← 1.38 Story of Sagara: The stolen horse and the earth’s excavation · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.40 Story of Sagara: Aṃśumat retrieves the horse →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 39: Story of Sagara: Kapila’s anger and the sons’ destruction
Summary. The sons pass the elephants supporting the earth and find the horse beside Kapila, they accuse him of theft and his “huṃ” reduces them to ashes
Sequence
- Brahmā explains that Vāsudeva sustains the earth in Kapila's form and that both its excavation and the princes' destruction have long been foreseen → reassured, the Devas depart (1.39.1–4)
- after searching and digging without finding the horse, the sons return to Sagara → he angrily sends them back to dig farther (1.39.5–10)
- descending again, they encounter Virūpākṣa, the eastern elephant supporting the earth, whose movements cause earthquakes → they honor and circle him (1.39.11–15)
- continuing through the quarters, they similarly honor Mahāpadma in the south, Saumanasa in the west, and the snow-white Bhadra in the north (1.39.16–22)
- digging northeast, they find Kapila with the horse grazing nearby (1.39.23–24)
- assuming that he stole it, they rush at him and demand that he stand and face Sagara's sons (1.39.25–26)
- Kapila utters an angry “huṃ” → all sixty thousand are reduced to ashes. (1.39.27–28)
Verses 1.39.1–28
1.39.1
devatānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā bhagavān vai pitāmahaḥ
pratyuvāca susaṃtrastān kṛtāntabalamohitān
Hearing the words of the deities, the venerable Grandsire replied to those sorely frightened ones, deluded by the power of fate:
Words: devatānāṃ — of the deities; vacaḥ — words; śrutvā — having heard; bhagavān — the venerable one; vai — indeed; pitāmahaḥ — the Grandsire; pratyuvāca — replied; susaṃtrastān — the sorely frightened; kṛtāntabalamohitān — deluded by the power of fate
1.39.2
yasyeyaṃ vasudhā kṛtsnā vāsudevasya dhīmataḥ
kāpilaṃ rūpam āsthāya dhārayaty aniśaṃ dharām
This whole earth belongs to the wise Vāsudeva, who, assuming the form of Kapila, unceasingly upholds the earth.
Words: yasyeyaṃ — whose this is; vasudhā — the earth; kṛtsnā — whole, entire; vāsudevasya — of Vāsudeva; dhīmataḥ — the wise; kāpilaṃ — of Kapila (adj.); rūpam — form; āsthāya — having assumed; dhārayaty — upholds, bears; aniśaṃ — unceasingly, day and night; dharām — the earth
1.39.3
pṛthivyāś cāpi nirbhedo dṛṣṭa eva sanātanaḥ
sagarasya ca putrāṇāṃ vināśo 'dīrghajīvinām
And the breaking-open of the earth has long been foreseen as inevitable, as has the destruction of Sagara's sons, who are not to be long-lived.
Words: pṛthivyāś — of the earth; cāpi — and also; nirbhedo — breaking-open, splitting; dṛṣṭa — seen, foreseen; eva — indeed; sanātanaḥ — eternal, from of old; sagarasya — of Sagara; ca — and; putrāṇāṃ — of the sons; vināśo — destruction; 'dīrghajīvinām — of those not long-lived
1.39.4
pitāmahavacaḥ śrutvā trayas triṃśad ariṃdamaḥ
devāḥ paramasaṃhṛṣṭāḥ punar jagmur yathāgatam
Hearing the Grandsire's word, the thirty-three foe-subduing gods, greatly delighted, went back the way they had come.
Words: pitāmahavacaḥ — the Grandsire's word; śrutvā — having heard; trayas — three; triṃśad — thirty; ariṃdamaḥ — foe-subduing; devāḥ — the gods; paramasaṃhṛṣṭāḥ — greatly delighted; punar — again, back; jagmur — went; yathāgatam — as they had come
1.39.5
sagarasya ca putrāṇāṃ prādur āsīn mahātmanām
pṛthivyāṃ bhidyamānāyāṃ nirghāta sama niḥsvanaḥ
And as the earth was being torn open by the great-souled sons of Sagara, there arose a din like a thunderclap.
