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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 38: Story of Sagara: The stolen horse and the earth’s excavation
Summary. Indra steals the sacrificial horse, Sagara sends his sixty thousand sons to dig for it and the devastation drives the earth’s inhabitants to Brahmā
Sequence
- Rāma asks to hear how his ancestor's sacrifice proceeded (1.38.1–3)
- Viśvāmitra places it between the Himālaya and Vindhya mountains, with Aṃśumat guarding the horse (1.38.4–6)
- at a critical ritual moment, Indra takes a rākṣasa's form and steals the horse (1.38.7)
- the priests warn that the interruption endangers the sacrifice and demand its recovery (1.38.8–10)
- Sagara orders his sixty thousand sons to search the entire earth, each covering a yojana-wide tract and digging until the horse and thief are found → he remains consecrated at the sacrifice with Aṃśumat and the priests (1.38.11–16)
- the sons begin breaking open the earth with their arms, spears, and ploughs (1.38.17–19)
- the earth cries out, and nāgas, asuras, rākṣasas, and other creatures are killed as the excavation reaches Rasātala (1.38.20–22)
- terrified divine and subterranean beings appeal to Brahmā, reporting that the princes accuse creatures indiscriminately and kill them as supposed horse-thieves. (1.38.23–26)
Verses 1.38.1–26
1.38.1
viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā kathānte raghunandana
uvāca paramaprīto muniṃ dīptam ivānalam
Hearing Viśvāmitra's words, at the end of the tale, O joy of the Raghus, (Rāma), greatly delighted, said to the sage who blazed like a kindled fire:
Words: viśvāmitravacaḥ — Viśvāmitra's words; śrutvā — having heard; kathānte — at the end of the tale; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; uvāca — said; paramaprīto — greatly delighted; muniṃ — to the sage; dīptam — blazing; ivānalam — like fire
1.38.2
śrotum ichāmi bhadraṃ te vistareṇa kathām imām
pūrvako me kathaṃ brahman yajñaṃ vai samupāharat
“I wish to hear this tale in full — blessings on you — O brahmin: how did my forefather offer up that sacrifice?”
Words: śrotum — to hear; ichāmi — I wish; bhadraṃ — welfare, blessing; te — to you; vistareṇa — in detail, fully; kathām — tale; imām — this; pūrvako — forefather, ancestor; me — my; kathaṃ — how; brahman — O brahmin; yajñaṃ — sacrifice; vai — indeed; samupāharat — offered up, performed
1.38.3
viśvāmitras tu kākutstham uvāca prahasann iva
śrūyatāṃ vistaro rāma sagarasya mahātmanaḥ
And Viśvāmitra, smiling a little, said to Kākutstha: “Let the full account of the great-souled Sagara be heard, O Rāma.
Words: viśvāmitras — Viśvāmitra; tu — and, but; kākutstham — to Kākutstha; uvāca — said; prahasann — smiling; iva — as it were, slightly; śrūyatāṃ — let it be heard; vistaro — the full account; rāma — O Rāma; sagarasya — of Sagara; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled
1.38.4
śaṃkaraśvaśuro nāma himavān acalottamaḥ
vindhyaparvatam āsādya nirīkṣete parasparam
There is Himavat, best of mountains, called the father-in-law of Śaṃkara (Śiva); facing toward the Vindhya mountain, the two gaze upon each other.
Words: śaṃkaraśvaśuro — the father-in-law of Śaṃkara; nāma — by name, called; himavān — Himavat; acalottamaḥ — best of mountains; vindhyaparvatam — the Vindhya mountain; āsādya — having reached, faced; nirīkṣete — the two gaze upon; parasparam — each other, mutually
1.38.5
tayor madhye pravṛtto 'bhūd yajñaḥ sa puruṣottama
sa hi deśo naravyāghra praśasto yajñakarmaṇi
Between those two, O supreme among men, that sacrifice was set in motion; for that region, O tiger among men, is commended for sacrificial rites.
Words: tayor — of those two; madhye — in the middle, between; pravṛtto — set in motion, commenced; 'bhūd — was, became; yajñaḥ — the sacrifice; sa — that; puruṣottama — O supreme among men; sa — that; hi — for, indeed; deśo — region, place; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; praśasto — commended, excellent; yajñakarmaṇi — for the sacrificial rite
1.38.6
tasyāśvacaryāṃ kākutstha dṛḍhadhanvā mahārathaḥ
aṃśumān akarot tāta sagarasya mate sthitaḥ
For it, O Kākutstha, Aṃśumat — strong-bowed, a great chariot-warrior — carried out the guarding of the horse, my dear, abiding by Sagara's counsel.
