How Garuda Became The Vehicle Of Narayana

Garuda defeated Devas in the Swargaloka and took away the pot of amrita.
Even after having drunk amrita how did the devas get defeated?
Amrita just gives immortality.
Doesn't mean you won't face problems or get injured or get defeated.
He was heading back to where his mother was.
To give the amrita to the serpents so that they both will be released from slavery.
Garuda who could defeat even the Devas, could he not have finished the serpents easily?
No, there was a promise involved.
There was a bet that garuda's mother lost and according to the bet only she became a slave.
They would never be dishonest.
They knew that the biggest strength is adhering to the truth.
Breaking a promise is like lying.
That will weaken you from inside.
It is like cutting your own roots.
If you are firmly placed upon the ground that is truth, honesty, then everything else will follow.
Success will follow.
But a dishonest man's success is always short-lived.
Couldn't Garuda have drunk the amrita and attained immortality?
No, he wouldn't do that as well.
It was meant for the serpents.
While Garuda was flying through the sky Sriman Narayana happened to see him.
The Lord became curious seeing his valor, strength, and adventurous spirit.
The Lord said: ask for anything you want.
Garuda said: I want to be above you always.
And I should become immortal and ever youthful even while not drinking this amrita.
The Lord granted his wishes.
Gave Garuda a place in his flag.
That's why the Lord is Garudadhwaja.
Because there is Garuda on his flagpost.
And a flag always flies above your head.
Garuda said: you also ask for anything you want.
Don't think this is audacity.
This is innocence.
The Lord said: become my vehicle and Garuda happily and readily agreed.
Indra didn't leave it there.
Indra hit Garuda with vajrayudha.
Nothing happened.
But Garuda said: I have respect for that Maharshi out of whose bones this vajrayudha is made.
I have respect for the vajrayudha.
I have respect for you as well.
So I will make one feather of my body take the hit and fall down.
Garuda dropped one of his feathers.
That feather was so beautiful that Garuda got the name Suparna.
Parna means feather.
Suparna means someone with beautiful feathers.
Indra said: I want to be your friend and also know how strong you are.
Garuda said: hereafter we will be friends.
But good people don't boast about their strength.
But since you are now my friend and you are asking for it, I will tell you my strength.
I can carry the whole earth along with mountains, oceans, forests, and also you on one of my wings and still rise up in the sky.
Or you put the whole universe on my back, I can still fly easily.
Then Indra said if you don't want to drink amrita , then please give it back.
Those to whom you want to give amrita, they're troublemakers.
Garuda said: I am taking this under compulsion.
I have only told them that I will get amrita for you.
I haven't promised that I will make them drink it.
I will keep the pot in front of them.
From there you can get it back.
I will not stop you.
Indra also said: take a boon from me.
Garuda said: designate serpents as my food.
Indra did so.
Garuda reached the spot where the serpents were and placed the pot of amrita on top of a bunch of darbha grass.
His promise was fulfilled.
Get us amrita.
He got it.
Garuda and Vinata were out of their slavery as promised.
Garuda told the serpents: amrita is divine.
You should all take a bath before taking it.
Serpents went to the river for taking bath.
At that time Indra came in and took the amrita kumbha away.
When serpents returned from the river the amrita kumbha was gone.
In the hope that some amrita would have spilled on the darbha grass, they started licking on the grass blades.
Their tongues got split with their sharp edges.
This is how snakes got split tongues.
Darbha grass also became holy having come in touch with amrita.