Words: sagarasya — of Sagara; ca — and; putrāṇāṃ — of the sons; prādur — forth, into manifestation; āsīn — there arose; mahātmanām — of the great-souled; pṛthivyāṃ — the earth (loc.); bhidyamānāyāṃ — being torn open (loc.); nirghāta — thunderclap, whirlwind; sama — equal to, like; niḥsvanaḥ — a din, sound
1.39.6
tato bhittvā mahīṃ sarvāṃ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam
sahitāḥ sagarāḥ sarve pitaraṃ vākyam abruvan
Then, having broken open the whole earth and circumambulated it, all Sagara's sons together spoke this word to their father:
Words: tato — then; bhittvā — having broken open; mahīṃ — the earth; sarvāṃ — whole, entire; kṛtvā — having made; cāpi — and also; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation; sahitāḥ — together, united; sagarāḥ — the Sagaras (Sagara's sons); sarve — all; pitaraṃ — to (their) father; vākyam — word; abruvan — spoke
1.39.7
parikrāntā mahī sarvā sattvavantaś ca sūditāḥ
devadānavarakṣāṃsi piśācoragakiṃnarāḥ
“The whole earth has been traversed, and mighty creatures slain — gods, dānavas and rākṣasas, piśācas, serpents and kiṃnaras.
Words: parikrāntā — traversed, ranged over; mahī — the earth; sarvā — whole; sattvavantaś — mighty creatures, powerful beings; ca — and; sūditāḥ — slain, destroyed; devadānavarakṣāṃsi — gods, dānavas and rākṣasas; piśācoragakiṃnarāḥ — piśācas, serpents and kiṃnaras
1.39.8
na ca paśyāmahe 'śvaṃ tam aśvahartāram eva ca
kiṃ kariṣyāma bhadraṃ te buddhir atra vicāryatām
But we do not see that horse, nor the horse-thief. What shall we do? Bless you — let a plan be deliberated on this.”
Words: na — not; ca — and, but; paśyāmahe — we see; 'śvaṃ — the horse; tam — that; aśvahartāram — the horse-thief; eva — indeed; ca — and; kiṃ — what; kariṣyāma — shall we do; bhadraṃ — welfare, blessing; te — to you; buddhir — a plan, thought; atra — here, on this; vicāryatām — let it be deliberated
1.39.9
teṣāṃ tad vacanaṃ śrutvā putrāṇāṃ rājasattamaḥ
samanyur abravīd vākyaṃ sagaro raghunandana
Hearing that word of his sons, the best of kings, Sagara, in anger spoke this word, O joy of the Raghus:
Words: teṣāṃ — their, of them; tad — that; vacanaṃ — word; śrutvā — having heard; putrāṇāṃ — of the sons; rājasattamaḥ — the best of kings; samanyur — angry, wrathful; abravīd — spoke; vākyaṃ — word; sagaro — Sagara; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus
1.39.10
bhūyaḥ khanata bhadraṃ vo nirbhidya vasudhātalam
aśvahartāram āsādya kṛtārthāś ca nivartatha
“Dig again — blessings on you — breaking through the surface of the earth; and having found the horse-thief and gained your object, return.”
Words: bhūyaḥ — again, further; khanata — dig (pl.); bhadraṃ — welfare, blessing; vo — to you (pl.); nirbhidya — having broken through; vasudhātalam — the surface of the earth; aśvahartāram — the horse-thief; āsādya — having found, reached; kṛtārthāś — having accomplished your aim; ca — and; nivartatha — return (pl.)
1.39.11
pitur vacanam āsthāya sagarasya mahātmanaḥ
ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi rasātalam abhidravan
Abiding by the word of their father, the great-souled Sagara, the sixty thousand sons rushed down toward Rasātala.
Words: pitur — of the father; vacanam — word; āsthāya — having held to, obeyed; sagarasya — of Sagara; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; ṣaṣṭiḥ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; rasātalam — Rasātala (the nether world); abhidravan — rushed toward, ran down
1.39.12
khanyamāne tatas tasmin dadṛśuḥ parvatopamam
diśāgajaṃ virūpākṣaṃ dhārayantaṃ mahītalam
As it was being dug, they then beheld a mountain-like elephant of the quarter, Virūpākṣa, upholding the surface of the earth.
Words: khanyamāne — being dug (loc.); tatas — then; tasmin — that (loc.); dadṛśuḥ — they beheld, saw; parvatopamam — mountain-like; diśāgajaṃ — an elephant of the quarter (world-elephant); virūpākṣaṃ — Virūpākṣa (‘of misshapen eyes’); dhārayantaṃ — upholding, bearing; mahītalam — the surface of the earth
1.39.13
saparvatavanāṃ kṛtsnāṃ pṛthivīṃ raghunandana
śirasā dhārayām āsa virūpākṣo mahāgajaḥ
O joy of the Raghus, the great elephant Virūpākṣa bore upon his head the whole earth, with its mountains and forests.