Words: tasyāśvacaryāṃ — the following/guarding of its horse; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; dṛḍhadhanvā — strong-bowed; mahārathaḥ — great chariot-warrior; aṃśumān — Aṃśumat; akarot — did, performed; tāta — my dear, child; sagarasya — of Sagara; mate — in the counsel/mind (loc.); sthitaḥ — abiding, standing
1.38.7
tasya parvaṇi taṃ yajñaṃ yajamānasya vāsavaḥ
rākṣasīṃ tanum āsthāya yajñiyāśvam apāharat
As he was sacrificing, at the sacred juncture Vāsava (Indra), assuming the body of a rākṣasa, carried off that sacrifice's horse.
Words: tasya — his, of him; parvaṇi — at the sacred juncture (loc.); taṃ — that; yajñaṃ — sacrifice; yajamānasya — of the one sacrificing; vāsavaḥ — Vāsava (Indra); rākṣasīṃ — of a rākṣasa (fem. adj.); tanum — body, form; āsthāya — having assumed; yajñiyāśvam — the sacrificial horse; apāharat — carried off, stole
1.38.8
hriyamāṇe tu kākutstha tasminn aśve mahātmanaḥ
upādhyāya gaṇāḥ sarve yajamānam athābruvan
When that horse of the great-souled one was being carried off, O Kākutstha, all the companies of priestly teachers then said to the sacrificer:
Words: hriyamāṇe — being carried off (loc.); tu — but, and; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; tasminn — that (loc.); aśve — horse (loc.); mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; upādhyāya — of teachers, preceptors; gaṇāḥ — the companies; sarve — all; yajamānam — to the sacrificer; athābruvan — then said
1.38.9
ayaṃ parvaṇi vegena yajñiyāśvo 'panīyate
hartāraṃ jahi kākutstha hayaś caivopanīyatām
“At the juncture this sacrificial horse is being swiftly carried off; slay the thief, O Kākutstha, and let the horse be brought back.”
Words: ayaṃ — this; parvaṇi — at the juncture (loc.); vegena — swiftly, with speed; yajñiyāśvo — the sacrificial horse; 'panīyate — is being carried off; hartāraṃ — the thief, carrier-off; jahi — slay, strike down; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; hayaś — the horse; caivopanīyatām — and let it be brought back
1.38.10
yajñac chidraṃ bhavaty etat sarveṣām aśivāya naḥ
tat tathā kriyatāṃ rājan yathāchidraḥ kratur bhavet
“This becomes a breach in the sacrifice, to the misfortune of us all; so act, O king, that the rite may be without flaw.”
Words: yajñac — of the sacrifice; chidraṃ — a breach, flaw; bhavaty — becomes; etat — this; sarveṣām — of all; aśivāya — to the misfortune, ill; naḥ — of us, our; tat — that, therefore; tathā — so, in such a way; kriyatāṃ — let it be done; rājan — O king; yathāchidraḥ — so that flawless; kratur — the rite, sacrifice; bhavet — may be
1.38.11
upādhyāya vacaḥ śrutvā tasmin sadasi pārthivaḥ
ṣaṣṭiṃ putrasahasrāṇi vākyam etad uvāca ha
Hearing the teachers' word, in that assembly the king spoke this word to his sixty thousand sons:
Words: upādhyāya — of the teachers; vacaḥ — word; śrutvā — having heard; tasmin — that (loc.); sadasi — in the assembly (loc.); pārthivaḥ — the king; ṣaṣṭiṃ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; vākyam — word, speech; etad — this; uvāca — said; ha — indeed
1.38.12
gatiṃ putrā na paśyāmi rakṣasāṃ puruṣarṣabhāḥ
mantrapūtair mahābhāgair āsthito hi mahākratuḥ
“I see no way to trace the rākṣasas, O sons, O bulls among men; for this great rite has been begun with mantra-purified, illustrious (priests).
