Kathasaritsagara 4.2.219

When Jímútaváhana heard this speech of Śankachúda's, he was grieved, and felt sorrow in his heart and said to him, " Alas! Vásuki exercises his kingly power in a very cowardly fashion, in that with his own hand he conducts his subjects to serve as food for his enemy. Why did he not first offer himself to Garuda? To think of this effeminate creature choosing to witness the destruction of his race! And how great a sin does Garuda, though the son of Kaśyapa, commit! How great folly do even great ones commit for the sake of the body only! So I will to-day deliver you alone from Garuda by surrendering my body. Do not be despondent, my friend." When Śankachúda heard this, he out of his firm patience said to him, " This be far from thee, great-hearted one, do not say so again. The destruction of a jewel for the sake of a piece of glass is never becoming. And I will never incur the reproach of having disgraced my race." In these words the good snake Śankachúda tried to dissuade Jímútaváhana, and thinking that the time of Garuda's arrival would come in a moment, he went to worship in his last hour an image of Śiva under the name of Gokarna, that stood on the shore of the sea. And when lie was gone, Jímútaváhana, that treasure-house of compassion, considered that he had. gained an opportunity of offering himself up to save the snake's life. Thereupon he quickly dismissed Mitrávasu to his own house on the pretext of some business, artfully pretending that he himself had forgotten it. And immediately the earth near him trembled, being shaken by the wind of the wings of the approaching Garuda, as if through astonishment at his valour. That made Jímútaváhana think that the enemy of the snakes was approaching, and full of compassion for others he ascended the stone of execution. And in a moment Garuda swooped down, darkening the heaven with his shadow, and carried off that great-hearted one, striking him with his beak. He shed drops of blood, and his crest-jewel dropped off torn out by Garuda, who took him away and began to eat him on the peak of the mountain. At that moment a rain of flowers fell from heaven, and Garuda was astonished when he saw it, wondering what it could mean.

When Jímútaváhana heard this speech of Śankachúda's, he was grieved, and felt sorrow in his heart and said to him, " Alas! Vásuki exercises his kingly power in a very cowardly fashion, in that with his own hand he conducts his subjects to serve as food for his enemy. Why did he not first offer himself to Garuda? To think of this effeminate creature choosing to witness the destruction of his race! And how great a sin does Garuda, though the son of Kaśyapa, commit! How great folly do even great ones commit for the sake of the body only! So I will to-day deliver you alone from Garuda by surrendering my body. Do not be despondent, my friend." When Śankachúda heard this, he out of his firm patience said to him, " This be far from thee, great-hearted one, do not say so again. The destruction of a jewel for the sake of a piece of glass is never becoming. And I will never incur the reproach of having disgraced my race." In these words the good snake Śankachúda tried to dissuade Jímútaváhana, and thinking that the time of Garuda's arrival would come in a moment, he went to worship in his last hour an image of Śiva under the name of Gokarna, that stood on the shore of the sea. And when lie was gone, Jímútaváhana, that treasure-house of compassion, considered that he had. gained an opportunity of offering himself up to save the snake's life. Thereupon he quickly dismissed Mitrávasu to his own house on the pretext of some business, artfully pretending that he himself had forgotten it. And immediately the earth near him trembled, being shaken by the wind of the wings of the approaching Garuda, as if through astonishment at his valour. That made Jímútaváhana think that the enemy of the snakes was approaching, and full of compassion for others he ascended the stone of execution. And in a moment Garuda swooped down, darkening the heaven with his shadow, and carried off that great-hearted one, striking him with his beak. He shed drops of blood, and his crest-jewel dropped off torn out by Garuda, who took him away and began to eat him on the peak of the mountain. At that moment a rain of flowers fell from heaven, and Garuda was astonished when he saw it, wondering what it could mean.