Words: saparvatavanāṃ — with mountains and forests; kṛtsnāṃ — whole, entire; pṛthivīṃ — the earth; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; śirasā — with (his) head; dhārayām āsa — bore, upheld; virūpākṣo — Virūpākṣa; mahāgajaḥ — the great elephant
1.39.14
yadā parvaṇi kākutstha viśramārthaṃ mahāgajaḥ
khedāc cālayate śīrṣaṃ bhūmikampas tadhā bhavet
Whenever, O Kākutstha, at the turn (of the ages) the great elephant, from weariness, shakes his head for rest, then there comes an earthquake.
Words: yadā — whenever, when; parvaṇi — at the juncture/turn (loc.); kākutstha — O Kākutstha; viśramārthaṃ — for the sake of rest; mahāgajaḥ — the great elephant; khedāc — from weariness; cālayate — shakes, moves; śīrṣaṃ — the head; bhūmikampas — an earthquake; tadhā — then; bhavet — comes to be
1.39.15
taṃ te pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā diśāpālaṃ mahāgajam
mānayanto hi te rāma jagmur bhittvā rasātalam
Circumambulating that great elephant, the guardian of the quarter, and honouring him, O Rāma, they went on, breaking through toward Rasātala.
Words: taṃ — him; te — they; pradakṣiṇaṃ — circumambulation; kṛtvā — having made; diśāpālaṃ — guardian of the quarter; mahāgajam — the great elephant; mānayanto — honouring; hi — indeed; te — they; rāma — O Rāma; jagmur — went; bhittvā — having broken through; rasātalam — Rasātala
1.39.16
tataḥ pūrvāṃ diśaṃ bhittvā dakṣiṇāṃ bibhiduḥ punaḥ
dakṣiṇasyām api diśi dadṛśus te mahāgajam
Then, having broken open the eastern quarter, they dug through the southern one; and in the southern quarter too they beheld a great elephant —
Words: tataḥ — then; pūrvāṃ — eastern; diśaṃ — quarter, direction; bhittvā — having broken open; dakṣiṇāṃ — southern; bibhiduḥ — dug through, broke open; punaḥ — again; dakṣiṇasyām — in the southern; api — also; diśi — quarter (loc.); dadṛśus — they beheld; te — they; mahāgajam — a great elephant
1.39.17
mahāpadmaṃ mahātmānaṃ sumahāparvatopamam
śirasā dhārayantaṃ te vismayaṃ jagmur uttamam
Mahāpadma, the great one, resembling a huge mountain, bearing (the earth) upon his head — and they were struck with the utmost wonder.
Words: mahāpadmaṃ — Mahāpadma; mahātmānaṃ — the great one; sumahāparvatopamam — resembling a very great mountain; śirasā — with (his) head; dhārayantaṃ — bearing, upholding; te — they; vismayaṃ — wonder, amazement; jagmur — attained, went to; uttamam — utmost, highest
1.39.18
tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā sagarasya mahātmanaḥ
ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi paścimāṃ bibhidur diśam
Then, circumambulating him, the sixty thousand sons of the great-souled Sagara broke open the western quarter.
Words: tataḥ — then; pradakṣiṇaṃ — circumambulation; kṛtvā — having made; sagarasya — of Sagara; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; ṣaṣṭiḥ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; paścimāṃ — western; bibhidur — broke open; diśam — quarter
1.39.19
paścimāyām api diśi mahāntam acalopamam
diśāgajaṃ saumanasaṃ dadṛśus te mahābalāḥ
In the western quarter too, those mighty ones beheld the great quarter-elephant Saumanasa, resembling a mountain.
Words: paścimāyām — in the western; api — also; diśi — quarter (loc.); mahāntam — great, huge; acalopamam — resembling a mountain; diśāgajaṃ — quarter-elephant; saumanasaṃ — Saumanasa; dadṛśus — beheld; te — they; mahābalāḥ — the mighty ones
1.39.20
taṃ te pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā cāpi nirāmayam
khanantaḥ samupakrāntā diśaṃ somavatīṃ tadā
Circumambulating him and asking after his well-being, they then set about digging toward the northern, moon-blessed quarter.
Words: taṃ — him; te — they; pradakṣiṇaṃ — circumambulation; kṛtvā — having made; pṛṣṭvā — having asked; cāpi — and also; nirāmayam — (after his) well-being, freedom from ailment; khanantaḥ — digging; samupakrāntā — set about, began; diśaṃ — the quarter; somavatīṃ — the moon-blessed (northern); tadā — then
1.39.21
uttarasyāṃ raghuśreṣṭha dadṛśur himapāṇḍuram
bhadraṃ bhadreṇa vapuṣā dhārayantaṃ mahīm imām
In the north, O best of the Raghus, they beheld Bhadra, white as snow, upholding this earth with his auspicious body.
