Chapter 11

"It's back! The Lord's presence has returned to me once more."

Garuda raised his head, closed his eyes in pure contentment, and opened his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire world, welcoming the Lord's spirit back into his being. Rishi Brihaspati, observing this display, looked on with satisfaction.

Such classic acts of repentance and a return to the path of righteousness were worthy of record. At that moment, Brihaspati resolved to chronicle these events for future Brahmins to recite. With a small gesture, a stack of paper and a reed pen appeared in his hands, and he began to write.

"Under the guidance of King Indra, Garuda repented for his pride and discovered the importance of respect for both his brothers and Lord Vishnu..."

Rishi Brihaspati continued his work, his hand flowing over the paper with graceful strokes like dragons and serpents.

Suddenly—Boom!—a deep, unfamiliar rumble shook the atmosphere, sending a powerful shockwave rippling across the three realms. Svarga trembled continuously as if the very heavens were in upheaval.

"What is this?!" Indra's face tensed. "What's happening?"

"Allow me to investigate!" Varunadev exclaimed, raising his hands and summoning his divine power to create a mirror of water before the Devas. Through it, they could glimpse the source of the disturbance.

In the water mirror, a massive figure emerged in Krishna Sagara—a giant asura, towering high enough to support the Svargas and the earth itself. Clad in radiant golden armor, his eyes blazed like golden suns, shining with boundless intensity. His arms, thick and sinewy like those of a mighty Naga, exuded raw power, seeming capable of holding up the world.

"Finding Amrita by diving like this is taking too long. I'll try a different approach!"

The asura's voice thundered as he gripped Mount Mandara, lifting it effortlessly from the ground as if he intended to move it entirely.

Boom!

The earth trembled beneath him, sending shockwaves that created countless cracks sprawling across the landscape. Living creatures and yakshas on Mount Mandara scattered in terror as rocks and soil tumbled down, transforming into blazing meteors that plummeted back into the Cosmic Ocean.

"Not good!" Rishi Brihaspati's face turned pale with shock. "That's Mount Mandara—the very axis of Bhuloka, the bridge linking Svargaloka and Bhuloka. Why would he disturb it?!"

"I thought Garuda was exaggerating," Indra murmured, awe creeping into his voice as he took a deep breath. "But this asura—who is he to wield such power?"

Garuda's wings could stir the skies, yet beside this colossal figure, his might felt like nothing more than a fleeting ripple.

"Best not to intervene!"

"Devaraj, have you forgotten? That's Hiranyaksha—the king of the Asuras!" Brihaspati's eyes widened in awe as he observed the massive figure. "I'd heard that he and his elder brother Hiranyakashipu were undertaking rigorous penance. At least Hiranyaksha must have completed it, gaining immense power through the divine boon from Lord Brahma."

At this, a memory jolted in Indra's mind. "Hiranyaksha!" he murmured.

The legend was vivid in his recollection: Hiranyaksha, the Asura king, had once plunged the earth into the depths of Kshira Sagara, capturing Bhu Devi as his prisoner and threatening to unravel all of creation. In response, Vishnu, in his mighty form as Varaha avatar, the great boar, rose to face him. With unmatched strength, Varaha battled Hiranyaksha, ultimately subduing him and restoring Bhu Devi to her rightful place on earth, preserving the balance of the universe.

Hiranyaksha was born to Rishi Kashyapa and Diti, aligning him with the powerful lineage of the Asuras, descendants of Diti. As a half-brother to the Adityas—born to Kashyapa and his other wife, Aditi—the rivalry was deeply ingrained. The Adityas embodied the forces of divine light, order, and dharma, in opposition to the often rebellious and formidable Asuras. Thus, the two lineages, bound by family, remained locked in a cosmic struggle, representing the eternal tension between chaos and order in the universe.

"Was it Brahma's boon of near-invincibility?" Indra pondered aloud, his suspicion falling on the creator known for his generous bestowal of boons. "Could Brahma have granted Hiranyaksha the power to lift the earth?"

"Perhaps," he muttered, growing more certain. "It's highly likely. After all, that's the Asuras' favorite boon—making them immune to harm from gods, mortals, and most beings in the cosmos."

