Valakhilyas : ascetics and garuda

Mahabharata Adiparva Astikaparva Section 30-34

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Sage Saunaka asks Sage Sauti, "How did the birth of such a powerful bird Garuda happen ? What was the fault of Indra that is linked to Garuda's birth ?".
Sauti narrates the incidents leading to Garuda's birth. Once upon a time, Prajapati kashyapa did a yajna (sacrifice) to produce an offspring who can benefit universe. All the beings in the universe helped him in bringing the material for that yajna. Indra (Purandara) carried a huge weight as he is very powerful. On the way he saw some tiny people carrying a leaf with difficulty. Their bodies are emanicipated due to severe austerities and very thin. They are submerged in a water collected in the foot imprint of a cow-hoof. They were struggling to carry a leaf for the yajna. Indra felt proud of his achievement and laughed at them, insulted them and flew over them. Those tiny people are Valakhilya munis (ascetics of a very high order). They live on consuming sun rays.
Valakhilya rishis, thus insulted conducted a yajna sacrifice to produce a second Indra (ruler of the heaven), they said, "the new Indra shall be even more powerful than the Purandara, he can muster energy at will, he can go to any place he wants, he shall strike fear in opponents". Kashyapa pacified them saying that, " The present Indra is appointed by Brahma, your words shall not falsify Brahma's words, neither your effort should be futile. Hence the result of your penance shall be an Indra (king) of birds and it shall be fruit of my sacrifice also. The offspring of this yajna shall be a help and friend of present Indra". The valakhilya's, thus pacified said "So be it".
Thus born Garuda to Kashyapa with great strength, able to muster energy at will, assume any form, can course through sky to any world at will. Hence Garuda (bearer of great weight), was able to defeat all Devatas (angels) , Indra and brought Amrita to Earth to unshackle his mother and himself from bondage of slavery.
In the fight between Indra and Garuda for Amrita, on being stuck with Vajra ayudha of Indra, Garuda mockingly cast a feather of his in respect of the dadhichi muni, whose backbone was made into vajra. On seeing this invincibility all the devatas were wonderstuck and named Garuda as 'Suparna'.

My commentary :
One should not be proud of their achievements like Indra. Even though it seems Valakhilya rishis showed anger, it is for the benefit of universe. Their tapas (penance) was useful in producing an invincible being, Garuda, who became the vehicle for Vishnu.

HariOm