Garudapanchasath-sloka-9

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8.AharthAram suDhAyAh dhuraDhigamamahAchakradhurgasThithAyAh

jethAram vajrapANeh saha vibuDhagaNaih Ahave bAhuvegAth

vishNou sampreeyamANe varavinimayatho viSvavikhyAthakeerthim

dhevam yA asootha sA asou dhiSathu bhagavathee Sarma dhAkshAyanee nah

May the daughter of Dhaksha , who gave birth to the one who, while bringing the nectar from the inaccessible fort protected by the wheel, fought and won the devas including Indra wielding vajrayudha, and who acquired reknown in the world by pleasing the Lord Narayana and exchanged the boon with Him, give us comfort.

In this sloka Desika invokes Vinatha the mother of Garuda . Starting from this till the 25th sloka, we have the desription of the exploits of Garuda in bringing the nectar from the celestial capital to free his mother.

Vinatha is the mother of Garuda and Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun. She was enslaved by Kathru another wife of her husband, sage Kasyapa, one of the prajapathis, who was entrusted with the work of procreation and had many wives through whom almost all beings including the devas and asuras came into being. Kathru was the mother of serpents. Once when both of them were bathing in the river they saw the celestial horse, Ucchaisravas flying in the air and Kathru entered into a wager with Vinatha that the tail of Ucchaisravas contains black colour. When Vinatah said it was all white Kathru said that if it is proved otherwise Viinatha has to become her slave. Kathru won by deceit as her children the nagas went and circled the tail of Ucchaisravas to make it look black.

When Vinatha was in bondage Garuda wanted to know whether he could free her by any means and was told that by bringing the nectar from the heaven he could buy her back. This is the reason for Garuda to go to devaloka to seize nectar and fight with the devas in consequence. Garuda brought the nectar but the serpents did not have a chance to drink it as Garuda played a trick on them and Indra carried it back before they could taste it. Garuda gave them the vessel containing nectar and Vinatha was freed. Indra by agreement followed close on heels and was waiting and when Garuda told the serpents to go and take bath Indra stole it and took it back to devaloka. The serpents are supposed to have licked the darba grass on which the amrtha was spilt and hence got split tongue. This was the cause of enmity between the serpents and Garuda.

The fight between Garuda and his becoming the vehicle of the Lord as a consequence are related in detail in the slokas that follow.