Words: uttarasyāṃ — in the north; raghuśreṣṭha — O best of the Raghus; dadṛśur — they beheld; himapāṇḍuram — white as snow; bhadraṃ — Bhadra (the elephant); bhadreṇa — auspicious, excellent; vapuṣā — with (his) body; dhārayantaṃ — upholding, bearing; mahīm — the earth; imām — this
1.39.22
samālabhya tataḥ sarve kṛtvā cainaṃ pradakṣiṇam
ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi bibhidur vasudhātalam
Then all of them, having touched him and circumambulated him, the sixty thousand sons broke through the earth's surface.
Words: samālabhya — having touched, stroked; tataḥ — then; sarve — all; kṛtvā — having made; cainaṃ — and him; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation; ṣaṣṭiḥ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; bibhidur — broke through; vasudhātalam — the earth's surface
1.39.23
tataḥ prāguttarāṃ gatvā sāgarāḥ prathitāṃ diśam
roṣād abhyakhanan sarve pṛthivīṃ sagarātmajāḥ
Then, going to the famed north-eastern quarter, all the sons of Sagara in their fury dug up the earth.
Words: tataḥ — then; prāguttarāṃ — north-eastern; gatvā — having gone; sāgarāḥ — the sons of Sagara; prathitāṃ — famed, renowned; diśam — quarter; roṣād — out of fury; abhyakhanan — dug up, dug into; sarve — all; pṛthivīṃ — the earth; sagarātmajāḥ — Sagara's sons
1.39.24
dadṛśuḥ kapilaṃ tatra vāsudevaṃ sanātanam
hayaṃ ca tasya devasya carantam avidūrataḥ
There they beheld Kapila, the eternal Vāsudeva, and that god's horse grazing not far off.
Words: dadṛśuḥ — they beheld; kapilaṃ — Kapila; tatra — there; vāsudevaṃ — Vāsudeva; sanātanam — eternal, from of old; hayaṃ — the horse; ca — and; tasya — of that; devasya — of the god; carantam — grazing, moving about; avidūrataḥ — not far off
1.39.25
te taṃ yajñahanaṃ jñātvā krodhaparyākulekṣaṇāḥ
abhyadhāvanta saṃkruddhās tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābruvan
Taking him for the wrecker of the sacrifice, their eyes rolling with rage, they charged at him in fury, crying, “Stand! Stand!”
Words: te — they; taṃ — him; yajñahanaṃ — the wrecker of the sacrifice; jñātvā — having taken (him) to be, knowing; krodhaparyākulekṣaṇāḥ — their eyes agitated with anger; abhyadhāvanta — charged at, rushed upon; saṃkruddhās — enraged; tiṣṭha — ‘Stand!’; tiṣṭheti — ‘stand!’ (thus they cried); cābruvan — and said
1.39.26
asmākaṃ tvaṃ hi turagaṃ yajñiyaṃ hṛtavān asi
durmedhas tvaṃ hi saṃprāptān viddhi naḥ sagarātmajān
“You have stolen our sacrificial horse! Know, O dull-witted one, that we who have come upon you are the sons of Sagara!”
Words: asmākaṃ — our; tvaṃ — you; hi — indeed; turagaṃ — the horse; yajñiyaṃ — sacrificial; hṛtavān — have stolen, carried off; asi — you are; durmedhas — O dull-witted one; tvaṃ — you; hi — indeed; saṃprāptān — (us) who have arrived, come upon you; viddhi — know!; naḥ — us; sagarātmajān — the sons of Sagara
1.39.27
śrutvā tad vacanaṃ teṣāṃ kapilo raghunandana
roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo huṃkāram akarot tadā
Hearing that word of theirs, O joy of the Raghus, Kapila, seized with great fury, then uttered a roar (huṃ).
Words: śrutvā — having heard; tad — that; vacanaṃ — word; teṣāṃ — of them, their; kapilo — Kapila; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; roṣeṇa — with fury, anger; mahatāviṣṭo — possessed by great (rage); huṃkāram — a roar, the sound ‘huṃ’; akarot — made, uttered; tadā — then
1.39.28
tatas tenāprameyena kapilena mahātmanā
bhasmarāśīkṛtāḥ sarve kākutstha sagarātmajāḥ
Then by that immeasurable, great-souled Kapila all the sons of Sagara were reduced to a heap of ashes, O Kākutstha.
Words: tatas — then; tenāprameyena — by that immeasurable one; kapilena — by Kapila; mahātmanā — great-souled; bhasmarāśīkṛtāḥ — reduced to a heap of ashes; sarve — all; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; sagarātmajāḥ — the sons of Sagara
← 1.38 Story of Sagara: The stolen horse and the earth’s excavation · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.40 Story of Sagara: Aṃśumat retrieves the horse →
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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