← 1.39 Story of Sagara: Kapila’s anger and the sons’ destruction · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.41 Story of Sagara: Bhagīratha takes up the ancestral task →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 40: Story of Sagara: Aṃśumat retrieves the horse
Summary. Aṃśumat recovers the horse and finds his uncles’ ashes, Garuḍa says only Gaṅgā can redeem them, Sagara completes the sacrifice but cannot bring her down
Sequence
- When his sons fail to return, Sagara sends Aṃśumat after them, armed with bow and sword and instructed to honor worthy beings while overcoming obstruction (1.40.1–5)
- Aṃśumat follows the excavated passage → he respectfully questions the elephants of the quarters, who encourage him and predict success (1.40.6–11)
- he finds the ashes of his relatives and weeps → seeing the horse nearby, he seeks water for their funeral offering but finds none (1.40.12–15)
- Garuḍa, their maternal uncle, appears (1.40.16)
- he explains that Kapila burned them and that ordinary water will not suffice → only Gaṅgā can purify their ashes and lead the sixty thousand to heaven (1.40.17–20)
- Garuḍa tells Aṃśumat to take the horse back and complete Sagara's sacrifice (1.40.21)
- Aṃśumat returns and reports everything → Sagara completes the rite and returns to Ayodhyā, but cannot discover how to bring Gaṅgā down → after a reign of thirty thousand years, he dies. (1.40.22–26)
Verses 1.40.1–26
1.40.1
putrāṃś ciragatāñ jñātvā sagaro raghunandana
naptāram abravīd rājā dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā
Knowing his sons long gone, O joy of the Raghus, King Sagara spoke to his grandson, who blazed with his own splendour:
Words: putrāṃś — the sons; ciragatāñ — long gone; jñātvā — having realized, known; sagaro — Sagara; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; naptāram — to the grandson; abravīd — said; rājā — the king; dīpyamānaṃ — blazing, shining; svatejasā — with his own splendour
1.40.2
śūraś ca kṛtavidyaś ca pūrvais tulyo 'si tejasā
pitḥṇāṃ gatim anviccha yena cāśvo 'pahāritaḥ
“You are valiant and accomplished in learning, equal in splendour to your forebears; seek the track of your forefathers, and (learn) by whom the horse was carried off.
Words: śūraś — valiant; ca — and; kṛtavidyaś — accomplished in learning; ca — and; pūrvais — with the forebears, ancestors; tulyo — equal; 'si — you are; tejasā — in splendour; pitḥṇāṃ — of the forefathers; gatim — the track, way, fate; anviccha — seek out, search for; yena — by whom; cāśvo — and the horse; 'pahāritaḥ — was carried off
1.40.3
antarbhaumāni sattvāni vīryavanti mahānti ca
teṣāṃ tvaṃ pratighātārthaṃ sāsiṃ gṛhṇīṣva kārmukam
Beneath the earth are creatures mighty and huge; to ward them off, take up your sword and bow.
Words: antarbhaumāni — subterranean, beneath the earth; sattvāni — creatures, beings; vīryavanti — mighty, valiant; mahānti — huge, great; ca — and; teṣāṃ — of them; tvaṃ — you; pratighātārthaṃ — for the purpose of warding off; sāsiṃ — together with your sword; gṛhṇīṣva — take up, grasp; kārmukam — the bow
1.40.4
abhivādyābhivādyāṃs tvaṃ hatvā vighnakarān api
siddhārthaḥ saṃnivartasva mama yajñasya pāragaḥ
Saluting those worthy of salutation, and slaying even those who make obstruction, return with your object accomplished, having carried my sacrifice through to its end.”
Words: abhivādyābhivādyāṃs — having saluted those worthy of salutation; tvaṃ — you; hatvā — having slain; vighnakarān — the obstacle-makers; api — even, also; siddhārthaḥ — your object accomplished; saṃnivartasva — return, come back; mama — my; yajñasya — of the sacrifice; pāragaḥ — one who has carried (it) through to the end
1.40.5
evam ukto 'ṃśumān samyak sagareṇa mahātmanā
dhanur ādāya khaḍgaṃ ca jagāma laghuvikramaḥ
Thus rightly addressed by the great-souled Sagara, Aṃśumat, taking up his bow and sword, went off, swift of stride.
