Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 19

Garuda eats Nishadas
The serpents discussed and said, ‘Fetch us nectar. Your mother will be freed from bondage’. When the serpents asked for nectar, Garuda asked his mother for some food before he began his journey.
She said, ‘Garuda, in the middle of the ocean is an island filled with tribal-hunters called nishadas. Eat them. Remember never to kill any Brahmin. A Brahmin’s anger is more frightening than fire, poison or sharp sword’.
Brahmin here does not refer to one who wears sacred thread and goes to office. Of late, upanayanam has been misconstrued to be a family gathering wherein focus is only on eating and enjoying.
Do you know what upanayana truly means? Do you know about the significance of agni karya? Do you know about real Brahmanatva? Even to date, there are 1 or 2 in lakhs who still perform fire-worship. Due to them this world is sustained. Their worship is saving the world from all dangers. They are steadfast in their disciplines. They remain immersed in their austerities. To them all, I offer arati.
Even to date they will not eat elsewhere. They cook their own food. They have mastered Vedas. To find them is very rare. If we revere them, the Lord’s grace falls on us. We must never cause tears to arise in the eyes of a Brahmin who conducts fire-worship. If their tears roll to the earth, that land will get ruined.
‘Brahmin is the Guru for all living entities. He must be revered. Even if angry, do not kill him under any situation. Never cheat a Brahmin’.
We must seek them out and help them. They will never approach to ask for anything. It is our fortune if they accept what we give.
‘If he is angered, he can cause more destruction than even Agni and Surya’.
Garuda asked, ‘How does a Brahmin appear? Is he burning like a fire or cool like the moon? How am I to recognize him?’
Vinata said, ‘When swallowing Nishadas if you swallow him, he will remain in your throat. It will burn. Do not kill him. Even if swallowed, he cannot be digested’.
The mother knew of Garuda’s unsurpassed might. But yet with love for her son she blessed, ‘May Vayu protect your wings. May Sun and Moon protect your back. May ashta vasu protect your body. I shall pray for your safety and completion of mission. May your journey be auspicious’.
This incident teaches us that before starting the journey or beginning any important task, we must seek blessings of elders.
Garuda bowed to his mother. Opening his wings, he leapt swiftly into the skies. En route he saw the nishadas. Fiercely he descended on them seeking to devour them. When he killed them, dust raised covered everything from earth to skies. The waters in the oceans dried up. Huge trees began to wobble in fright.
Opening his beak wide, he blocked the path. The nishadas who were running away in fright entered his mouth. It was impossible to withstand his speeds. Birds flew away from the trees. Garuda is the mighty one who troubles his enemies. He was exceedingly hungry.
Nishadas eat fish and huge animals. At times, they enter villages, kill and devour people. As they harm the innocent, his mother had asked him to kill them.
Garuda chewed them all and closed his mouth. In that process of eating them, a Brahmin along with his wife had entered his throat. When his throat began to burn severely, he realized that he had swallowed a Brahmin.
He said, ‘O best among Brahmins! Quickly come out of my mouth. Even if he is worst sinner, I shall never kill a Brahmin’.
The Brahmin said, ‘My wife is a Nishada woman. I cannot live without her. She should accompany me’. Garuda agreed. The Brahmin and wife came out of his mouth.
Thereafter, Garuda again flew swiftly and descended in his father’s ashram. Maharishi Kashyapa asked, ‘My son, how is everyone? Do you get adequate food in the world of humans?’
Garuda said, ‘My mother, brother and me are fine. But I am not having the satisfaction of eating adequate food. The serpents have asked for nectar in exchange for releasing us from bondage. I am on that mission. As suggested by mother, I ate thousands of nishadas. But still am hungry. Please suggest where I can get adequate food’.
Kashyapa said, ‘Look at that pure lake that is renowned even in heaven. In it, a turtle and an elephant are always at fight due to their enmity from their past births. Listen to their story.
There lived 2 brothers- Vibhavasu and Supratika. They were Maharishis. But the elder brother would instantly lose his temper. Both lived together’.