Amshuman's Grief and Garuda's Counsel

Shloka 1 (bala.41.1)

पुत्रांश्चिरगतान् ज्ञात्वा सगरो रघुनंदन। नप्तारमब्रवीद्राजा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा ॥ १-४१-१ ॥

putrāṃściragatān jñātvā sagaro raghunaṃdana| naptāramabravīdrājā dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā || 1-41-1 ||

Knowing that his sons had been gone a long time, O delight of Raghu's line, King Sagara spoke to his grandson Amshuman, who shone with his own splendor.

Shloka 2 (bala.41.2)

शूरश्च कृतविद्यश्च पूर्वैस्तुल्योऽसि तेजसा। पितृणां गतिमन्विच्छ येन चाश्वोऽपहारितः ॥ १-४१-२ ॥

śūraśca kṛtavidyaśca pūrvaistulyo'si tejasā| pitṛṇāṃ gatimanviccha yena cāśvo'pahāritaḥ || 1-41-2 ||

"You are valiant and well-trained, equal to your forebears in splendor. Track the path your uncles took, and find out by whom the horse was stolen."

Shloka 3 (bala.41.3)

अन्तर्भौमानि सत्त्वानि वीर्यवन्ति महान्ति च। तेषां त्वं प्रतिघातार्थं सासिं गृह्णीष्व कार्मुकम् ॥ १-४१-३ ॥

antarbhaumāni sattvāni vīryavanti mahānti ca| teṣāṃ tvaṃ pratighātārthaṃ sāsiṃ gṛhṇīṣva kārmukam || 1-41-3 ||

"The beings that dwell beneath the earth are mighty and full of valor; to ward them off, take up the sword together with the bow."

Shloka 4 (bala.41.4)

अभिवाद्याभिवाद्यांस्त्वां हत्वा विघ्नकरानपि। सिद्धार्थः संनिवर्तस्व मम यज्ञस्य पारगः ॥ १-४१-४ ॥

abhivādyābhivādyāṃstvāṃ hatvā vighnakarānapi| siddhārthaḥ saṃnivartasva mama yajñasya pāragaḥ || 1-41-4 ||

"Salute those worthy of salutation, and having slain any who obstruct you, return with your purpose accomplished, so that my sacrifice may be carried through to completion."

Shloka 5 (bala.41.5)

एवमुक्तो ंऽशुमान् सम्यक्सगरेण महात्मना। धनुरादाय खड्गं च जगाम लघुविक्रमः ॥ १-४१-५ ॥

evamukto ṃ'śumān samyaksagareṇa mahātmanā| dhanurādāya khaḍgaṃ ca jagāma laghuvikramaḥ || 1-41-5 ||

Thus fully instructed by the great-souled Sagara, Amshuman, swift and valiant, set forth, taking up his bow and sword.

Shloka 6 (bala.41.6)

स खातं पितृभिर्मार्गमन्तर्भौमं महात्मभिः। प्रापद्यत नरश्रेष्ठ तेन राज्ञाभिचोदितः ॥ १-४१-६ ॥

sa khātaṃ pitṛbhirmārgamantarbhaumaṃ mahātmabhiḥ| prāpadyata naraśreṣṭha tena rājñābhicoditaḥ || 1-41-6 ||

Urged on by the king, O best of men, he took the path that had been dug through the earth by his great-souled uncles.

Shloka 7 (bala.41.7)

देवदानवरक्षोभिः पिशाचपतगोरगैः। पूज्यमानं महातेजा दिशागजमपश्यत ॥ १-४१-७ ॥

devadānavarakṣobhiḥ piśācapatagoragaiḥ| pūjyamānaṃ mahātejā diśāgajamapaśyata || 1-41-7 ||

That greatly resplendent one beheld an elephant of the quarters, honored by gods, danavas, rakshasas, pishachas, birds, and serpents.

Shloka 8 (bala.41.8)

स तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चैव निरामयम्। पितृन् स परिपप्रच्छ वाजिहर्तारमेव च ॥ १-४१-८ ॥

sa taṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā caiva nirāmayam| pitṛn sa paripapraccha vājihartārameva ca || 1-41-8 ||

Having circled him in reverence and inquired after his well-being, he questioned him closely about his uncles, and also about the thief of the horse.

Shloka 9 (bala.41.9)

दिशागजस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच महामतिः। आसमंज कृतार्थस्त्वं सहाश्वः शीघ्रमेष्यसि ॥ १-४१-९ ॥

diśāgajastu tacchrutvā pratyuvāca mahāmatiḥ| āsamaṃja kṛtārthastvaṃ sahāśvaḥ śīghrameṣyasi || 1-41-9 ||

That elephant of great understanding replied to him: "O son of Asamanjas, you shall soon return, your purpose achieved, together with the horse."