Words: gatiṃ — the way, whereabouts; putrā — O sons; na — not; paśyāmi — I see; rakṣasāṃ — of the rākṣasas; puruṣarṣabhāḥ — O bulls among men; mantrapūtair — with mantra-purified (priests); mahābhāgair — illustrious, high-fortuned; āsthito — begun, undertaken; hi — for, indeed; mahākratuḥ — the great rite
1.38.13
tad gacchata vicinvadhvaṃ putrakā bhadram astu vaḥ
samudramālinīṃ sarvāṃ pṛthivīm anugacchata
So go and search, my dear boys — blessings upon you; traverse the whole earth, girdled by the ocean.
Words: tad — so, therefore; gacchata — go (pl.); vicinvadhvaṃ — search, seek out (pl.); putrakā — O little sons, dear boys; bhadram — welfare, blessing; astu — let it be; vaḥ — to you (pl.); samudramālinīṃ — girdled by the ocean; sarvāṃ — whole, entire; pṛthivīm — the earth; anugacchata — range over, traverse (pl.)
1.38.14
ekaikaṃ yojanaṃ putrā vistāram abhigacchata
Each one of you, my sons, cover one yojana in breadth.
Words: ekaikaṃ — each one, one apiece; yojanaṃ — a yojana (a measure of distance); putrā — O sons; vistāram — in breadth, extent; abhigacchata — go over, cover (pl.)
1.38.15
yāvat turagasaṃdarśas tāvat khanata medinīm
tam eva hayahartāraṃ mārgamāṇā mamājñayā
Dig up the earth until the horse comes into sight, searching out that very horse-thief, by my command.
Words: yāvat — until, as long as; turagasaṃdarśas — the sighting of the horse; tāvat — so long, until then; khanata — dig (pl.); medinīm — the earth; tam — that; eva — very; hayahartāraṃ — the horse-thief; mārgamāṇā — searching, seeking; mamājñayā — by my command
1.38.16
dīkṣitaḥ pautrasahitaḥ sopādhyāyagaṇo hy aham
iha sthāsyāmi bhadraṃ vo yāvat turagadarśanam
Consecrated for the rite, together with my grandson and the company of teachers, I shall remain here — blessings on you — until the horse is found.”
Words: dīkṣitaḥ — consecrated (for the sacrifice); pautrasahitaḥ — together with (my) grandson; sopādhyāyagaṇo — with the company of teachers; hy — indeed; aham — I; iha — here; sthāsyāmi — I shall stay; bhadraṃ — welfare, blessing; vo — to you (pl.); yāvat — until; turagadarśanam — the sighting of the horse
1.38.17
ity uktvā hṛṣṭamanaso rājaputrā mahābalāḥ
jagmur mahītalaṃ rāma pitur vacanayantritāḥ
Having spoken thus, the mighty princes, joyful of heart and bound by their father's word, set out over the surface of the earth, O Rāma.
Words: ity — thus; uktvā — having spoken; hṛṣṭamanaso — joyful of heart; rājaputrā — the princes; mahābalāḥ — mighty; jagmur — went; mahītalaṃ — the surface of the earth; rāma — O Rāma; pitur — of the father; vacanayantritāḥ — bound by (his) word/command
1.38.18
yojanāyām avistāram ekaiko dharaṇītalam
bibhiduḥ puruṣavyāghra vajrasparśasamair bhujaiḥ
Each one, O tiger among men, broke up the surface of the earth, a yojana in length and breadth, with arms whose touch was like the thunderbolt's.
Words: yojanāyām — a yojana in length; avistāram — and in breadth; ekaiko — each one; dharaṇītalam — the surface of the earth; bibhiduḥ — broke up, split open; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; vajrasparśasamair — whose touch equalled the thunderbolt; bhujaiḥ — with (their) arms
1.38.19
śūlair aśanikalpaiś ca halaiś cāpi sudāruṇaiḥ
bhidyamānā vasumatī nanāda raghunandana
Torn open with spears like thunderbolts and with terrible ploughs, the earth cried out, O joy of the Raghus.
Words: śūlair — with spears, pikes; aśanikalpaiś — like thunderbolts; ca — and; halaiś — with ploughs; cāpi — and also; sudāruṇaiḥ — terrible, dreadful; bhidyamānā — being split, torn open; vasumatī — the earth (‘the wealth-bearing’); nanāda — cried out, roared; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus
1.38.20
nāgānāṃ vadhyamānānām asurāṇāṃ ca rāghava
rākṣasānāṃ ca durdharṣaḥ sattvānāṃ ninado 'bhavat
There arose an unbearable clamour of the creatures being slain — of the nāgas, the asuras, and the rākṣasas, O Rāghava.
