Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.1547

c4.1547

Once Kaśyapa Prajāpati performed a sacrifice to obtain children. The work of bringing firewood for the sacrifice was entrusted to Indra and the other devas (Gods) and the Bālakhilyas. When Indra was heaping up on heaps pieces of big logs the Bālakhilyas who were very small were bringing in chips of wood. Seeing this Indra laughed. The Bālakhilyas got angry and stopping the work entrusted to them began to do penance with a view to create another Indra. Knowing this Indra was much flurried. He went to Kaśyapa and told him everything. Kaśyapa went to the Bālakhilyas and pacified them. At this time Vinatā, a wife of Kaśyapa, was doing penance to obtain a son. Kaśyapa said that the penance of the Bālakhilyas would not be fruitless and that as a result of their penance a son who would overpower Indra would be born to Vinatā. Accordingly a son was born to her. Garuḍa was that son. The fact that Garuḍa overthrew Indra when he went to heaven for ambrosia, is well known. (M.B., Ādi Parva, Chapter 31).