The Sons of Sagara Meet Lord Kapiladeva

Verse 1 (bhagavata.9.8.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच हरितो रोहितसुतश्चम्पस्तस्माद् विनिर्मिता । चम्पापुरी सुदेवोऽतो विजयो यस्य चात्मजः ॥ 8.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca harito rohita-sutaś campas tasmād vinirmitā campāpurī sudevo ’to vijayo yasya cātmajaḥ

Shukadeva said: Rohita's son was Harita, and Harita's son was Champa, who founded the city of Champapuri. Champa's son was Sudeva, and his son was Vijaya.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.9.8.2)

भरुकस्तत्सुतस्तस्माद् वृकस्तस्यापि बाहुकः । सोऽरिभिर्हृतभू राजा सभार्यो वनमाविशत् ॥ 8.2 ॥

bharukas tat-sutas tasmād vṛkas tasyāpi bāhukaḥ so ’ribhir hṛta-bhū rājā sabhāryo vanam āviśat

Vijaya's son was Bharuka; Bharuka's son was Vrika; and Vrika's son was Bahuka. When enemies seized his kingdom, King Bahuka went to the forest together with his wife.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.9.8.3)

वृद्धं तं पञ्चतां प्राप्तं महिष्यनुमरिष्यती । और्वेण जानतात्मानं प्रजावन्तं निवारिता ॥ 8.3 ॥

vṛddhaṁ taṁ pañcatāṁ prāptaṁ mahiṣy anumariṣyatī aurveṇa jānatātmānaṁ prajāvantaṁ nivāritā

When Bahuka died in old age, his queen wished to follow him in death by sati; but the sage Aurva, knowing her to be with child, forbade her.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.9.8.4)

आज्ञायास्यै सपत्नीभिर्गरो दत्तोऽन्धसा सह । सह तेनैव सञ्जातः सगराख्यो महायशाः । सगरश्चक्रवर्त्यासीत् सागरो यत्सुतैः कृतः ॥ 8.4 ॥

ājñāyāsyai sapatnībhir garo datto ’ndhasā saha saha tenaiva sañjātaḥ sagarākhyo mahā-yaśāḥ sagaraś cakravarty āsīt sāgaro yat-sutaiḥ kṛtaḥ

Knowing this, her co-wives mixed poison into her food; yet the child was born together with that very poison, and so he became famed as Sagara. That Sagara became a universal emperor, and it was his sons who dug out the ocean.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.9.8.5)

यस्तालजङ्घान् यवनाञ्छकान् हैहयबर्बरान् । नावधीद् गुरुवाक्येन चक्रे विकृतवेषिणः ॥ 8.5 ॥

yastālajaṅghān yavanāñchakān haihayabarbarān nāvadhīd guruvākyena cakre vikṛtaveṣiṇaḥ

By his guru's (Aurva's) command, he did not slay the Talajanghas, Yavanas, Shakas, Haihayas and Barbaras and such peoples, but instead made them adopt strange and distinctive dress —

Verse 6 (bhagavata.9.8.6)

मुण्डाञ्छ्मश्रुधरान् कांश्चिन्मुक्तकेशार्धमुण्डितान् । अनन्तर्वाससः कांश्चिदबहिर्वाससोऽपरान् ॥ 8.6 ॥

muṇḍāñchmaśrudharān kāṁścinmuktakeśārdhamuṇḍitān anantarvāsasaḥ kāṁścidabahirvāsaso ’parān

some he had shave their heads but keep their mustaches, some he left with loose or half-shaven hair, some without undergarments, and others without outer garments.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.9.8.7)

सोऽश्वमेधैरयजत सर्ववेदसुरात्मकम् । और्वोपदिष्टयोगेन हरिमात्मानमीश्वरम् । तस्योत्सृष्टं पशुं यज्ञे जहाराश्वं पुरन्दरः ॥ 8.7 ॥

so ’śvamedhair ayajata sarva-veda-surātmakam aurvopadiṣṭa-yogena harim ātmānam īśvaram tasyotsṛṣṭaṁ paśuṁ yajñe jahārāśvaṁ purandaraḥ

Following the method taught by the sage Aurva, he worshipped through ashvamedha sacrifices Lord Hari, the Self of all and the embodiment of all the Vedas — but the horse released for that sacrifice was stolen away by Indra.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.9.8.8)

