The Sons of Sagara Reduced to Ashes

Shloka 1 (bala.40.1)

देवतानां वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्वै पितामहः। प्रत्युवाच सुसंत्रस्तान् कृतान्तबलमोहितान् ॥ १-४०-१ ॥

devatānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā bhagavānvai pitāmahaḥ| pratyuvāca susaṃtrastān kṛtāntabalamohitān || 1-40-1 ||

Having heard the words of the gods, the venerable Grandsire replied to them — terror-stricken and bewildered as they were by the power of that all-ending fury.

Shloka 2 (bala.40.2)

यस्येयं वसुधा कृत्स्ना वासुदेवस्य धीमतः। महिषी माधवस्यैषा स एव भगवान् प्रभुः ॥ १-४०-२ ॥

yasyeyaṃ vasudhā kṛtsnā vāsudevasya dhīmataḥ| mahiṣī mādhavasyaiṣā sa eva bhagavān prabhuḥ || 1-40-2 ||

"This entire earth belongs to the wise Vasudeva; she is indeed the queen-consort of Madhava; and he alone, the venerable Lord,"

Shloka 3 (bala.40.3)

कापिलं रूपमास्थाय धारयत्यनिशं धराम्। तस्य कोपाग्निना दग्धा भविष्यन्ति नृपात्मजाः ॥ १-४०-३ ॥

kāpilaṃ rūpamāsthāya dhārayatyaniśaṃ dharām| tasya kopāgninā dagdhā bhaviṣyanti nṛpātmajāḥ || 1-40-3 ||

"—sustains the earth unceasingly, having assumed the form of sage Kapila. By the fire of his wrath, these sons of the king shall be consumed."

Shloka 4 (bala.40.4)

पृथिव्याश्चापि निर्भेदो दृष्ट एव सनातनः। सगरस्य च पुत्राणां विनाशो दीर्घदर्शिनाम् ॥ १-४०-४ ॥

pṛthivyāścāpi nirbhedo dṛṣṭa eva sanātanaḥ| sagarasya ca putrāṇāṃ vināśo dīrghadarśinām || 1-40-4 ||

"This cleaving of the earth, and this destruction of Sagara's sons, has indeed long since been foreseen by the far-sighted ones of old."

Shloka 5 (bala.40.5)

पितामह वचः श्रुत्वा त्रयस्त्रिंशदरिन्दम। देवाः परमसंहृष्टाः पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम् ॥ १-४०-५ ॥

pitāmaha vacaḥ śrutvā trayastriṃśadarindama| devāḥ paramasaṃhṛṣṭāḥ punarjagmuryathāgatam || 1-40-5 ||

Having heard the Grandsire's words, O subduer of foes, the thirty-three gods, greatly delighted, returned by the way they had come.

Shloka 6 (bala.40.6)

सगरस्य च पुत्राणां प्रादुरासीन्महास्वनः। पृथिव्यां भिद्यमानायां निर्घातसमनिःस्वनः ॥ १-४०-६ ॥

sagarasya ca putrāṇāṃ prādurāsīnmahāsvanaḥ| pṛthivyāṃ bhidyamānāyāṃ nirghātasamaniḥsvanaḥ || 1-40-6 ||

Meanwhile, as the earth was being cleft by Sagara's sons, a tremendous roar arose, like the crash of a thunderbolt.

Shloka 7 (bala.40.7)

ततो भित्त्वा महीं सर्वां कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्। सहिताः सगराः सर्वे पितरं वाक्यमब्रुवन् ॥ १-४०-७ ॥

tato bhittvā mahīṃ sarvāṃ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam| sahitāḥ sagarāḥ sarve pitaraṃ vākyamabruvan || 1-40-7 ||

Then, having cleft through the whole earth and having also circled around it, all the sons of Sagara, together, spoke this word to their father:

Shloka 8 (bala.40.8)

