Symbolism in Small Body, Big Victory: Garuda's Last Test Before Getting Amrita - Defeating Snakes And Wheel
In the Astika Parva
of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, Garuda goes to bring Amrita so that his
mother Vinata can be freed from slavery to Kadru and the snakes. In chapter 28,
he fights the Devas and defeats them. Both sides were following Dharma in their
own way, the Devas to protect Amrita and Garuda to free his mother, but in this
case Dharma was with Garuda. He put out the fire around Amrita by bringing
water from rivers. Still, the journey was not finished. Chapter 29 tells about
the last hurdle.
Using Intelligence Instead of Size
Until this point Garuda was gigantic, and he won by
strength. But the Devas had made the last defence in such a way that a big body
is of no use. So Garuda made himself very small, with a golden body shining
like the sun's rays, and entered like a river entering the ocean.
Near the Amrita, there was a wheel with sharp blades,
revolving all the time, made by the Devas to cut anyone who tried to steal.
Garuda saw a small gap in the spokes and passed through it in one moment. He
did not break the wheel first. He first understood it, then found the way.
The Two Guard Snakes
Behind the wheel, two huge snakes were guarding Amrita.
Their eyes were full of poison and never blinked, and whoever they looked at
was burnt to ashes. Garuda did not fight them face to face. He threw dust in
their eyes and made them blind, then attacked from all sides and tore them to
pieces. After that he took the Amrita and flew into the sky, breaking the wheel
as he left.
Symbolism
Elders explain this episode in a deeper way. The wheel can
be seen as the cycle of time and worldly life, which cuts those who are caught
in it. The two snakes with poisonous sight can be seen as desire and anger, or
greed and hatred, which destroy a person just by looking at the wrong thing.
Amrita is the highest goal, freedom and immortality. Garuda becomes small,
which shows that ego must be reduced before one can pass through the difficult
places of life.
Later Result
After this, Bhagavan Vishnu was pleased with Garuda's
courage and his lack of greed, because Garuda carried Amrita and did not taste
it even once. He gave Garuda the boon of immortality without drinking Amrita,
and made him his vahana. So selfless effort got a bigger reward than the object
itself.
Teachings and Life Lessons
First, different obstacles need different methods. Garuda
used force against the Devas, but used smallness and cleverness for the wheel
and dust for the snakes. A wise person changes the approach according to the
problem.
Second, a good purpose gives strength. Garuda was not
fighting for himself but for his mother's freedom. The Mahabharata repeats
again and again the idea "Yato dharmastato jayah", meaning where
there is Dharma, there is victory, which is also said by Gandhari to her son
Duryodhana before the great war.
Third, self effort matters. The Bhagavad Gita (chapter 6,
verse 5) says a person should lift himself by his own self and not let himself
down. Garuda did not wait for anyone's help.
Fourth, do not be greedy when you reach the goal. He had
Amrita in his hands and did not drink it.
Relevance Today
In modern life also we meet the "wheel" of deadlines, competition and pressure, and the "snakes" of anger and jealousy. Many times we try to win with ego and loud force, but real success comes by staying humble, being alert and choosing the right method. Also, if our intention is to help family or society and not just ourselves, we find courage and clarity more easily.