Shloka 24
Ananta-Śeṣa Tapas and the Bearing of the Earth (अनन्त-शेष-तपस् तथा महीधारणम्)
ततो नवत्या नवतीर्मुखानां कृत्वा महात्मा गरुडस्तरस्वी । नदी: समापीय मुखैस्ततस्तै: सुशीघ्रमागम्य पुनर्जवेन,तब वेगशाली महात्मा गरुडने अपने शरीरमें आठ हजार एक सौ मुख प्रकट करके उनके द्वारा नदियोंका जल पी लिया और पुनः बड़े वेगसे शीघ्रतापूर्वक वहाँ आकर उस जलती हुई आगपर वह सब जल उड़ेल दिया। इस प्रकार शत्रुओंको ताप देनेवाले पक्षवाहन गरुडने नदियोंके जलसे उस आगको बुझाकर अमृतके पास पहुँचनेकी इच्छासे एक दूसरा बहुत छोटा रूप धारण कर लिया
tato navatyā navatīr mukhānāṁ kṛtvā mahātmā garuḍas tarasvī | nadīḥ samāpīya mukhais tatas taiḥ suśīghram āgamya punaḥ javena ||
Then the mighty and swift Garuḍa, that great-souled one, manifested ninety times ninety mouths. With those mouths he drank up the waters of the rivers, and returning again with great speed, he poured that water upon the blazing fire. Thus Garuḍa—scorcher of foes—quenched the flames with river-water; and, intent on reaching the nectar, he assumed yet another, much smaller form.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary power is portrayed as meaningful when directed toward a purposeful vow: Garuḍa uses his might and speed not for display but to remove an obstacle and continue his mission toward amṛta, emphasizing determined effort and strategic action in pursuit of a chosen duty.
Śaunaka describes Garuḍa manifesting 8100 mouths, drinking up river-water, rushing back, and dousing a blazing fire that blocks the way to the nectar; after extinguishing it, Garuḍa assumes a smaller form to proceed toward amṛta.