Shloka 10 (bala.41.10)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वानेव दिशागजान्। यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे ॥ १-४१-१० ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā sarvāneva diśāgajān| yathākramaṃ yathānyāyaṃ praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame || 1-41-10 ||

Having heard his words, he then began, in proper order and with due courtesy, to question all the elephants of the quarters in turn.

Shloka 11 (bala.41.11)

तैश्च सर्वैर्दिशापालैर्वाक्यज्ञैर्वाक्यकोविदैः। पूजितः सहयश्चैव गन्तासीत्यभिचोदितः ॥ १-४१-११ ॥

taiśca sarvairdiśāpālairvākyajñairvākyakovidaiḥ| pūjitaḥ sahayaścaiva gantāsītyabhicoditaḥ || 1-41-11 ||

And all those guardians of the quarters, eloquent and skilled in speech, honored him and, saying, "you shall indeed go on, with the horse," urged him further.

Shloka 12 (bala.41.12)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम लघुविक्रमः। भस्मराशीकृता यत्र पितरस्तस्य सागराः ॥ १-४१-१२ ॥

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā jagāma laghuvikramaḥ| bhasmarāśīkṛtā yatra pitarastasya sāgarāḥ || 1-41-12 ||

Having heard their words, the swift-footed Amshuman went on to the place where his uncles, the sons of Sagara, had been reduced to a heap of ashes.

Shloka 13 (bala.41.13)

स दुःखवशमापन्नस्त्वसमंजसुतस्तदा। चुक्रोश परमार्तस्तु वधात्तेषां सुदुःखितः ॥ १-४१-१३ ॥

sa duḥkhavaśamāpannastvasamaṃjasutastadā| cukrośa paramārtastu vadhātteṣāṃ suduḥkhitaḥ || 1-41-13 ||

Then he, the son of Asamanjas, overcome by anguish, greatly afflicted and sorrow-stricken at their death, cried out in grief.

Shloka 14 (bala.41.14)

यज्ञियं च हयं तत्र चरन्तमविदूरतः। ददर्श पुरुषव्याघ्रो दुःखशोकसमन्वितः ॥ १-४१-१४ ॥

yajñiyaṃ ca hayaṃ tatra carantamavidūrataḥ| dadarśa puruṣavyāghro duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ || 1-41-14 ||

And that tiger among men, overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, then saw, not far away, the sacrificial horse grazing there.

Shloka 15 (bala.41.15)

स तेषां राजपुत्राणां कर्तुकामो जलक्रियाम्। स जलार्थं महातेजा न चापश्यज्जलाशयम् ॥ १-४१-१५ ॥

sa teṣāṃ rājaputrāṇāṃ kartukāmo jalakriyām| sa jalārthaṃ mahātejā na cāpaśyajjalāśayam || 1-41-15 ||

Wishing to perform the water-offering for those princes, that greatly resplendent one searched for water, but could find no reservoir there.

Shloka 16 (bala.41.16)

विसार्य निपुणां दृष्टिं ततोऽपश्यत् खगाधिपम्। पितॄणां मातुलं राम सुपर्णमनिलोपमम् ॥ १-४१-१६ ॥

visārya nipuṇāṃ dṛṣṭiṃ tato'paśyat khagādhipam| pitṝṇāṃ mātulaṃ rāma suparṇamanilopamam || 1-41-16 ||

Casting his keen glance about, O Rama, he then beheld the lord of birds — the maternal uncle of his forefathers, Suparna, swift as the wind.

Shloka 17 (bala.41.17)

स चैनमब्रवीद्वाक्यं वैनतेयो महाबलः। मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र वधोऽयं लोकसम्मतः ॥ १-४१-१७ ॥

sa cainamabravīdvākyaṃ vainateyo mahābalaḥ| mā śucaḥ puruṣavyāghra vadho'yaṃ lokasammataḥ || 1-41-17 ||

And that mighty son of Vinata spoke to him: "Grieve not, O tiger among men; this destruction was sanctioned by the worlds."

Shloka 18 (bala.41.18)

कपिलेनाप्रमेयेण दग्धा हीमे महाबलाः। सलिलं नार्हसि प्राज्ञ दातुमेषां हि लौकिकम् ॥ १-४१-१८ ॥

kapilenāprameyeṇa dagdhā hīme mahābalāḥ| salilaṃ nārhasi prājña dātumeṣāṃ hi laukikam || 1-41-18 ||

"These mighty ones were burnt down by the immeasurable Kapila; it is not fitting, O wise one, that you should offer them the customary water-rite."

