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

In the scriptures of the Mahabharata and the Puranas, the tale of Kadru and Vinata holds a central place. It brings to light not only the origin of the serpents and Garuda but also carries subtle teachings of enmity, deception, devotion and liberation. This story continues to resonate with timeless values of truth, patience and discernment.

Kadru and Vinata - Wishes of Two Sisters

• Kadru and Vinata were daughters of Prajapati Daksha and both were married to Sage Kashyapa.
• One day, Sage Kashyapa, pleased with them, allowed both his wives to ask for a boon.
• Kadru asked to become the mother of one thousand powerful serpent sons.
• Vinata asked for only two sons but added a condition that her sons must be stronger and brighter than all of Kadru's.
• Kadru laid one thousand eggs and Vinata laid two. In time, from Kadru’s eggs emerged one thousand serpents, among whom Sheshnag, Vasuki and Takshak were notable. From Vinata’s eggs were born Aruna (charioteer of the Sun) and Garuda (the vehicle of Vishnu).

The Wager and the Deception - Story of Enslavement

• One day, both sisters saw the divine white horse Uchchaihshravas flying across the sky.
• Kadru claimed the horse had a black tail, while Vinata argued that it was entirely white. They placed a wager. The one proved wrong would become the other’s servant.
• Kadru secretly commanded her serpent sons to stick to the horse’s tail in subtle form to make it appear black. Some serpents refused. Kadru cursed them to perish in a future serpent sacrifice.
• The next day, when they went to view the horse again, the tail appeared black. Vinata lost the wager and had to become Kadru’s servant.

Garuda’s Quest for Amrit to Liberate Vinata

• To free Vinata from bondage, Kadru set a condition. If Garuda brought the nectar of immortality (amrit) from the realm of the devas, she would release Vinata.
• To liberate his mother, Garuda vowed to bring the amrit. He fought the devas and secured the nectar from heaven, bringing it to the nāgas.
• However, on Indra's instruction, Garuda did not allow them to consume it. He only set it down for a moment. Indra seized it back. Yet, impressed by Garuda’s bravery and devotion, Indra gifted him divine status and Vishnu accepted him as his vehicle.
• The nāgas, attempting to lick the spot where the amrit had been placed, licked the sharp grass around it. Because of this they developed a split tongue (dvi-jihva).

Origin of the Serpents and Their Enmity with Garuda

• Among Kadru’s one thousand naga sons, Sheshnag, Vasuki, Takshak, Karkotak and Kaliya are prominent. They reside across the earth, Patal (subterranean realms) and other worlds.
• Due to Kadru’s deception and the incident with the amrit, enmity arose between Garuda and the nāgas. Indra had given Garuda a boon that serpents would become his food and this is why their rivalry is a prevalent part of tradition.
• The fact that nāgas have split tongues is also connected to this event.

Read about Naglok and Origin of Nagas here.

Summary Table

Character	Role/Event	Message
Kadru	Mother of nāgas, employed deception and curse	Ambition, deception, curse
Vinata	Mother of Garuda, lost to Kadru, remained patient	Patience, truth, liberation
Garuda	Brought the nectar, became Vishnu's vehicle	Courage, devotion, liberation
Naga sons	Born of Kadru, cursed origin of enmity	Strength, survival, conflict

Read more stories of Nagas in the Mahabharata here.

Key Messages Hidden in the Story

• Ambition and Deception: Kadru’s trickery and Vinata’s honesty show that temporary success through deception leads only to sorrow and rivalry.
• Patience and Devotion: Vinata’s endurance and Garuda’s devotion prove that even in bondage, truth and devotion pave the path to freedom.
• Enmity and Balance: The antagonism between Garuda and the nāgas reflects a deeper symbol of balance in nature, power and survival.

Reflection for Today

The story of Kadru and Vinata is not just a tale of the past. It is just as meaningful today. It reminds us that ambition and deceit breed sorrow, while patience, truth and devotion bring respect and liberation.