Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.197

c7.197

It was during this period when Vinatā was in a fix about the marriage of Sumati that Garuḍa was born to her. He also thought over the problem and argued like this: the curse is only against a brahmin boy marrying my sister Sumati; why not Sumati be given in marriage to a Kṣatriya; but where to find an eligible Kṣatriya boy? At this stage Vinatā asked him to go and meet the Sannyāsin, who had promised her an illustrious son, in the forest and this Sannyāsin directed Garuḍa to Aurva, and sought his advice about the marriage of his sister, the sage thought that the context offered a very good bride to Sagara. And, according to Aurva's advice Sumati was married to Sagara, and thus Garuḍa became related to the Kings of the Solar dynasty. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapters 16, 17 and 18). The Sixty thousand sons born to Sagara by Sumati were reduced to ashes in the fire which emanated from the eyes of Kapila. (See Kapila). When Amśumān, the grandson of Sagara was going around the world to find out these 60,000 sons he met Garuḍa on the way, and it was he who advised that the waters of Gaṅgā should be brought down on earth so that the dead sons of Sagara might get spiritual redemption. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Chapter 41).