Garuda Breaks Through the Defenses to Steal the Amrita
Garuda enters the place where the amrita is kept, facing a murderous, revolving wheel of blades and two giant, fiery guardian snakes. To succeed, he must shrink, blind, tear, and shatter his way through.
Garuda’s mission was clear: steal the amrita from the gods to pay his mother’s ransom. He arrived at its resting place, assuming a form of golden body as bright as the sun’s rays, and entered with the force of a river plunging into the ocean.
The first defense was a wheel. It revolved continuously around the amrita, its edges keen, its blades sharp, blazing like fire — a murderous instrument created by the gods to slice down any thief. Garuda saw an entry. He made his body very small and in an instant passed through the spokes.
Behind the wheel stood two large snakes, guardians of the nectar. They blazed like flaming fire, their tongues like lightning. Their power was immense, their faces and eyes fiery. They were terrible, angry, always mobile. Their eyes held venom and never blinked. Anyone even seen by them was instantly burnt to ashes.
The bird with beautiful feathers did not hesitate. He instantly flung dust into their eyes, blinding them. While they were sightless, Vinata’s son, the traveller in the skies, attacked from all directions. At will, he tore their bodies into shreds.
Without any delay, he went to the soma (the amrita). The powerful son of Vinata picked up the pot of nectar. Then he flew up, and in his ascent, he shattered the terrible revolving wheel into pieces.
He emerged into the sky, grasping the amrita but without drinking a drop. He proceeded on his way, not tired at all, his radiance so intense it made the sun’s light seem dark.