Words: evam — thus; ukto 'ṃśumān — Aṃśumat, addressed; samyak — rightly, properly; sagareṇa — by Sagara; mahātmanā — the great-souled; dhanur — the bow; ādāya — having taken up; khaḍgaṃ — the sword; ca — and; jagāma — went; laghuvikramaḥ — swift of stride, nimble
1.40.6
sa khātaṃ pitṛbhir mārgam antarbhaumaṃ mahātmabhiḥ
prāpadyata naraśreṣṭha tena rājñābhicoditaḥ
Urged on by that king, O best of men, he entered the subterranean passage that had been dug by his great-souled forefathers.
Words: sa — he; khātaṃ — dug, excavated; pitṛbhir — by the forefathers; mārgam — the path, passage; antarbhaumaṃ — subterranean; mahātmabhiḥ — by the great-souled; prāpadyata — entered, came upon; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; tena — by that; rājñābhicoditaḥ — urged on by the king
1.40.7
daityadānavarakṣobhiḥ piśācapatagoragaiḥ
pūjyamānaṃ mahātejā diśāgajam apaśyata
That mighty one beheld a quarter-elephant being honoured by daityas, dānavas and rākṣasas, by piśācas, birds and serpents.
Words: daityadānavarakṣobhiḥ — by daityas, dānavas and rākṣasas; piśācapatagoragaiḥ — by piśācas, birds and serpents; pūjyamānaṃ — being honoured, worshipped; mahātejā — the mighty one, of great splendour; diśāgajam — quarter-elephant; apaśyata — beheld, saw
1.40.8
sa taṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā caiva nirāmayam
pitḥn sa paripapraccha vājihartāram eva ca
Circumambulating him and asking after his well-being, he questioned him about his forefathers and about the stealer of the horse.
Words: sa — he; taṃ — him; pradakṣiṇaṃ — circumambulation; kṛtvā — having made; pṛṣṭvā — having asked; caiva — and also; nirāmayam — (after his) well-being; pitḥn — the forefathers; sa — he; paripapraccha — questioned, inquired; vājihartāram — the horse-stealer; eva — indeed; ca — and
1.40.9
diśāgajas tu tac chrutvā prītyāhāṃśumato vacaḥ
āsamañjakṛtārthas tvaṃ sahāśvaḥ śīghram eṣyasi
But the quarter-elephant, hearing that, out of affection spoke words to Aṃśumat: “O son of Asamañja, you will swiftly return, your object accomplished, together with the horse.”
Words: diśāgajas — the quarter-elephant; tu — but; tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; prītyāhāṃśumato — out of affection spoke (to) Aṃśumat; vacaḥ — words; āsamañjakṛtārthas — O son of Asamañja, your object accomplished; tvaṃ — you; sahāśvaḥ — together with the horse; śīghram — swiftly; eṣyasi — you will come, return
1.40.10
tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā sarvān eva diśāgajān
yathākramaṃ yathānyāyaṃ praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame
Hearing that speech of his, he set about questioning all the quarter-elephants, in due order and proper manner.
Words: tasya — his; tad — that; vacanaṃ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; sarvān — all; eva — indeed; diśāgajān — the quarter-elephants; yathākramaṃ — in due order; yathānyāyaṃ — in proper manner; praṣṭuṃ — to question, ask; samupacakrame — set about, began
1.40.11
taiś ca sarvair diśāpālair vākyajñair vākyakovidaiḥ
pūjitaḥ sahayaś caiva gantāsīty abhicoditaḥ
Honoured by all those guardians of the quarters, skilled and expert in speech, he was urged on with the words, “You shall go, together with the horse.”
Words: taiś — by those; ca — and; sarvair — all; diśāpālair — guardians of the quarters; vākyajñair — knowing (fitting) speech; vākyakovidaiḥ — expert in speech; pūjitaḥ — honoured; sahayaś — together with the horse; caiva — and also; gantāsīty — ‘you will go’, thus; abhicoditaḥ — urged on, encouraged
1.40.12
teṣāṃ tad vacanaṃ śrutvā jagāma laghuvikramaḥ
bhasmarāśīkṛtā yatra pitaras tasya sāgarāḥ
Hearing that word of theirs, the nimble-strided one went to where his forefathers, the sons of Sagara, had been reduced to a heap of ashes.
Words: teṣāṃ — of them, their; tad — that; vacanaṃ — word; śrutvā — having heard; jagāma — went; laghuvikramaḥ — swift of stride; bhasmarāśīkṛtā — reduced to a heap of ashes; yatra — where; pitaras — the forefathers; tasya — his; sāgarāḥ — the sons of Sagara
1.40.13
sa duḥkhavaśam āpannas tv asamañjasutas tadā
cukrośa paramārtas tu vadhāt teṣāṃ suduḥkhitaḥ
Then the son of Asamañja, overcome by grief and sorely afflicted, wailed aloud, deeply pained at their destruction.
