137. The Seagulls and Garuda
A seagull wanted to fly away to lay her eggs.
"No!" said her husband. "Lay them here in the sand."
"But the Ocean will take them."
"If he dares take them, I will drink him up!" replied the husband.
The Ocean took the eggs, so the seagull did as he promised. "I'll drink every last drop of you, Ocean!" he shouted.
"That's impossible with your small beak," said his wife. "We must ask Garuda to help us."
They prayed to Garuda, and the mighty eagle-god came down to the Ocean. "Give back the eggs!" Garuda commanded, and the Ocean obeyed.
Inspired by: The Panchatantra, translated by Arthur Ryder.
Notes: It is in Book 1, Story 18. In the original story, it is another bird, a goose, who suggests that they go to Garuda, and Garuda then gets Vishnu's help to threaten the ocean. You can read more about Garuda and Vishnu at Wikipedia.
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