Shloka 19 (bala.41.19)

गंगा हिमवतो ज्येष्ठा दुहिता पुरुषर्षभ। तस्यां कुरु महाबाहो पितॄणां तु जलक्रियाम् ॥ १-४१-१९ ॥

gaṃgā himavato jyeṣṭhā duhitā puruṣarṣabha| tasyāṃ kuru mahābāho pitṝṇāṃ tu jalakriyām || 1-41-19 ||

"Ganga is the eldest daughter of Himavat, O bull among men; in her waters, O mighty-armed one, you must perform the water-rite for your forefathers."

Shloka 20 (bala.41.20)

भस्मराशीकृतानेतान् प्लावयेल्लोकपावनी। तया क्लिन्नमिदं भस्म गंगया लोककान्तया। षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यति ॥ १-४१-२० ॥

bhasmarāśīkṛtānetān plāvayellokapāvanī| tayā klinnamidaṃ bhasma gaṃgayā lokakāntayā| ṣaṣṭiṃ putrasahasrāṇi svargalokaṃ gamiṣyati || 1-41-20 ||

"She, the purifier of the worlds, will sweep over these who have been turned to ashes; when their ash is drenched by her, by Ganga, so cherished by all the worlds, the sixty thousand sons shall go to the world of heaven."

Shloka 21 (bala.41.21)

गच्छ चाश्वं महाभाग संगृह्य पुरुषर्षभ। यज्ञं पैतामहं वीर निर्वर्तयितुमर्हसि ॥ १-४१-२१ ॥

gaccha cāśvaṃ mahābhāga saṃgṛhya puruṣarṣabha| yajñaṃ paitāmahaṃ vīra nirvartayitumarhasi || 1-41-21 ||

"Go now, O greatly fortunate one, taking up the horse, O bull among men; it behooves you, O hero, to see your grandfather's sacrifice through to completion."

Shloka 22 (bala.41.22)

सुपर्णवचनं श्रुत्वा सोंऽशुमानतिवीर्यवान्। त्वरितं हयमादाय पुनरायान्महायशाः ॥ १-४१-२२ ॥

suparṇavacanaṃ śrutvā soṃ'śumānativīryavān| tvaritaṃ hayamādāya punarāyānmahāyaśāḥ || 1-41-22 ||

Having heard the words of Suparna, that highly valiant and renowned Amshuman swiftly took up the horse and returned once more.

Shloka 23 (bala.41.23)

ततो राजानमासाद्य दीक्षितं रघुनंदन। न्यवेदयद्यथावृत्तं सुपर्णवचनं तथा ॥ १-४१-२३ ॥

tato rājānamāsādya dīkṣitaṃ raghunaṃdana| nyavedayadyathāvṛttaṃ suparṇavacanaṃ tathā || 1-41-23 ||

Then, O delight of Raghu's line, reaching the king who sat consecrated for the rite, he related all that had occurred, together with Suparna's words.

Shloka 24 (bala.41.24)

तच्छ्रुत्वा घोरसंकाशं वाक्यमंशुमतो नृपः। यज्ञं निर्वर्तयामास यथाकल्पं यथाविधि ॥ १-४१-२४ ॥

tacchrutvā ghorasaṃkāśaṃ vākyamaṃśumato nṛpaḥ| yajñaṃ nirvartayāmāsa yathākalpaṃ yathāvidhi || 1-41-24 ||

Hearing that grievous account from Amshuman, the king brought the sacrifice to completion, in accordance with scripture and rite.

Shloka 25 (bala.41.25)

स्वपुरं चागमच्छ्रीमानिष्टयज्ञो महीपतिः। गंगायाश्चागमे राजा निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत ॥ १-४१-२५ ॥

svapuraṃ cāgamacchrīmāniṣṭayajño mahīpatiḥ| gaṃgāyāścāgame rājā niścayaṃ nādhyagacchata || 1-41-25 ||

And that glorious lord of the earth, his sacrifice accomplished, returned to his own city; yet the king could reach no resolve as to how Ganga might be brought down.

Shloka 26 (bala.41.26)

अगत्वा निश्चयं राजा कालेन महता महान्। त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कृत्वा दिवं गतः ॥ १-४१-२६ ॥

agatvā niścayaṃ rājā kālena mahatā mahān| triṃśadvarṣasahasrāṇi rājyaṃ kṛtvā divaṃ gataḥ || 1-41-26 ||

Reaching no resolve, that great king, after a very long time, ruled his kingdom for thirty thousand years, and then departed to heaven.