सुमत्यास्तनया दृप्ताः पितुरादेशकारिणः । हयमन्वेषमाणास्ते समन्तान्न्यखनन् महीम् ॥ 8.8 ॥

sumatyās tanayā dṛptāḥ pitur ādeśa-kāriṇaḥ hayam anveṣamāṇās te samantān nyakhanan mahīm

Sumati's sons, proud of their strength and obedient to their father's command, went searching for the horse and dug up the earth on every side.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.9.8.9)

प्रागुदीच्यां दिशि हयं ददृशुः कपिलान्तिके । एष वाजिहरश्चौर आस्ते मीलितलोचनः ॥ 8.9 ॥

prāgudīcyāṁ diśi hayaṁ dadṛśuḥ kapilāntike eṣa vājiharaścaura āste mīlitalocanaḥ

In the northeastern quarter, they saw that horse near the hermitage of Kapila Muni. "Here is the thief who stole the horse — see, he sits there with eyes closed!" So crying, all sixty thousand sons rushed upon him, weapons raised.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.9.8.10)

हन्यतां हन्यतां पाप इति षष्टिसहस्रिणः । उदायुधा अभिययुरुन्मिमेष तदा मुनिः ॥ 8.10 ॥

hanyatāṁ hanyatāṁ pāpa iti ṣaṣṭisahasriṇaḥ udāyudhā abhiyayurunmimeṣa tadā muniḥ

"Slay him! Slay this sinner!" they cried, rushing forward, weapons drawn — and at that very moment the sage opened his eyes.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.9.8.11)

स्वशरीराग्निना तावन्महेन्द्रहृतचेतसः । महद्व्यतिक्रमहता भस्मसादभवन् क्षणात् ॥ 8.11 ॥

sva-śarīrāgninā tāvan mahendra-hṛta-cetasaḥ mahad-vyatikrama-hatā bhasmasād abhavan kṣaṇāt

Their minds stolen away by Indra, they were consumed that very instant by a fire that arose from their own bodies — the fruit of their grave offense against that great soul.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.9.8.12)

न साधुवादो मुनिकोपभर्जिता नृपेन्द्रपुत्रा इति सत्त्वधामनि । कथं तमो रोषमयं विभाव्यते जगत्पवित्रात्मनि खे रजो भुवः ॥ 8.12 ॥

na sādhu-vādo muni-kopa-bharjitā nṛpendra-putrā iti sattva-dhāmani kathaṁ tamo roṣamayaṁ vibhāvyate jagat-pavitrātmani khe rajo bhuvaḥ

It is not right to say those princes were burnt by the sage's own wrath, for how could the mode of ignorance, in the form of anger, ever show itself in Kapila, that abode of pure goodness — just as the dust of the earth can never soil the sky that purifies the world?

Verse 13 (bhagavata.9.8.13)

यस्येरिता साङ्ख्यमयी दृढेह नौ- र्यया मुमुक्षुस्तरते दुरत्ययम् । भवार्णवं मृत्युपथं विपश्चितः परात्मभूतस्य कथं पृथङ्मतिः ॥ 8.13 ॥

yasyeritā sāṅkhyamayī dṛḍheha naur yayā mumukṣus tarate duratyayam bhavārṇavaṁ mṛtyu-pathaṁ vipaścitaḥ parātma-bhūtasya kathaṁ pṛthaṅ-matiḥ

He who set afloat in this world the firm vessel of Sankhya philosophy, by which those seeking liberation cross this well-nigh impassable ocean of birth and death — in that most learned one, himself none other than the Supreme Self, how could there be any thought of friend or foe?

Verse 14 (bhagavata.9.8.14)

योऽसमञ्जस इत्युक्तः स केशिन्या नृपात्मजः । तस्य पुत्रोऽंशुमान् नाम पितामहहिते रतः ॥ 8.14 ॥

yo ’samañjasa ity uktaḥ sa keśinyā nṛpātmajaḥ tasya putro ’ṁśumān nāma pitāmaha-hite rataḥ

Among Sagara's sons was one named Asamanjasa, born of his wife Keshini. His son was Amshuman, who was ever devoted to the good of his grandfather.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.9.8.15)

असमञ्जस आत्मानं दर्शयन्नसमञ्जसम् । जातिस्मरः पुरा सङ्गाद् योगी योगाद् विचालितः ॥ 8.15 ॥

asamañjasa ātmānaṁ darśayannasamañjasam jātismaraḥ purā saṅgād yogī yogād vicālitaḥ

