Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.529

c7.529

GUNAKEŚĪ. Daughter of Mātali, charioteer of Indra. She was more beautiful and well-behaved than many other girls. Mātali went about in search of a suitable husband for her in all the three worlds. At last he met Nārada going to the presence of Kubera. He told Nārada about this and Nārada took Mātali to Pātālaloka to search for a suitable bridegroom. Then they found out a serpent boy named Sumukha (good looking) worthy of his name who was the grandson of Āryaka and son of Cikura born of the family of Airāvata. But Sumukha was in danger at that time. Garuḍa had taken a vow that he would eat Sumukha the next month. Āryaka told Nārada about this. Nārada took Sumukha to the court of Indra. Mahāviṣṇu was also present there. When Nārada told the story there Indra blessed Sumukha and granted him long life. This made Garuḍa angry and he went to the court of Indra and rebuked Indra. Mahāviṣṇu who was present there then did not like this act of Garuḍa and he called the latter to his side and asked him whether he could bear the weight of one of his arms. With arrogance Garuḍa said ‘yes’ and Viṣṇu then placed one of his arms on the shoulder of Garuḍa But Garuḍa found the weight unbearable and begged pardon of Viṣṇu, bereft of all his arrogance. The marriage of Sumukha with Guṇakeśī was then conducted. (Chapters 97 to 105. Udyoga Parva.)