Sage Vishwamitra's narration of Sagara's legend is continued. Sagara's sons dig out all the quarters of earth and when they enter northeast to find out the horse thief, there they find Sage Kapila, i.e., Vishnu in the semblance of a sage. When they wanted to attack that sage Kapila, he renders them to heaps of ashes by his yogic powers.
देवतानां वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्वै पितामहः |
प्रत्युवाच सुसंत्रस्तान् कृतान्तबलमोहितान् || १-४०-१
1. bhagavaan pitaamahaH = esteemed one, Forefather - Brahma; devataanaam vacaH shrutvaa = on hearing the words of gods; kR^itaantabalamohitaan = bewildered [gods] by might [of Sagara's sons] effectuating the end of [all beings] ; susamtrastaan = very highly scared ones; prati vuvaaca vai = in turn, spoke to - replied, indeed.
"On hearing the words of gods, the esteemed Forefather Brahma spoke to them, who are very highly scared, and bewildered by the might of Sagara's sons for they are effectuating the end of all beings." Vishvamitra thus continued his narration. [1-40-1]
यस्येयं वसुधा कृत्स्ना वासुदेवस्य धीमतः|
महिषी माधवस्यैषा स एव भगवान् प्रभुः|| १-४०-२
कापिलं रूपमास्थाय धारयत्यनिशं धराम् |
तस्य कोपाग्निना दग्धा भविष्यन्ति नृपात्मजाः || १-४०-३
2, 3. kR^itsnaa iyam vasudhaa = entire, this, earth; eShaa maadhavasaya mahiShii = she is, the consort, of Maadhava; yasya dhiimataH vaasudevasya = whose [to which,] prescient, belongs to Vaasudeva; such Vaasudeva; saH eva bhagavaan prabhuH = He, alone, reverential, lord [Vishnu]; anisham dharaam dhaarayati = he bears earth eternally; kaapilam ruupam aasthaaya = on donning semblance of sage Kapila; nR^ipaatmajaaH = king's sons - of Sagara; tasya kopaagninaa dagdhaa = burnt down in his [Kapila's,] fury's fire; bhaviSyanti = they will be - burnt to ashes.
To whom this Mother Earth belongs in all her entirety, he is that prescient Vasudeva, and she is also the consort of that Maadhava, and that Vishnu eternally props up Mother Earth. Hence, that reverential Vishnu donning the semblance of Sage Kapila will burn down the sons of emperor Sagara to ashes in a fire of fury. [1-40-2, 3]
The islands / continents on earth, dviipa-s, are 'jambu- plaksha - shaalmali- kusha - kraunca - shaka - puSkara'. And they are the seven continents. Some say the earth is having nine continents, yet some others prefer eighteen. However entire globe bhuudevi belongs to Vishnu as she is his another consort.
पृथिव्याश्चापि निर्भेदो दृष्ट एव सनातनः |
सगरस्य च पुत्राणां विनाशो दीर्घदर्शिनाम् ||१-४०-४
4. pR^ithivyaaH nirbhedaH ca api = earth's, complete cleavage, also, even; sagarasya putraaNaam = Sagara's, as well as, son's; vinaashaH ca = complete ruination, also; diirghadarshinaam = by far sighted ones; sanaatanaH = by providential ancients; dR^iSTaH eva = envisaged, thus.
'Even the complete cleavage of the earth, and the complete ruination of Sagara's sons as well, are envisaged by the providentially farsighted ancients." So said Brahma to gods. [1-40-4]
This is the cosmic routine. Every day of Brahma is one kalpa and in each kalpa Brahma starts to create the universe afresh. Though it is just like the bygone creation it is anew, but the presiding souls of each object of the universe will change. If one soul presides the Sun or the Moon in this era, in the next era they attain a higher step in the ladder of 'snakes and ladders' called vaikunThapaali and a soul-in-wait takes up the job of that Sun or Moon, just as good as the promotions of officials. In this cosmic destruction even the gods or godlike entities will be destroyed if they tend to cause unnecessary ruination to the living beings anena bahupraaNyupadravakaariNaam devaa api vadhopaayam abhiipsanti - daivahataanaam ca teShaam avicaareNa naasho bhavati eveti suucitam -dk This is the same even in the case of Indra. Vishnu in His Trivikrama incarnation blesses the demonic Emperor Bali with such Indra-hood in some era, when Bali's sin is counted down, and when merit accrues.
