One
day, Lord Yama visited Lord Vishnu’s palace. At that time, Lord Vishnu
was not there. Lord Vishnu is the supreme protector as per the Hindu
mythology and Lord Yama wanted to give him the list of people who are
due in the line to die so that Lord Vishnu should not go and protect
them. So, Lord Yama waited outside for Lord Vishnu’s arrival. Then he
noticed an old crow sitting on the branch of a tree. The crow really
scared on seeing Lord Yama staring at him. By that time, Lord Vishnu
returned on his vehicle, Garuda. Garuda is an eagle and he is the king
of all birds. Garuda is supposed to be the fastest of all living things.
He can fly anywhere he wants within no time. Lord Yama went with Lord
Vishnu inside his palace. Garuda waited outside. Then Garuda noticed the
sad old crow on the tree. Garuda asked the reason for his sadness. The
old crow replied, “Lord Yama was staring at me. I am really scared. I am
sure I am going to die when he is coming out of the palace. I really
want to live some more time to see my grand children growing up”.
Hearing this, Garuda responded like the chief justice of the world, “If
you really want to live some more time, nobody can deny that. Lord Yama
does not have the authority to take your life just like that”. The old
crow became very happy in hearing this. He asked Garuda, “You are the
king of birds. Will you protect me from Lord Yama?”. “Sure, I will”,
Garuda replied. Then Garuda asked the crow to sit on his top so that he
can place him at the end of the fourteenth world. Crow obeyed. Garuda
flew to the end of the fourteenth world with the crow, left the crow
there, and came back in no time.
After
sometime, Lord Yama finished his business with Lord Vishnu and came out
of the palace. Then he suddenly looked at the tree where the crow was
sitting. The surprised Lord Yama just looked around to see the crow.
Garuda was watching all these from a corner and was really enjoying it.
Then he came to Lord Yama and pretended not knowing anything and asked
him with a naughty smile, “What is there in the tree, Lord Yama? I can
see that you are looking there for something”. Hearing this, Lord Yama
replied, “Garuda, there was an old crow sitting on the tree when I went
inside. But it is not around here now”. Then Garuda said, “It might have
flown somewhere. Why do you care?” Then Lord Yama replied, “I do care
because the crow is not supposed to sit here now. My men are now already
there at the end of the fourteenth world waiting to take his life”.
