'If you can endure even this, your boasting will be deemed reasonable.' Having said this, the holy one placed his hands upon Garuda's shoulders. Thereupon the latter, overcome by their weight, fell down, bewildered and deprived of his senses. And Garuda felt that the weight of this one arm of Vishnu was as great as the weight of the whole Earth with all her mountains. Possessed of infinitely greater might, Vishnu, however, did not distress him greatly. Indeed, Achyuta did not destroy him. This ranger of the heavens, overwhelmed then by that immense weight, gasped for breath and began to shed his feathers. When all his limbs had grown weak and were utterly bewildered, Garuda was then almost deprived of his senses; thus bewildered and almost senseless, and become altogether helpless, worshipping Vishnu with bowed neck, he addressed him faintly, saying: 'O illustrious Lord, the very essence of that power which sustains the universe dwells within this body of yours. What wonder is it, then, that I have been pressed down to the ground by a single arm of yours, extended at your mere will? It behooves you, O divine Lord, to forgive this winged creature seated upon the shaft of your banner — this fool, intoxicated with pride in his own strength, but now become utterly helpless. Your great power, O divine Lord, was never known to me before. It was for this very reason that I deemed my own strength unsurpassed.' Thus addressed, the illustrious Vishnu was pleased, and, speaking to Garuda with affection, said: 'Let your conduct no longer be such.' And having said this, Upendra cast Sumukha with the tip of his foot onto Garuda's breast. And from that time onward, O king, Garuda has always lived in friendship with that serpent.