Souti said: -
1. The great bird, assuming a golden body, bright as the rays of the sun, entered (where the Soma was) with great force as a torrent enters the sea.
2. He saw near the Ambrosia a wheel, keen-edged and sharp as the razor, revolving incessantly (round it.)
3. And that fearful instrument of fearful form, as blazing as the blazing Sun, was skilfully created by the celestials to cut down the robbers of the Ambrosia.
4. The great bird saw a passage through it, and stopped for a while. Diminishing his body within an instant, he passed through the spokes of that wheel.
5-6. He beheld, within the line of the wheel, stationed there to guard the Soma, two great snakes blazing as the blazing fire, having tongues like lightning, power incomparable, face and eyes emitting fire, poisonous, terrible, always in anger and always in activity.
7. Their eyes were winkless and always inflamed in anger. He who was even seen by any of the two was instantly reduced to ashes.
8. The great bird (Suparna) suddenly covered their eyes with dust, and thus making them blind, he attacked them from all sides.
9. The son of Vinata, that ranger of the sky, attacking their bodies, mangled them into pieces; and he then without the least delay came to the place where the Soma was.
10. The mighty son of Vinata, taking up the Ambrosia from the place where it was, rose on his wings, breaking the instrument into pieces.
11. He soon came out, but he did not drink the Ambrosia. He then proceeded on his way without the least fatigue, darkening the splendour of the sun.
12. The son of Vinata then saw Vishnu on his way in the sky, and Narayana was pleased with him for his self-denial.
13. The undeteriorating Deity said to the great bird, “I am willing to grant you a boon.” Thereupon the bird said,” I want to stay above you.”
14. He again said to Narayana, “I want to be imortal, and free from disease without drinking the Ambrosia.”
15. Vishnu said to the son of Vinata, “Be it so.” Receiving these two boons, Garuda said to Vishnu,
16. “I shall also grant you a boon. Thereupon Vishnu asked the mighty carrier of great weights to become his vehicle.
17. He placed the bird on the flagstaff of his car saying, “Thus shall you stay above me.” And the bird said to Narayana “Be it so.”
18. Mocking the wind with fleetness, he then swiftly proceeded on his way, and when the great bird was thus going away, Indra hurled at him his thunderbolt.
19. The best of birds, Garuda, when carrying away the Ambrosia, was thus struck with the thunderbolt; and being greatly angry, he laughingly spoke to Indra
20. In sweet words, “I shall respect the Rishi, with whose bones the thunderbolt is made.
21. I shall respect the thunderbolt and you also. O Indra, I cast a feather of mine, end of which even you will never find.
22. I have not felt the slightest pain being, struck by your thunder-bolt.” Having said this, the king of Birds threw out one of his feathers.
23-24. Seeing that beautiful feather, cast by Garuda, all creatures became exceedingly pleased, and they said, “Let this bird be called Suparna (bird with beautiful feathers).” Seeing this, the deity of thousands eyes Purandar, was much surprised, and he thought the bird must be a great being. He then addressed him thus.
Indra said: -
25. “O best of birds, I desire to know the limit of your strength. I also desire to form an eternal friendship with you.
Thus ends the thirty third chapter, Sauparna, in the Adi Parva.