Words: sa — he; duḥkhavaśam — under the sway of grief; āpannas — fallen into, overcome by; tv — and, but; asamañjasutas — the son of Asamañja; tadā — then; cukrośa — wailed, cried out; paramārtas — sorely afflicted; tu — and; vadhāt — at the slaying, destruction; teṣāṃ — of them, their; suduḥkhitaḥ — deeply grieved
1.40.14
yajñiyaṃ ca hayaṃ tatra carantam avidūrataḥ
dadarśa puruṣavyāghro duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ
And there that tiger among men, filled with grief and sorrow, saw the sacrificial horse grazing not far off.
Words: yajñiyaṃ — sacrificial; ca — and; hayaṃ — the horse; tatra — there; carantam — grazing, moving about; avidūrataḥ — not far off; dadarśa — saw; puruṣavyāghro — the tiger among men; duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ — filled with grief and sorrow
1.40.15
dadarśa puruṣavyāghro kartukāmo jalakriyām
salilārthī mahātejā na cāpaśyaj jalāśayam
That tiger among men, of great splendour, wishing to perform the water-rite and needing water, looked about, but saw no reservoir of water.
Words: dadarśa — looked about (lit. saw); puruṣavyāghro — the tiger among men; kartukāmo — wishing to perform; jalakriyām — the water-rite (funeral libation); salilārthī — seeking water; mahātejā — of great splendour; na — not; cāpaśyaj — and did not see; jalāśayam — a reservoir of water
1.40.16
visārya nipuṇāṃ dṛṣṭiṃ tato 'paśyat khagādhipam
pitḥṇāṃ mātulaṃ rāma suparṇam anilopamam
Casting his keen gaze about, he then saw the lord of birds, the maternal uncle of his forefathers, O Rāma — Suparṇa (Garuḍa), like the wind.
Words: visārya — having cast/spread out; nipuṇāṃ — keen, sharp; dṛṣṭiṃ — gaze, sight; tato — then; 'paśyat — he saw; khagādhipam — the lord of birds; pitḥṇāṃ — of the forefathers; mātulaṃ — maternal uncle; rāma — O Rāma; suparṇam — Suparṇa (Garuḍa); anilopamam — like the wind
1.40.17
sa cainam abravīd vākyaṃ vainateyo mahābalaḥ
mā śucaḥ puruṣavyāghra vadho 'yaṃ lokasaṃmataḥ
And that mighty son of Vinatā (Garuḍa) spoke this word to him: “Do not grieve, O tiger among men; this destruction is approved by the world.
Words: sa — he; cainam — and to him; abravīd — said; vākyaṃ — word; vainateyo — the son of Vinatā (Garuḍa); mahābalaḥ — the mighty; mā — do not; śucaḥ — grieve; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; vadho 'yaṃ — this destruction; lokasaṃmataḥ — approved by the world
1.40.18
kapilenāprameyena dagdhā hīme mahābalāḥ
salilaṃ nārhasi prājña dātum eṣāṃ hi laukikam
These mighty ones were burnt by the immeasurable Kapila; you ought not, O wise one, to offer them ordinary, worldly water.
Words: kapilenāprameyena — by the immeasurable Kapila; dagdhā — burnt; hīme — for these (were); mahābalāḥ — the mighty ones; salilaṃ — water; nārhasi — you ought not; prājña — O wise one; dātum — to give, offer; eṣāṃ — to these; hi — for, indeed; laukikam — ordinary, worldly
1.40.19
gaṅgā himavato jyeṣṭhā duhitā puruṣarṣabha
bhasmarāśīkṛtān etān pāvayel lokapāvanī
Gaṅgā, the eldest daughter of Himavat, O bull among men — she, the purifier of the worlds, would purify these who have been reduced to ashes.
Words: gaṅgā — Gaṅgā; himavato — of Himavat; jyeṣṭhā — the eldest; duhitā — daughter; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men; bhasmarāśīkṛtān — those reduced to a heap of ashes; etān — these; pāvayel — would purify; lokapāvanī — the purifier of the worlds
1.40.20
tayā klinnam idaṃ bhasma gaṅgayā lokakāntayā
ṣaṣṭiṃ putrasahasrāṇi svargalokaṃ nayiṣyati
When these ashes are moistened by her, by Gaṅgā, the world's beloved, she will lead the sixty thousand sons to the world of heaven.
