Wings That Drink the Sun

High burns the sky where mighty Garuda climbs,

his thunder wings outspread across the day;

the mountains shake beneath those beating chimes,

and coiling serpents scatter far away.

For sworn to serve great Vishnu through endless times,

he cleaves the wind in bright and sovereign sway;

no chain of earth can hold his burning flight,

whose feathers scatter fragments of the light.

Born of proud Vinata, sky’s fierce son,

he rose against the brood of scaled deceit;

the bitter brood of Nagas he outran

with lightning strength no serpent could defeat.

He seized the heavens like a rising sun,

each feather blazing gold with royal heat;

and bearing Vishnu through the vault of air,

he crowns the wind with glory bright and fair.