In the assembly of eminent Brahmins, those who hear or recite this tale of the mighty lord of birds will, without doubt, earn great merit and ascend to heaven, for such is the reward of praising the great-souled Garuda. The sage Sutanandana had already narrated the cause of the curse upon the serpents, as well as the story of Vinata and her son. He had spoken of the boons granted by their husband, Kashyapa, to Kadru and Vinata, and revealed the names of Vinata’s two bird sons. Yet the listeners, eager for more, addressed him: “O son of Suta, you have not yet recounted the names of the serpents. We wish to hear their principal names.” Sutanandana replied, “O ascetic, the names of the serpents are many, far too numerous to list in full. But listen, and I shall tell you their chief names.” He began: “First was born Shesha, then Vasuki. After them came Airavata, Takshaka, Karkotaka, and Dhananjaya. Kaliya, Maninaga, Apurana, Pinjaraka, Elapatra, and Vamana were also among the serpent brothers. Then Nilā and Anila, Kalmasha and Shabala, Aryaka and Ugraka, and Kalashapotaka. Sumanakhya, Dadhimukha, Vimalapindaka, Apta, Kotaraka, Shankha, and Valishikha followed. Nishtanaka, Hemaguha, Nahusha, Pingala, Bahyakarna, Hastipada, and Mudgarapindaka were born next. Kambala and Ashvatara, Kalikeya, the two Vrttasamvartaka, and the two Padma. Shankhamukha, Kushmandaka, Kshema, and Pindaraka were also serpents. Then Karavira, Pushpadamshtra, Bilvaka, Bilvapandura, Mushakada, Shankhashira, Purnabhadra, and Haridraka; Aparajita, Jyotika, Pannaga, Shrivaha, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, and the mighty Shankhapinda; Viraja, Subahu, Shalipinda, Hastipinda, Pitharaka, Sumukha, and Kaunapashana; Kuthara, Kunjara, Naga, Prabhakara, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Tittiri, and Halika; Kardama the great Naga, Naga Bahumulaka, Karkara and Akarkara, Kundodara and Mahodara. These, O best of twice-born, are the principal Nagas. The rest, being many, are not mentioned by name. Their offspring and descendants are countless, impossible to enumerate. Know that there are thousands, tens of thousands, and crores of serpents.” Having heard the names of these valorous and formidable serpents, the listeners asked, “O father, after recognizing the curse, what reply did the serpents make?” Among them, the illustrious Shesha, abandoning Kadru, resolved to undertake severe austerities. Subsisting on air alone, firm in his vows, he journeyed to sacred places—Gandhamadana, Badari, Gokarna, the Pushkara forest, and the slopes of the Himalayas. In these holy shrines, always solitary, disciplined, and self-controlled, Shesha performed fierce austerities. As Shesha continued his penance, the Grandsire, Brahma, beheld him: emaciated in flesh, skin, and sinew, with matted hair and bark garments. Brahma spoke gently to the steadfast ascetic, “What is this you are doing, Shesha? Bring welfare to beings. By your intense austerity, O sinless one, you are afflicting the world. Tell me, Shesha, what desire fills your heart?” Shesha replied, “All my brothers, born of the same mother, are of dull minds. I cannot bear to dwell with them—let your honor permit this. They constantly envy one another like enemies; therefore I undertake austerity, so that I may not witness this. They never tolerate Vinata and her son, and our other brother, Vainateya, moves freely in the sky. They always hate him, yet he is the strongest of all, having received a boon from our father, the great-souled Kashyapa. Therefore, I shall undertake austerities and cast off this body; how can I ensure that, even after death, I will not have to associate with them?” Hearing these words, the Grandsire addressed Shesha: “I know, Shesha, all that your brothers have done. Because of your mother's offense, your brothers are in great danger; but, O serpent, a remedy has already been arranged. You should not grieve for any of your brothers. Now, Shesha, ask a boon of me—whatever you desire. I shall grant you a boon today, for my affection for you is supreme. By fortune, your mind is established in righteousness. May your mind remain ever steadfast in righteousness.” Shesha bowed and said, “This is the very boon I desire, O Lord, O Grandsire: may my mind delight in righteousness, in tranquility, and in austerity.” The Grandsire was pleased by Shesha’s self-restraint and tranquility. He said, “Now, by my command, you must perform an act for the welfare of the world. This earth, adorned with mountains and forests, seas, villages, pleasure-grounds, and cities—O Shesha, support it well, holding it firmly so that it may remain unmoving.” Shesha replied, “Just as the boon-giving Lord, the Prajapati, the king of the earth, the lord of beings, the lord of the world, has said, so shall I uphold the earth immovably, if the Prajapati grants me a dwelling place.” Thus, Shesha, the foremost among serpents, received the blessing of righteousness and accepted the great task of supporting the earth, ensuring its stability for the welfare of all beings.