पितामह वचः श्रुत्वा त्रयस्त्रिंशदरिन्दम |
देवाः परमसंहृष्टाः पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम् || १-४०-५
5. arimdama = oh enemy-destroyer - Rama; pitaamahavacaH shrutvaa = on hearing Forefather's words; trayastrimshat devaaH = thirty three [thirty three,] gods; paramasamhR^iSTaaH = with utmost satisfaction; yathaa aagatam = as, they came; punaH jagmuH = again, went away.
On hearing the words of the Forefather Brahma all the thirty three gods went away with utmost satisfaction, as they have came. [1-40-5]
The gods that have come to appeal to Brahma are said to be thirty-three in numbers. It is not that all the count of all the gods who have come. There are others besides the prominent groups of thirty-three god-groups. The thirty-three primary god-groups who have come here are aSTavasu-s 'eight Vasu gods' ekaadasharudraa-s 'eleven Rudra gods' ashvinidvaya twin brothers called 'ashvini-gods,' those that are mostly connected with the administration of earth.
सगरस्य च पुत्राणां प्रादुरासीन्महास्वनः |
पृथिव्यां भिद्यमानायां निर्घातसमनिःस्वनः || १-४०-६
6. sagarasya putraaNaam = Sagara's sons; pR^ithivyaam bhidyamaanaayaam = while digging out of earth; nirghaatasamaH niHsvanaH = similar to crashing of thunder; mahaasvanaH = unbearable noise; praaduraasiit = has emerged - they heard.
When the sons of Sagara are digging the earth then there emerged an unbearable noise similar to the crashing of a thunder. [1-40-6]
ततो भित्त्वा महीं सर्वां कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम् |
सहिताः सगराः सर्वे पितरं वाक्यमब्रुवन् || १-४०-७
7. tataH = then; sarvaam mahiim bhittvaa = on breaking asunder entire earth; pradakSiNam ca api kR^itvaa = on making round trips, also, even; sarve sagaraaH = all of the, Sagara's sons; sahitaaH = coming together; pitaram vaakyam abruvan = spoke words to father.
Then on hollowing the entire earth, and on making trips around her without finding the horse, all of the sons of Sagara have come together and on going to their father they spoke these words to him. [1-40-7]
परिक्रांता मही सर्वा सत्त्ववन्तश्च सूदिताः |
देवदानवरक्षांसि पिशाचोरगपन्नगाः || १-४०-८
न च पश्यामहेऽश्वं तमश्वहर्तारमेव च |
किं करिष्याम भद्रं ते बुद्धिरत्र विचार्यताम् || १-४०-९
8, 9. sarvaa mahii parikraantaa = entire, earth is, over, run - trekked; sattvavantaH ca = mighty ones, also; devadaanavarakSaamsi pishaacoragapannagaaH = gods, demons, monsters, evil-spirits, fiends, serpents, naga-s; suuditaaH = are eliminated; ashvam = horse; ashvahartaaram eva ca = horse stealer, like that, also; na pashyaamahe ca = not, we have seen, even; kim kariSyaama = what is, to be done by us; te bhadram = let safe betide you; atra buddhiH vicaaryataam = in that matter, sagacity, be pondered on - give a thought to it.
'Entire earth is trekked and mighty beings like gods, demons, monsters, evil-spirits, fiends, serpents, naga-s are also eliminated, but we have not seen the ritual-horse or its stealer. What we have to do next. Let a thought be given in this matter. Let safeness betide you.' So said those princes to their father Sagara. [1-40-8, 9]
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्राणां राजसत्तमः |
समन्युरब्रवीद्वाक्यं सगरो रघुनंदन || १-४०-१०
10. raghunandana = oh Raghu's descendent; teSaam putraaNaam tat vacanam shrutvaa = on hearing their that sentence of his sons; raajasattamaH sagaraH = exalted king, Sagara; samanyuH vaakyam abraviit = spoke words with fury [infuriated] .