Asamanjasa, remembering his past life, had once been a yogi, but through bad company had fallen from that path; now he took to conduct that deliberately displayed himself as unworthy.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.9.8.16)

आचरन् गर्हितं लोके ज्ञातीनां कर्म विप्रियम् । सरय्वां क्रीडतो बालान्प्रास्यदुद्वेजयञ्जनम् ॥ 8.16 ॥

ācaran garhitaṁ loke jñātīnāṁ karma vipriyam sarayvāṁ krīḍato bālānprāsyadudvejayañjanam

He took up conduct condemned by the world and displeasing even to his own kin — seizing boys at play in the river Sarayu and hurling them into its depths, so that everyone lived in dread.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.9.8.17)

एवं वृत्तः परित्यक्तः पित्रा स्नेहमपोह्य वै । योगैश्वर्येण बालांस्तान् दर्शयित्वा ततो ययौ ॥ 8.17 ॥

evaṁ vṛttaḥ parityaktaḥ pitrā sneham apohya vai yogaiśvaryeṇa bālāṁs tān darśayitvā tato yayau

For this conduct his father, setting aside all affection, cast him out. Then Asamanjasa, by his yogic power, showed those boys alive once more, and thereafter departed from that place.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.9.8.18)

अयोध्यावासिनः सर्वे बालकान् पुनरागतान् । दृष्ट्वा विसिस्मिरे राजन् राजा चाप्यन्वतप्यत ॥ 8.18 ॥

ayodhyā-vāsinaḥ sarve bālakān punar āgatān dṛṣṭvā visismire rājan rājā cāpy anvatapyata

O King, all the people of Ayodhya were astonished to see those boys restored to life, and the King himself grieved bitterly at his son's absence.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.9.8.19)

अंशुमांश्चोदितो राज्ञा तुरगान्वेषणे ययौ । पितृव्यखातानुपथं भस्मान्ति ददृशे हयम् ॥ 8.19 ॥

aṁśumāṁś codito rājñā turagānveṣaṇe yayau pitṛvya-khātānupathaṁ bhasmānti dadṛśe hayam

Sent by the King's command in search of the horse, Amshuman followed the very path his uncles had taken and came at last to that heap of ashes, where he saw the horse nearby.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.9.8.20)

तत्रासीनं मुनिं वीक्ष्य कपिलाख्यमधोक्षजम् । अस्तौत् समाहितमनाः प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो महान् ॥ 8.20 ॥

tatrāsīnaṁ muniṁ vīkṣya kapilākhyam adhokṣajam astaut samāhita-manāḥ prāñjaliḥ praṇato mahān

Seeing seated there the sage named Kapila, the Lord beyond the senses, that great soul, with focused mind and joined palms, bowed and offered Him praise.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.9.8.21)

अंशुमानुवाच न पश्यति त्वां परमात्मनोऽजनो न बुध्यतेऽद्यापि समाधियुक्तिभिः । कुतोऽपरे तस्य मनःशरीरधी- विसर्गसृष्टा वयमप्रकाशाः ॥ 8.21 ॥

aṁśumān uvāca na paśyati tvāṁ param ātmano ’jano na budhyate ’dyāpi samādhi-yuktibhiḥ kuto ’pare tasya manaḥ-śarīra-dhī- visarga-sṛṣṭā vayam aprakāśāḥ

Amshuman said: My lord, even the unborn Brahma has to this day failed to know You, whether by meditation or by reasoned inquiry. How then could we others, brought forth from his own creation and wrapped in ignorance, ever come to know You?

Verse 22 (bhagavata.9.8.22)

ये देहभाजस्त्रिगुणप्रधाना गुणान् विपश्यन्त्युत वा तमश्च । यन्मायया मोहितचेतसस्त्वां विदुः स्वसंस्थं न बहिःप्रकाशाः ॥ 8.22 ॥

ye deha-bhājas tri-guṇa-pradhānā guṇān vipaśyanty uta vā tamaś ca yan-māyayā mohita-cetasas tvāṁ viduḥ sva-saṁsthaṁ na bahiḥ-prakāśāḥ

Embodied beings bound by the three modes, their minds bewildered by Your own maya, perceive only those modes and their darkness; lacking that inner light, they cannot know You, though You dwell within them.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.9.8.23)

तं त्वामहं ज्ञानघनं स्वभाव- प्रध्वस्तमायागुणभेदमोहैः । सनन्दनाद्यैर्मुनिभिर्विभाव्यं कथं विमूढः परिभावयामि ॥ 8.23 ॥

taṁ tvāṁ ahaṁ jñāna-ghanaṁ svabhāva- pradhvasta-māyā-guṇa-bheda-mohaiḥ sanandanādyair munibhir vibhāvyaṁ kathaṁ vimūḍhaḥ paribhāvayāmi

How could I, so deluded, presume to contemplate You — who are concentrated knowledge itself, by Your own nature wholly free of the illusion born of maya's differing qualities, and fit to be meditated upon only by sages such as Sanandana and his brothers?

