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The Mahabharata, Ramayana and the Puranas contain a lot of myths or unbelievable stories. An example from the Mahabharata is the passage given below that describes the birth of the snakes (Nagas) and the bird Garuda. The two sisters Kadru and Vinata were married to the sage Kasyapa. Subsequently it is said that Kadru and Vinata laid eggs and from those eggs were born the snakes as well as the bird named Garuda.  

The Mahabharata, Ramayana and the Puranas contain a lot of myths or unbelievable stories. An example from the Mahabharata is the passage given below that describes the birth of the snakes (Nagas) and the bird Garuda. The two sisters Kadru and Vinata were married to the sage Kasyapa. Subsequently it is said that Kadru and Vinata laid eggs and from those eggs were born the snakes as well as the bird named Garuda.  

'''Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva, Upa-parva: Astika Parva, Chapter: 16'''<blockquote>"

'''Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva, Upa-parva: Astika Parva, Chapter: 16'''<blockquote>"''In the golden age, Prajapati had two daughters. The sisters were endowed with wonderful beauty. Named Kadru and Vinata, they became the wives of Kasyapa. Kasyapa derived great pleasure from his two wedded wives and being gratified he, resembling Prajapati himself, offered to give each of them a '''boon'''. Hearing that their lord was willing to confer on them their choice blessings, those excellent ladies felt transports of joy. Kadru wished to have for sons a '''thousand snakes''' all of equal splendour. And Vinata wished to bring forth two sons surpassing the thousand offsprings of Kadru in strength, energy, size of body, and prowess. Unto Kadru her lord gave that boon about a multitude of offspring. And unto Vinata also, Kasyapa said, ‘Be it so!’ Then Vinata, having; obtained her prayer, rejoiced greatly. Obtaining two sons of superior prowess, she regarded her boon fulfilled. Kadru also obtained her thousand sons of equal splendour. ‘Bear the embryos carefully,’ said Kasyapa, and then he went into the forest, leaving his two wives pleased with his blessings.’''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''Sauti continued, ‘O best of regenerate ones, after a long time, Kadru brought forth a '''thousand eggs''', and Vinata two. Their maid-servants deposited the eggs separately in warm vessels. '''Five hundred years''' passed away, and the thousand eggs produced by Kadru burst and out came the progeny. But the twins of Vinata did not appear. Vinata was jealous, and therefore she broke one of the eggs and found in it an embryo with the upper part developed but the lower one undeveloped. At this, the child in the egg became angry and '''cursed''' his mother, saying. ‘Since thou hast prematurely broken this egg, thou shall serve as a slave. Shouldst thou wait five hundred years and not destroy, or render the other egg half-developed, by breaking it through impatience, then the illustrious child within it will deliver thee from slavery! And if thou wouldst have the child strong, thou must take tender care of the egg for all this time!’ Thus cursing his mother, the child rose to the sky. O Brahmana, even he is the charioteer of Surya, '''always seen in the hour of morning!'''''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''Then '''at the expiration of the five hundred years''', bursting open the other '''egg''', out came '''Garuda, the serpent-eater'''.''"</blockquote>This information has an element of unbelievability in it so the 'myth' is explained.

''In the golden age, Prajapati had two daughters. The sisters were endowed with wonderful beauty. Named Kadru and Vinata, they became the wives of Kasyapa. Kasyapa derived great pleasure from his two wedded wives and being gratified he, resembling Prajapati himself, offered to give each of them a '''boon'''. Hearing that their lord was willing to confer on them their choice blessings, those excellent ladies felt transports of joy. Kadru wished to have for sons a '''thousand snakes''' all of equal splendour. And Vinata wished to bring forth two sons surpassing the thousand offsprings of Kadru in strength, energy, size of body, and prowess. Unto Kadru her lord gave that boon about a multitude of offspring. And unto Vinata also, Kasyapa said, ‘Be it so!’ Then Vinata, having; obtained her prayer, rejoiced greatly. Obtaining two sons of superior prowess, she regarded her boon fulfilled. Kadru also obtained her thousand sons of equal splendour. ‘Bear the embryos carefully,’ said Kasyapa, and then he went into the forest, leaving his two wives pleased with his blessings.’''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''Sauti continued, ‘O best of regenerate ones, after a long time, Kadru brought forth a '''thousand eggs''', and Vinata two. Their maid-servants deposited the eggs separately in warm vessels. '''Five hundred years''' passed away, and the thousand eggs produced by Kadru burst and out came the progeny. But the twins of Vinata did not appear. Vinata was jealous, and therefore she broke one of the eggs and found in it an embryo with the upper part developed but the lower one undeveloped. At this, the child in the egg became angry and '''cursed''' his mother, saying. ‘Since thou hast prematurely broken this egg, thou shall serve as a slave. Shouldst thou wait five hundred years and not destroy, or render the other egg half-developed, by breaking it through impatience, then the illustrious child within it will deliver thee from slavery! And if thou wouldst have the child strong, thou must take tender care of the egg for all this time!’ Thus cursing his mother, the child rose to the sky. O Brahmana, even he is the charioteer of Surya, '''always seen in the hour of morning!'''''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''Then '''at the expiration of the five hundred years''', bursting open the other '''egg''', out came '''Garuda, the serpent-eater'''.''"</blockquote>This information has an element of unbelievability in it so the 'myth' is explained.

== Extraction of truth from the myth ==

== Extraction of truth from the myth ==