परिक्रांता मही सर्वा सत्त्ववन्तश्च सूदिताः। देवदानवरक्षांसि पिशाचोरगपन्नगाः ॥ १-४०-८ ॥

parikrāṃtā mahī sarvā sattvavantaśca sūditāḥ| devadānavarakṣāṃsi piśācoragapannagāḥ || 1-40-8 ||

"The whole earth has been traversed, and mighty beings have been slain — gods, danavas, rakshasas, pishachas, uragas, and serpents —"

Shloka 9 (bala.40.9)

न च पश्यामहेऽश्वं तमश्वहर्तारमेव च। किं करिष्याम भद्रं ते बुद्धिरत्र विचार्यताम् ॥ १-४०-९ ॥

na ca paśyāmahe'śvaṃ tamaśvahartārameva ca| kiṃ kariṣyāma bhadraṃ te buddhiratra vicāryatām || 1-40-9 ||

"—yet we have seen neither the horse nor its thief. What are we to do now? May you be well; let thought be given to this matter."

Shloka 10 (bala.40.10)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्राणां राजसत्तमः। समन्युरब्रवीद्वाक्यं सगरो रघुनंदन ॥ १-४०-१० ॥

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā putrāṇāṃ rājasattamaḥ| samanyurabravīdvākyaṃ sagaro raghunaṃdana || 1-40-10 ||

Hearing this word of his sons, O delight of Raghu's line, Sagara, most excellent of kings, filled with fury, spoke these words:

Shloka 11 (bala.40.11)

भूयः खनत भद्रं वो विभेद्य वसुधातलम्। अश्वहर्तारमासाद्य कृतार्थाश्च निवर्तत ॥ १-४०-११ ॥

bhūyaḥ khanata bhadraṃ vo vibhedya vasudhātalam| aśvahartāramāsādya kṛtārthāśca nivartata || 1-40-11 ||

"Dig further yet — may good befall you — cleaving open the surface of the earth; and having found the stealer of the horse, return, your purpose accomplished."

Shloka 12 (bala.40.12)

पितुर्वचनमासाद्य सगरस्य महात्मनः। षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि रसातलमभिद्रवन् ॥ १-४०-१२ ॥

piturvacanamāsādya sagarasya mahātmanaḥ| ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi rasātalamabhidravan || 1-40-12 ||

Having received this word of their father, the great-souled Sagara, the sixty thousand sons rushed on toward the netherworld, Rasatala.

Shloka 13 (bala.40.13)

खन्यमाने ततस्तस्मिन् ददृशुः पर्वतोपमम्। दिशागजं विरूपाक्षं धारयन्तं महीतलम् ॥ १-४०-१३ ॥

khanyamāne tatastasmin dadṛśuḥ parvatopamam| diśāgajaṃ virūpākṣaṃ dhārayantaṃ mahītalam || 1-40-13 ||

While digging there, they beheld an elephant like a mountain — Virupaksha, the guardian of that quarter — holding up the surface of the earth.

Shloka 14 (bala.40.14)

सपर्वतवनां कृत्स्नां पृथिवीं रघुनंदन। धारयामास शिरसा विरूपाक्षो महागजः ॥ १-४०-१४ ॥

saparvatavanāṃ kṛtsnāṃ pṛthivīṃ raghunaṃdana| dhārayāmāsa śirasā virūpākṣo mahāgajaḥ || 1-40-14 ||

O delight of Raghu's line, that great elephant Virupaksha bears the entire earth, together with its mountains and forests, upon his head.

Shloka 15 (bala.40.15)

यदा पर्वणि काकुत्स्थ विश्रमार्थं महागजः। खेदाच्चालयते शीर्षं भूमिकंपस्तदा भवेत् ॥ १-४०-१५ ॥

yadā parvaṇi kākutstha viśramārthaṃ mahāgajaḥ| khedāccālayate śīrṣaṃ bhūmikaṃpastadā bhavet || 1-40-15 ||

O scion of Kakutstha, whenever that great elephant, wearied, shakes his head from time to time seeking some rest, then an earthquake occurs.

