great deeds.”