Words: tayā — by her; klinnam — moistened, wetted; idaṃ — this; bhasma — ashes; gaṅgayā — by Gaṅgā; lokakāntayā — beloved of the world; ṣaṣṭiṃ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; svargalokaṃ — to the world of heaven; nayiṣyati — will lead, take
1.40.21
gaccha cāśvaṃ mahābhāga saṃgṛhya puruṣarṣabha
yajñaṃ paitāmahaṃ vīra nirvartayitum arhasi
Go then, O illustrious one, taking the horse, O bull among men; you should, O hero, bring your grandfather's sacrifice to completion.”
Words: gaccha — go; cāśvaṃ — and the horse; mahābhāga — O illustrious one; saṃgṛhya — having taken, seized; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men; yajñaṃ — the sacrifice; paitāmahaṃ — of the grandfather; vīra — O hero; nirvartayitum — to bring to completion, accomplish; arhasi — you ought
1.40.22
suparṇavacanaṃ śrutvā so 'ṃśumān ativīryavān
tvaritaṃ hayam ādāya punar āyān mahāyaśāḥ
Hearing Suparṇa's word, that exceedingly mighty Aṃśumat of great renown quickly took the horse and came back again.
Words: suparṇavacanaṃ — Suparṇa's word; śrutvā — having heard; so 'ṃśumān — that Aṃśumat; ativīryavān — exceedingly mighty; tvaritaṃ — quickly, hastily; hayam — the horse; ādāya — having taken; punar — again, back; āyān — came, returned; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown
1.40.23
tato rājānam āsādya dīkṣitaṃ raghunandana
nyavedayad yathāvṛttaṃ suparṇavacanaṃ tathā
Then, approaching the king, who was consecrated for the rite, O joy of the Raghus, he reported what had happened and likewise Suparṇa's word.
Words: tato — then; rājānam — the king; āsādya — having approached, reached; dīkṣitaṃ — consecrated (for the sacrifice); raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; nyavedayad — reported, made known; yathāvṛttaṃ — what had happened, the events; suparṇavacanaṃ — Suparṇa's word; tathā — likewise, and so
1.40.24
tac chrutvā ghorasaṃkāśaṃ vākyam aṃśumato nṛpaḥ
yajñaṃ nirvartayām āsa yathākalpaṃ yathāvidhi
Hearing that dreadful-seeming report of Aṃśumat, the king completed the sacrifice according to prescription and rule.
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; ghorasaṃkāśaṃ — dreadful-seeming, terrible in appearance; vākyam — word, report; aṃśumato — of Aṃśumat; nṛpaḥ — the king; yajñaṃ — the sacrifice; nirvartayām āsa — completed, brought to a close; yathākalpaṃ — according to prescription; yathāvidhi — according to rule
1.40.25
svapuraṃ cāgamac chrīmān iṣṭayajño mahīpatiḥ
gaṅgāyāś cāgame rājā niścayaṃ nādhyagacchata
And the illustrious lord of the earth, having offered his sacrifice, returned to his own city; but the king could reach no sure means for the bringing-down of Gaṅgā.
Words: svapuraṃ — to his own city; cāgamac — and returned, came; chrīmān — the illustrious one; iṣṭayajño — having offered the sacrifice; mahīpatiḥ — lord of the earth; gaṅgāyāś — of Gaṅgā; cāgame — and about the descent/bringing (of her); rājā — the king; niścayaṃ — certainty, a settled means; nādhyagacchata — did not attain
1.40.26
agatvā niścayaṃ rājā kālena mahatā mahān
triṃśadvarṣasahasrāṇi rājyaṃ kṛtvā divaṃ gataḥ
Not having reached any certainty, that great king, after a long time, having reigned for thirty thousand years, went to heaven.
Words: agatvā — not having reached, attained; niścayaṃ — certainty, a settled means; rājā — the king; kālena — in time, after a period; mahatā — great, long; mahān — the great (king); triṃśadvarṣasahasrāṇi — thirty thousand years; rājyaṃ — the kingship, rule; kṛtvā — having exercised, done; divaṃ — to heaven; gataḥ — went, gone
← 1.39 Story of Sagara: Kapila’s anger and the sons’ destruction · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.41 Story of Sagara: Bhagīratha takes up the ancestral task →
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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