Shloka 16 (bala.40.16)

ते तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा दिशापालं महागजम्। मानयन्तो हि ते राम जग्मुर्भित्त्वा रसातलम् ॥ १-४०-१६ ॥

te taṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā diśāpālaṃ mahāgajam| mānayanto hi te rāma jagmurbhittvā rasātalam || 1-40-16 ||

O Rama, having circled that great elephant, the guardian of the quarter, in reverence, and having honored him, they went on, cleaving further into the netherworld.

Shloka 17 (bala.40.17)

ततः पूर्वां दिशं भित्त्वा दक्षिणां बिभिदुः पुनः। दक्षिणस्यामपि दिशि ददृशुस्ते महागजम् ॥ १-४०-१७ ॥

tataḥ pūrvāṃ diśaṃ bhittvā dakṣiṇāṃ bibhiduḥ punaḥ| dakṣiṇasyāmapi diśi dadṛśuste mahāgajam || 1-40-17 ||

Then, having cleft through the eastern quarter, they cleft the southern quarter as well; and in the southern quarter too they beheld a great elephant.

Shloka 18 (bala.40.18)

महापद्मं महात्मानं सुमहत्पर्वतोपमम्। शिरसा धारयन्तं गां विस्मयं जग्मुरुत्तमम् ॥ १-४०-१८ ॥

mahāpadmaṃ mahātmānaṃ sumahatparvatopamam| śirasā dhārayantaṃ gāṃ vismayaṃ jagmuruttamam || 1-40-18 ||

Beholding that venerable Mahapadma, resembling a very great mountain, bearing the earth upon his head, they were struck with the greatest wonder.

Shloka 19 (bala.40.19)

ते तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा सगरस्य महात्मनः। षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि पश्चिमां बिभिदुर्दिशम् ॥ १-४०-१९ ॥

te taṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā sagarasya mahātmanaḥ| ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi paścimāṃ bibhidurdiśam || 1-40-19 ||

Having circled him in reverence, the sixty thousand sons of the great-souled Sagara then cleft through the western quarter.

Shloka 20 (bala.40.20)

पश्चिमायामपि दिशि महांतमचलोपमम्। दिशागजं सौमनसं ददृशुस्ते महाबलाः ॥ १-४०-२० ॥

paścimāyāmapi diśi mahāṃtamacalopamam| diśāgajaṃ saumanasaṃ dadṛśuste mahābalāḥ || 1-40-20 ||

And in the western quarter too, those mighty ones beheld a great elephant resembling an unmoving mountain — Saumanasa, guardian of that quarter.

Shloka 21 (bala.40.21)

ते तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चापि निरामयम्। खनंतः समुपक्रांता दिशं सोमवतीं तदा ॥ १-४०-२१ ॥

te taṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā cāpi nirāmayam| khanaṃtaḥ samupakrāṃtā diśaṃ somavatīṃ tadā || 1-40-21 ||

Having circled him in reverence, and having asked also after his well-being, they, still digging, then proceeded on toward the northern quarter.

Shloka 22 (bala.40.22)

उत्तरस्यां रघुश्रेष्ठ ददृशुर्हिमपाण्डुरम्। भद्रं भद्रेण वपुषा धारयन्तं महीमिमाम् ॥ १-४०-२२ ॥

uttarasyāṃ raghuśreṣṭha dadṛśurhimapāṇḍuram| bhadraṃ bhadreṇa vapuṣā dhārayantaṃ mahīmimām || 1-40-22 ||

O best of Raghu's line, in the northern quarter they beheld Bhadra, white as snow, of gracious form, bearing up this earth.

Shloka 23 (bala.40.23)

समालभ्य ततः सर्वे कृत्वा चैनं प्रदक्षिणम्। षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि बिभिदुर्वसुधातलम् ॥ १-४०-२३ ॥

samālabhya tataḥ sarve kṛtvā cainaṃ pradakṣiṇam| ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi bibhidurvasudhātalam || 1-40-23 ||

Then, having reverently touched him and circled him as well, the sixty thousand sons cleft open the surface of the earth once more.

