The Story of Kadru and Vinata - Origin of the Serpents and the Enmity Between Garuda and the Nagas

In the Puranas and the Mahabharata, the story of Kadru and Vinata is one of the most significant narratives. It explains the origin of serpents and Garuda, while also revealing deeper lessons about deception, devotion, patience and liberation.

Kadru and Vinata: Desires of the Two Sisters

Kadru and Vinata were daughters of Prajapati Daksha and wives of Sage Kashyapa.
Pleased with them, Kashyapa offered each a boon.
Kadru asked to become the mother of a thousand powerful serpents.
Vinata asked for two radiant and mighty sons.

Kadru’s eggs eventually produced a thousand serpents including Shesha, Vasuki, Takshaka and others.
Vinata’s eggs later produced Aruna and Garuda.

The Wager and Deception Leading to Vinata’s Bondage

One day the sisters saw the divine horse Uchchaihshrava.
Kadru claimed its tail was black while Vinata insisted it was completely white.
They agreed that the loser would become the servant of the other.

Kadru instructed her serpent sons to cling to the horse’s tail so it would appear black.
Some serpents refused and were cursed that they would perish in a future serpent sacrifice.

When they saw the horse the next day the tail appeared black, causing Vinata to lose and become Kadru’s servant.

Garuda’s Quest to Free His Mother

To release Vinata from servitude, Kadru demanded that the pot of nectar be brought from the celestial realm.
Garuda vowed to free his mother and fought the gods for the nectar.
He brought the pot to the Nagas but did not allow them to drink it.

Indra later took the nectar back.
Impressed by Garuda’s devotion and power, Vishnu made him his divine mount.
The Nagas were destined to become Garuda’s food, which marked the beginning of their enmity.

The Origin of Nagas and the Enmity with Garuda

Among Kadru’s thousand sons were Shesha, Vasuki, Takshaka, Karkotaka, Kaliya and others who inhabit the earth and netherworlds.
The deception of Kadru and the event of the nectar led to the natural enmity between serpents and Garuda.

The split tongue of serpents also originates from this story because they licked the kusa grass where nectar had once been placed.

---

Summary Table

Character	Role / Event	Message
Kadru	Mother of serpents, deception, curse	Ambition, deceit, outcome
Vinata	Mother of Garuda, patience, bondage	Truth, endurance, freedom
Garuda	Bringer of nectar, mount of Vishnu	Devotion, courage, liberation
Serpents	Origin, curse, enmity	Strength, existence, conflict

Naglok and Origin of Nagas - Secrets, Power and Cultural Heritage

---

Deeper Teachings

Ambition and Deception

Kadru’s deception teaches that falsehood brings conflict and sorrow.

Patience and Devotion

Vinata’s patience and Garuda’s devotion show that sincerity leads to liberation.

Enmity and Balance

The natural enmity between Garuda and the serpents symbolizes cosmic balance, survival and power.

---

FAQs

1. How did enmity arise between Kadru and Vinata?
The dispute over Uchchaihshrava’s tail, and Kadru’s deception, led Vinata into servitude and began the conflict.

2. Why did Garuda seek the nectar?
He did so to free his mother Vinata from bondage.

3. Why did Indra take the nectar back?
Garuda did not allow the serpents to drink it, giving Indra the opportunity to reclaim it.

4. Why do serpents have forked tongues?
Their tongues split after they licked the kusa grass where nectar once rested.

5. Why did serpents become Garuda’s natural enemies?
Because of the divine decree that serpents would become Garuda’s food, rooted in the events of this story.