Garuḍ
Also known as: Suparṇa · Family: Gods · Role: king of birds · First appears: Book I, Canto 42 · Sagar’s Sacrifice
In Book I, Canto 42, Garuḍ, also called Suparṇa, speaks to Anśumán as the son of Vinatá. In Book II, Canto 25, Kauśalyá recalls the blessing Vinatá once gave Suparṇa.
In Book III, Canto 14, Vinatá gives birth to Garuḍ and Aruṇ. In Canto 35, Garuḍ carries an elephant and tortoise to a fig-tree, then bears away the bough and his prey, freeing the hermits from danger. He also breaks through the iron nets and jewel chamber to take the heavenly drink from Indra’s palace.
In Book VI, Canto 50, Garuḍ frees Ráma and Lakshmaṇ from the serpent-bonds and heals their wounds. He calls himself their guardian and friend: “Garuḍ, the lord of all that fly, Thy guardian and thy friend am I.”
Relationship record
Life events
- Vinatá gave birth to Aruṇ and Garuḍ.(Book III, Canto 14 · Jatáyus)
- Garuḍ carried an elephant and tortoise to a fig-tree to eat them.(Book III, Canto 35 · Rávan’s Journey)
- “Thither the feathered king of yore An elephant and tortoise bore, And lighted on a bough to eat The captives of his taloned feet.”
- Garuḍ bore away the bough and his captured prey, freeing the hermits from danger.(Book III, Canto 35 · Rávan’s Journey)
- “But pitying their sad estate The feathered monarch raised the weight Of the huge bough, and bore away The loosened load and captured prey.”
- Garuḍ broke through the iron nets and jewel chamber and took the heavenly drink from Indra’s palace.(Book III, Canto 35 · Rávan’s Journey)
- “He rent the nets of iron first, Then through the jewel chamber burst, And bore the drink of heaven away That watched in Indra’s palace lay.”
- Garuḍ freed Ráma and his brother from the serpent-bonds and healed their wounds.(Book VI, Canto 50 · The Broken Spell)
- With: Ráma
- “And those transformed to shaft that bound The princes vanished in the ground. On Raghu’s sons his eyes he bent, And hailed the lords armipotent. Then o’er them stooped the feathered king, And touched their faces with his wing. His healing touch their pangs allayed, And closed each rent the shafts had made. Again their eyes were bright and bold, Again the smooth skin shone like gold. Again within their shell enshrined Came memory and each power of mind: And, from those numbing bonds released, Their spirit, zeal, and strength increased. Firm on their feet they stood”
Book I, Canto 42 · Sagar’s Sacrifice
- parent: Vinatá “The son of Vinatá began:”
- with Anśumán (Garuḍ advises Anśumán to seek Gangá’s descent.) “Then thus unto the weeping man The son of Vinatá began:”
Book II, Canto 25 · Kausalyá’s Blessing
- parent: Vinatá “Yea, such as Vinatá once gave To King Suparṇa swift and brave,”
- patron: Vinatá “Yea, such as Vinatá once gave To King Suparṇa swift and brave, Who sought the drink that cheers the skies, Attend, my child, thine enterprise!”
Book III, Canto 14 · Jatáyus
- parent: Vinatá “Aruṇ and Garuḍ swift of flight By Vinatá were given to light,”
Book III, Canto 35 · Rávan’s Journey
- enemies with Indra (Garuḍ steals the drink of heaven from Indra’s palace.) “He rent the nets of iron first, Then through the jewel chamber burst, And bore the drink of heaven away That watched in Indra’s palace lay.”
- with Indra (Garuḍ stole the drink of heaven from Indra’s palace.) “He rent the nets of iron first, Then through the jewel chamber burst, And bore the drink of heaven away That watched in Indra’s palace lay.”
Book VI, Canto 50 · The Broken Spell
- friends with Ráma “Garuḍ, the lord of all that fly, Thy guardian and thy friend am I.”
- friends with Lakshmaṇ “Garuḍ, the lord of all that fly, Thy guardian and thy friend am I.”
- protégé: Ráma “On Raghu’s sons his eyes he bent, And hailed the lords armipotent. Then o’er them stooped the feathered king, And touched their faces with his wing. His healing touch their pangs allayed,”
- protégé: Lakshmaṇ “On Raghu’s sons his eyes he bent, And hailed the lords armipotent. Then o’er them stooped the feathered king, And touched their faces with his wing. His healing touch their pangs allayed,”
- ward: Ráma “Garuḍ, the lord of all that fly, Thy guardian and thy friend am I.”
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Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.