Shloka 24 (bala.40.24)

ततः प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा सागराः प्रथितां दिशम्। रोषादभ्यखनन्सर्वे पृथिवीं सगरात्मजाः ॥ १-४०-२४ ॥

tataḥ prāguttarāṃ gatvā sāgarāḥ prathitāṃ diśam| roṣādabhyakhanansarve pṛthivīṃ sagarātmajāḥ || 1-40-24 ||

Then, going on to the renowned north-eastern quarter, all the sons of Sagara, in fury, dug into the earth.

Shloka 25 (bala.40.25)

ते तु सर्वे महत्मानो भीमवेगा महबलाः। ददृशुः कपिलं तत्र वासुदेवं सनातनम् ॥ १-४०-२५ ॥

te tu sarve mahatmāno bhīmavegā mahabalāḥ| dadṛśuḥ kapilaṃ tatra vāsudevaṃ sanātanam || 1-40-25 ||

But all those great-souled, mighty ones, terrible in their onrush, there beheld the eternal Vasudeva in the form of the sage Kapila,

Shloka 26 (bala.40.26)

हयं च तस्य देवस्य चरन्तमविदूरतः। प्रहर्षमतुलं प्राप्ताः सर्वे ते रघुनंदन ॥ १-४०-२६ ॥

hayaṃ ca tasya devasya carantamavidūrataḥ| praharṣamatulaṃ prāptāḥ sarve te raghunaṃdana || 1-40-26 ||

and, not far away, that god's horse grazing there. And, O delight of Raghu's line, all of them were filled with matchless joy.

Shloka 27 (bala.40.27)

ते तं हयहरं ज्ञात्वा क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणाः। खनित्रलांगलधरा नानावृक्षशिलाधराः ॥ १-४०-२७ ॥

te taṃ hayaharaṃ jñātvā krodhaparyākulekṣaṇāḥ| khanitralāṃgaladharā nānāvṛkṣaśilādharāḥ || 1-40-27 ||

Taking him to be the stealer of the horse, their eyes rolling with fury, wielding spades and ploughs, and bearing all manner of trees and boulders,

Shloka 28 (bala.40.28)

अभ्यधावन्त संक्रुद्धास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रुवन्। अस्माकं त्वं हि तुरगं यज्ञियं हृतवानसि ॥ १-४०-२८ ॥

abhyadhāvanta saṃkruddhāstiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābruvan| asmākaṃ tvaṃ hi turagaṃ yajñiyaṃ hṛtavānasi || 1-40-28 ||

rushed at him in rage, crying, "Stay! Stay!" and said: "It is you who have stolen our sacrificial horse!"

Shloka 29 (bala.40.29)

दुर्मेधस्त्वं हि संप्राप्तान् विद्धि नः सगरात्मजान्। श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तेषां कपिलो रघुनंदन ॥ १-४०-२९ ॥

durmedhastvaṃ hi saṃprāptān viddhi naḥ sagarātmajān| śrutvā tadvacanaṃ teṣāṃ kapilo raghunaṃdana || 1-40-29 ||

"Know, O evil-minded one, that we who have arrived here are the sons of Sagara." Hearing their words, O delight of Raghu's line, Kapila,

Shloka 30 (bala.40.30)

रोषेण महताविष्टो हुं कारमकरोत्तदा। ततस्तेनाप्रमेयेण कपिलेन महात्मना। भस्मराशीकृताः सर्वे काकुत्स्थ सगरात्मजाः ॥ १-४०-३० ॥

roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo huṃ kāramakarottadā| tatastenāprameyeṇa kapilena mahātmanā| bhasmarāśīkṛtāḥ sarve kākutstha sagarātmajāḥ || 1-40-30 ||

overcome with mighty wrath, uttered a sound of "Hum!" at that very moment. And then, O scion of Kakutstha, by that immeasurable, great-souled Kapila, all the sons of Sagara were reduced to heaps of ashes.