On hearing that sentence of his sons, oh, Rama, descendent of Raghu, that exalted king Sagara infuriately spoke these words. [1-40-10]
भूयः खनत भद्रं वो विभेद्य वसुधातलम्
अश्वहर्तारमासाद्य कृतार्थाश्च निवर्तत || १-४०-११
11. vasudhaatalam vibhedya = verily splitting open of earth's surface ; bhuuyaH khanata = further, it may be dug; ashvahartaaram aasaadya = catch hold of horse's thief; kR^itaarthaaH nivartata ca = return [to me] on achieving purposes, also; vaH bhadram = to you, let safety be.
'Let the earth be dug further, may safety be with you, and verily splitting open the surface of the earth you catch hold of the thief of the horse, and on achieving your purpose you may return to me.' In this way Sagara ordered his sons. [1-40-11]
पितुर्वचनमासाद्य सगरस्य महात्मनः |
षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि रसातलमभिद्रवन् || १-४०-१२
12. pituH = father's; mahaatmanaH sagarasya = great-souled one, of Sagara; vacanam aasaadhya = on catching up words; SaSTiH putrasahasraaNi = sixty thousand sons; rasaatalam abhidravan = rushed towards netherworld's surface.
On catching up the words of their father, the great-souled Sagara, his sixty thousand sons rushed towards the surface of the rasaatala, the netherworld. [1-40-12]
The last but one mantle of the earth from its crust to its inner core, is called rasaatala, in the seven-tier planes called, atala, vitala, sutala, talaatala, rasaatala, paataala.. These are not hells.
खन्यमाने ततस्तस्मिन् ददृशुः पर्वतोपमम् |
दिशागजं विरूपाक्षं धारयन्तं महीतलम् || १-४०-१३
13. tataH tasmin khanyamaane = then, there, while digging; parvatopamam = which is - similar to mountain; mahiitalam dhaarayantam = which is bearing [eastern side of] earth's surface; viruupaakSam dishaagajam = Viruupaaksa [named,] direction [easterly] elephant; dadR^ishuH = they beheld.
While digging the earth there they beheld a mountain similar easterly elephant named Viruupaaksha, which is bearing the eastern side of earth's surface on its head. [1-40-13]
सपर्वतवनां कृत्स्नां पृथिवीं रघुनंदन |
धारयामास शिरसा विरूपाक्षो महागजः || १-४०-१४
14. raghunandana = oh Raghu's delight - Rama; viruupaakSaH mahaagajaH = by name Viruupaaksa, great elephant; saparvatavanaam kR^itsnaam pR^ithiviim = with mountains and forests, in its entirety, [eastern side of] earth; shirasaa dhaarayaamaasa = bearing by its head.
Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, that great easterly elephant Viruupaaksha is bearing the entire eastern earth along with its mountains and forests on its head. [1-40-14]
यदा पर्वणि काकुत्स्थ विश्रमार्थं महागजः |
खेदाच्चालयते शीर्षं भूमिकंपस्तदा भवेत् || १-४०-१५
15. kaakutstha = oh Rama of Kakutstha; mahaagajaH = great elephant; parvaNi = on certain occasions; yadaa = when; vishramaartham = for the purpose of -desiring respite; khedaat shiirSam caalayate = moves its head by tiresomeness; tadaa = then; bhuumikampaH bhavet = earth quack, occurs.
On certain occasions, oh, Rama of Kakutstha, when that great-elephant moves its head desiring respite in tiresomeness then earthquakes will occur on earth. [1-40-15]
ते तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा दिशापालं महागजम् |
मानयन्तो हि ते राम जग्मुर्भित्त्वा रसातलम् || १-४०-१६
16. raama = oh Rama; te tam = they, to it - elephant; dishaapaalam mahaagajam = to great elephant the protector of easterly direction ; pradakSiNam kR^itvaa = after making circumambulations ; maanayantaH = worshiping it; bhittvaa rasaatalam jagmuH = they proceeded to netherworld splitting [earth] .
