Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.174

c7.174

4) Attempt at freeing Vinatā from thraldom. Garuḍa, extremely pained at the pitiable plight of his mother, one day asked Kadrū what price she and her children demanded for freeing Vinatā from slavery, and Kadrū demanded Amṛta from Devaloka as the price. Garuḍa decided to get it and informed his mother about his decision to fly to Devaloka. But, what about food till he reached Devaloka? Vinatā solved the problem by advising Garuḍa to eat the niṣādas he will meet on his way to Devaloka at the island called Niṣādālaya, at the same time specially forbidding him from eating on any account, brahmins who might be there, at Niṣādālaya. How to distinguish brahmins from others, queried Garuḍa, and his mother replied by pointing out that the brahmin will burn the throat of him who tries to eat him, like fire. Then Vinatā blessed her son that his wings would be protected by Vāyu, the lower half of his body by sun and moon, the rest of the body by the Vasus and the head by Agni. She also promised to wait there till her son returned.