Episode 8 A Gambling Granny, Garuda, and Astika part III

Listen to this episode from The Mahabharata on Spotify. The last of Astika, and the dramatic conclusion of Janamejaya's Snake Sacrifice

Continuing the story of the ill-advised wager between Kadru, mother of snakes, and Vinata, mother of birds, with the birth of Garuda. This episode completes the tale of Astika, with the dramatic conclusion of Janamejaya's snake sacrifice.

Suggested Readings:

Hiltebeitel, Alf. Rethinking the Mahabharata: a reader's guide to the education of the dharma king. University of Chicago Press, 2001.

Reich, Tamar C. "Ends and Closures in the Mahābhārata." International Journal of Hindu Studies 15.1 (2011): 9-53.