Verse 24 (bhagavata.9.8.24)

प्रशान्त मायागुणकर्मलिङ्ग- मनामरूपं सदसद्विमुक्तम् । ज्ञानोपदेशाय गृहीतदेहं नमामहे त्वां पुरुषं पुराणम् ॥ 8.24 ॥

praśānta māyā-guṇa-karma-liṅgam anāma-rūpaṁ sad-asad-vimuktam jñānopadeśāya gṛhīta-dehaṁ namāmahe tvāṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇam

To You, tranquil, beyond name and form, free of the marks of maya's qualities and works, transcending both the existent and non-existent, who assume a body only to teach — to You, the primeval Person, I bow.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.9.8.25)

त्वन्मायारचिते लोके वस्तुबुद्ध्या गृहादिषु । भ्रमन्ति कामलोभेर्ष्यामोहविभ्रान्तचेतसः ॥ 8.25 ॥

tvan-māyā-racite loke vastu-buddhyā gṛhādiṣu bhramanti kāma-lobherṣyā- moha-vibhrānta-cetasaḥ

In this world fashioned by Your maya, taking home and its like for the real, people wander with minds confused by desire, greed, envy and delusion.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.9.8.26)

अद्य नः सर्वभूतात्मन् कामकर्मेन्द्रियाशयः । मोहपाशो दृढश्छिन्नो भगवंस्तव दर्शनात् ॥ 8.26 ॥

adya naḥ sarva-bhūtātman kāma-karmendriyāśayaḥ moha-pāśo dṛḍhaś chinno bhagavaṁs tava darśanāt

O Self of all beings, today by the mere sight of You that tight knot of delusion, woven of desire, of action, and of the senses' craving, has been utterly cut away.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.9.8.27)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्थंगीतानुभावस्तं भगवान्कपिलो मुनिः । अंशुमन्तमुवाचेदमनुग्राह्य धिया नृप ॥ 8.27 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca itthaṁ gītānubhāvas taṁ bhagavān kapilo muniḥ aṁśumantam uvācedam anugrāhya dhiyā nṛpa

Shukadeva said: O King, when Amshuman had thus glorified Him, the illustrious sage Kapila, moved to grace him, spoke to him as follows.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.9.8.28)

श्रीभगवानुवाच अश्वोऽयं नीयतां वत्स पितामहपशुस्तव । इमे च पितरो दग्धा गङ्गाम्भोऽर्हन्ति नेतरत् ॥ 8.28 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca aśvo ’yaṁ nīyatāṁ vatsa pitāmaha-paśus tava ime ca pitaro dagdhā gaṅgāmbho ’rhanti netarat

The Lord said: My child, take this horse, your grandfather's sacrificial animal. As for your forefathers — reduced now to ashes — nothing but the water of the Ganga can win them their release.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.9.8.29)

तं परिक्रम्य शिरसा प्रसाद्य हयमानयत् । सगरस्तेन पशुना यज्ञशेषं समापयत् ॥ 8.29 ॥

taṁ parikramya śirasā prasādya hayam ānayat sagaras tena paśunā yajña-śeṣaṁ samāpayat

Amshuman circled him in reverence, bowed his head and, thus pleasing him, brought the horse back home; and with that same animal Sagara completed what remained of the sacrifice.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.9.8.30)

राज्यमंशुमते न्यस्य निःस्पृहो मुक्तबन्धनः । और्वोपदिष्टमार्गेण लेभे गतिमनुत्तमाम् ॥ 8.30 ॥

rājyam aṁśumate nyasya niḥspṛho mukta-bandhanaḥ aurvopadiṣṭa-mārgeṇa lebhe gatim anuttamām

Having handed over his kingdom to Amshuman, and now free of all desire and every bond, Sagara, following the path taught him by the sage Aurva, attained the most exalted destination.