HINDU ZOOLOGTCAL BELIEFS. 257 



allow my body to be fully developed, being jealous of Kadru, you 

 will yet l)e the slave of this same Kadru. But, mother, if 

 you are desirous of having your other son stronf,', take tender 

 care of the egg for five thousand years." After upbraiding his 

 mother thus, the child, Aruna by name, rose to the skies and 

 became the charioteer of the sun, for he had strong arms. He 

 may still be seen in the sky of the early morn urging his steeds 

 forward. 



At long lengtii the second egg batched out, and produced 

 Garuda, the snake-eater. About this time the two sisters saw 

 one day approaching them the gem of all horses — Uchaisrava — 

 who arose from the milk-ocean at the churning of the amritha. 

 " Tell me, sister," said Kadru, " without delay, wliat is the 

 colour of this horse?" Vinata replied: "This king of the 

 horses is white in colour. What colour do you think he is ? 

 Let U9 lay a wager on it." " I think his tail is black," answered 

 Kadru," "but let the loser of the wager become the other's 

 slave." "When the horse came nearer, lo ! its tail w^as black, and 

 Vinata became subject to Kadru. 



Many years after the losing of the wager, Garuda was 

 repeatedly ordered by the Snakes to take them to some islands 

 with an abundance of pure water. After reflecting for some 

 some time the noble bird asked his mother why he should always 

 have to do the bidding of these Snakes. Then did Vinata 

 sorrowfully toll him of the lost wager and how she had not won, 

 being deceived by the sons of Kadru, who, at their mother's 

 command, became dark hairs in Uchaisrava's white tail, thus 

 concealing the true colour. After she had ended, Garuda, in 

 great grief, said to the Snakes : " Tell me, by bringing what 

 thing or gaining what knowledge or doing what great work, we 

 may be freed from this state of slavery." Then answered all 

 the Snakes : " Bring us the amritha by force. Then, bird, will 



\ you be free indeed." 



After several attempts Garuda obtained the nectar, but, when 



I returning, he met Indra, who was uneasy lest anyone should 

 drink of it, and by so doing become, like the gods, immortal. 



I Garuda promised him that he would allow no one to drink of 

 the soma, and stated that he had good reasons for requiring the 

 fluid. " deity of the thousand eyes," said he, " after I lay 

 Zool. 4th scr., vol. XX., July, 1916. x 