"Wait—didn't Hiranyaksha recently journey to Kshira Sagara to seek Lord Vishnu? Why is he uprooting Mount Mandara now?" Garuda added, visibly shaken as he recalled seeing Rishi Shukraacharya escorting Hiranyaksha above Kshira Sagara some time ago.

Indra's thoughts raced. "Could he be planning to use Mount Mandara to churn Kshira Sagara?"

Garuda felt a surge of shock at the implication. One is lifting the entire Mount Mandara! Who in Svarga could match that strength? Who in the Triloka could oppose him if he wielded Mandara as his weapon?

Indra's frown deepened. If Hiranyaksha truly attempted to churn Kshira Sagara... Amrita, the divine nectar of immortality, lies in those waters. If Hiranyaksha gains it, it would spell catastrophe. The Devas might end up as mere guards at the gates of Patalaloka!

And they hadn't yet tasted the Amrita. Without its gift of immortality, death would be final. "We need the Amrita above all else," he muttered. "If we fail, at least Vishnu will intervene. And if the worst comes to pass, the blessing of Goddess Saraswati could still guide us to Brahmaloka. Hiranyaksha may show some respect for Brahma, who granted him boons."

"Prepare for victory to secure an escape route," Indra reminded himself, carefully strategizing his next moves. He then approached Garuda and spoke decisively, "Transform into your great eagle form and take us to Kshira Sagara!"

Stunned, Garuda looked at Indra, processing the weight of his command. No one but Lord Vishnu had ever ridden on his back, but this was an urgent matter—too pressing to allow pride to stand in the way! Just think of it as a favor for the Lady, Goddess Lakshmi, Garuda told himself, steeling his resolve.

With a powerful screech, Garuda raised his head, his sharp cry resounding across the Svargas and echoing into the vastness. His body glowed with a golden light as he expanded, his wings stretching wider and wider, filling the sky. Then, bending low, he knelt halfway to the ground.

Indra took to the air immediately, followed closely by the other Devas and the chief Rishis. The moment they steadied themselves on his back, Garuda surged forward, sensing his Lord's presence and setting his path toward Kshira Sagara.

With each beat of his mighty wings, Garuda sliced through the realms, shadowing the sky as he traversed Svarga and Bhuloka. As they drew nearer, the Devas were awestruck by Hiranyaksha's immense form—too vast to comprehend from their distance. His colossal body seemed in constant motion, with each hair resembling mountains stretching for hundreds of miles, quaking as he moved. From his countless pores radiated light like a field of white lotuses, each bloom shining brilliantly.

"So enormous!" gasped Suryadeva in awe.

"With strength like that, it's no wonder he can lift Mount Mandara, the very center of the world," Agnideva added, his voice filled with trepidation.

The Devas exchanged worried glances, sensing the weight of the impending challenge. Hiranyaksha's arrival in this world showcased a power that far surpassed that of the Devas. Even at their peak, they might struggle to stop him.

"This strength stems from his blessings, but he should gradually weaken under the curse," Indra reasoned. "However, the curse hasn't lasted long enough since he received the boon to significantly diminish his power."

With the Rishi's curse and the disappearance of Goddess Lakshmi, Hiranyaksha's weakening was nearly inevitable. Yet his boons were exceptionally strong, providing a solid foundation that still allowed him to exert considerable strength.

"That makes sense!" Rishi Brihaspati affirmed, nodding. He pulled out his notebook, picked up his pen, and continued documenting the events of the past: "During the journey to the Kshira Sagara, King Indra observed Hiranyaksha's vulnerabilities…"

Garuda soared into the Kshira Sagara, determination propelling him forward.

"Lord Vishnu, here I come!" he exclaimed.

As he traversed the endless expanse of the Kshira Sagara, Garuda finally caught sight of the Lord Vishnu he had longed for.

In a rush, the Devas transformed into streaks of golden light, cascading into the Kshira Sagara.

Vishnu, the protector of the world, furrowed his brow, his expression a mixture of concern and complexity.

"Indra…" he murmured.

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