Words: nāgānāṃ — of the nāgas (serpents); vadhyamānānām — being slain; asurāṇāṃ — of the asuras; ca — and; rāghava — O Rāghava; rākṣasānāṃ — of the rākṣasas; ca — and; durdharṣaḥ — unbearable, irresistible; sattvānāṃ — of the creatures, beings; ninado — clamour, din; 'bhavat — arose, was
1.38.21
yojanānāṃ sahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭiṃ tu raghunandana
bibhidur dharaṇīṃ vīrā rasātalam anuttamam
The heroes dug up the earth for sixty thousand yojanas, O joy of the Raghus, down to the peerless nether world, Rasātala.
Words: yojanānāṃ — of yojanas; sahasrāṇi — thousands; ṣaṣṭiṃ — sixty; tu — and; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; bibhidur — dug up, broke through; dharaṇīṃ — the earth; vīrā — the heroes; rasātalam — Rasātala (the nether world); anuttamam — peerless, unsurpassed
1.38.22
evaṃ parvatasaṃbādhaṃ jambūdvīpaṃ nṛpātmajāḥ
khananto nṛpaśārdūla sarvataḥ paricakramuḥ
Thus the king's sons, O tiger of a king, digging up Jambūdvīpa, dense with mountains, ranged over it on every side.
Words: evaṃ — thus; parvatasaṃbādhaṃ — dense with mountains; jambūdvīpaṃ — Jambūdvīpa; nṛpātmajāḥ — the king's sons; khananto — digging; nṛpaśārdūla — O tiger of a king; sarvataḥ — on every side; paricakramuḥ — ranged around, roamed over
1.38.23
tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ sāsurāḥ sahapannagāḥ
saṃbhrāntamanasaḥ sarve pitāmaham upāgaman
Then the gods, together with the gandharvas, the asuras, and the serpents, all with agitated minds, approached the Grandsire.
Words: tato — then; devāḥ — the gods; sagandharvāḥ — with the gandharvas; sāsurāḥ — with the asuras; sahapannagāḥ — together with the serpents; saṃbhrāntamanasaḥ — with agitated minds; sarve — all; pitāmaham — the Grandsire; upāgaman — approached
1.38.24
te prasādya mahātmānaṃ viṣaṇṇavadanās tadā
ūcuḥ paramasaṃtrastāḥ pitāmaham idaṃ vacaḥ
Propitiating the great one, their faces downcast, then, sore afraid, they spoke this word to the Grandsire:
Words: te — they; prasādya — having propitiated, conciliated; mahātmānaṃ — the great one; viṣaṇṇavadanās — with downcast faces; tadā — then; ūcuḥ — said; paramasaṃtrastāḥ — greatly terrified; pitāmaham — to the Grandsire; idaṃ — this; vacaḥ — word
1.38.25
bhagavan pṛthivī sarvā khanyate sagarātmajaiḥ
bahavaś ca mahātmāno vadhyante jalacāriṇaḥ
“O venerable one, the whole earth is being dug up by Sagara's sons, and many great water-dwelling creatures are being killed.
Words: bhagavan — O venerable one, O lord; pṛthivī — the earth; sarvā — whole; khanyate — is being dug up; sagarātmajaiḥ — by Sagara's sons; bahavaś — many; ca — and; mahātmāno — great (creatures); vadhyante — are being killed; jalacāriṇaḥ — water-dwelling (creatures)
1.38.26
ayaṃ yajñahano 'smākam anenāśvo 'panīyate
iti te sarvabhūtāni nighnanti sagarātmajaḥ
Saying, ‘This one is the wrecker of our sacrifice; by him the horse has been carried off,' these sons of Sagara are slaying all beings.”
Words: ayaṃ — this (one); yajñahano — the wrecker of the sacrifice; 'smākam — of us, our; anenāśvo — by this one the horse; 'panīyate — is being carried off; iti — thus (saying); te — they; sarvabhūtāni — all beings; nighnanti — kill, slay; sagarātmajaḥ — the sons of Sagara
← 1.37 Story of Sagara: One heir and sixty thousand sons · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.39 Story of Sagara: Kapila’s anger and the sons’ destruction →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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