And Vinata out of affection for her son, again told him these words, ’Him shouldst thou know as a good Brahmana who would not be digested in thy stomach.’  Although she knew the incomparable strength of her son, yet she blessed him heartily, for, deceived by the snakes, she was very much afflicted by woe.  And she said.  ’Let Marut (the god of the winds) protect thy wings, and Surya and Soma thy vertebral regions; let Agni protect thy head, and the Vasus thy whole body.  I also, O child (engaged in beneficial ceremonies), shall sit here for your welfare.  Go then, O child, in safety to accomplish thy purpose.’

“Sauti continued, ’Then Garuda, having heard the words of his mother, stretched his wings and ascended the skies.  And endued with great strength, he soon fell upon the Nishadas, hungry and like another Yama.  And bent upon slaying the Nishadas, he raised a great quantity of dust that overspread the firmament, and sucking up water from amid the ocean, shook the trees growing on the adjacent mountains.  And then that lord of birds obstructed the principal thoroughfares of the town of the Nishadas by his mouth, increasing its orifice at will.  And the Nishadas began to fly in great haste in the direction of the open mouth of the great serpent-eater.  And as birds in great affliction ascend by thousand into the skies when the trees in a forest are shaken by the winds, so those Nishadas blinded by the dust raised by the storm entered the wide-extending cleft of Garuda’s mouth open to receive them.  And then the hungry lord of all rangers of the skies, that oppressor of enemies, endued with great strength, and moving with greatest celerity to achieve his end, closed his mouth, killing innumerable Nishadas following the occupation of fishermen.’”

So ends the twenty-eighth section in the Astika Parva of Adi Parva.

SECTION XXIX

(Astika Parva continued)

“Sauti continued, ’A certain Brahmana with his wife had entered the throat of that ranger of the skies.  The former began to burn the bird’s throat like a piece of flaming charcoal.  Him Garuda addressed, saying, ’O best of Brahmanas, come out soon from my mouth which I open for thee.  A Brahmana must never be slain by me, although he may be always engaged in sinful practices.’  Unto Garuda who had thus addressed him that Brahmana said, ’O, let this woman of the Nishada caste, who is my wife, also come out with me.’  And Garuda said, ’Taking the woman also of the Nishada caste with thee, come out soon.  Save thyself without delay since thou hast not yet been digested by the heat of my stomach.’

“Sauti continued, ’And then that Brahmana, accompanied by his wife of the Nishada caste, came out, and praising Garuda wended whatever way he liked.  And when that Brahmana had come out with his wife, that lord of birds, fleet as the mind, stretching his wings ascended the skies.  He then saw his father, and, hailed by him, Garuda, of incomparable prowess made proper answers.  And the great Rishi (Kasyapa) then asked him, ’O child, is it well with thee?  Dost thou get sufficient food every day?  Is there food in plenty for thee in the world of men?’