They circumambulated the great elephant in supplication, oh Rama, and on worshipping that elephant which is the protector of easterly direction they proceeded to netherworld duly splitting the earth. [1-40-16]
ततः पूर्वां दिशं भित्त्वा दक्षिणां बिभिदुः पुनः |
दक्षिणस्यामपि दिशि ददृशुस्ते महागजम् || १-४०-१७
महापद्मं महात्मानं सुमहत्पर्वतोपमम् |
शिरसा धारयन्तं गां विस्मयं जग्मुरुत्तमम् || १-४०-१८
17, 18. tataH puurvaam disham bhittvaa = then, on splitting eastern direction ; punaH = again - then; dakSiNaam bibhiduH = south, split open; te dakSiNasyaam dishi api = they, in the southern, direction, even in; sumahat parvatopamam = similar to very great mountain; shirasaa gaam dhaarayantam = which is sustaining [southerly side of ] earth by head; mahaatmaanam = which has venerable character; mahaapadmam = at Mahapadma [southerly elephant]; mahaagajam = mammoth elephant; dadR^ishuH = they saw; [te] uttamam vismayam jagmuH = [they] have undergone inordinate astonishment.
After splitting the eastern direction then they split opened the southern direction, and even in southern direction they beheld an elephant that is similar to a very great mountain, and that is sustaining southerly side of earth on its head, and on seeing that mammoth elephant of venerable character, namely Mahapadma, they went into an inordinate astonishment. [1-40-17, 18]
ते तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा सगरस्य महात्मनः |
षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि पश्चिमां बिभिदुर्दिशम् || १-४०-१९
19. mahaatmanaH sagarasya = great souled, Sagara's; SaSTiH putrasahasraaNi = sixty thousand sons; tam pradakSiNam kR^itvaa = on making circumambulations to it - to elephant; te = they; pashcimaam disham bibhiduH = scooped out westerly direction.
On circumabulating that elephant Mahaapada in supplication, they the sixty thousand sons of great-souled Sagara scooped out the westerly direction. [1-40-19]
पश्चिमायामपि दिशि महांतमचलोपमम् |
दिशागजं सौमनसं ददृशुस्ते महाबलाः || १-४०-२०
20. mahaabalaaH = great mighty ones; te = they; pashcimaayaam dishi api = in western, direction, even in; mahaantam acalopamam = similar to endless mountain; saumanasam = Saumanasa - named elephant; dishaagajam = [western] direction elephant; dadR^ishuH = beheld.
Even in the westerly direction those great mighty sons of Sagara beheld an infinite and mountain similar elephant of western direction, called Sumanasa. [1-40-20]
ते तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चापि निरामयम् |
खनंतः समुपक्रांता दिशं सोमवतीं तदा || १-४०-२१
21. te tam pradakSiNam kR^itvaa = they on performing circumambulations to it ; niraamayam pR^iSTvaa ca api = on asking its well-being , also, even; khanantaH = on digging - the earth; tadaa = then; [tataH = from there]; somavatiim disham = that direction which has nectar, or, which has more Soma juice because rituals are performed there; [or,haimavatiim = which has snow] northern direction; samupakraantaa = well nearby treated - reached.
Circumambulating that elephant namely Sumanasa in western side, and even on asking about its well-being, then they reached the northern direction duly digging the earth. [1-40-21]
उत्तरस्यां रघुश्रेष्ठ ददृशुर्हिमपाण्डुरम् |
भद्रं भद्रेण वपुषा धारयन्तं महीमिमाम् || १-४०-२२
22. raghushreSTha = oh Rahu dynasty's best one - Rama; uttarasyaam = in the northern direction; himapaaNDuram = which elephant is - snow, white; bhadreNa vapuSaa = with an auspicious, body; imaam mahiim dhaarayantam = which is bearing this earth ; bhadram = Bhadra - named elephant; dadR^ishuH = they beheld.
In the northern direction, oh, Rama, they beheld Bhadra, a snow-white elephant with an auspicious body bearing northern side of this earth. [1-40-22]
समालभ्य ततः सर्वे कृत्वा चैनं प्रदक्षिणम् |
षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि बिभिदुर्वसुधातलम् || १-४०-२३
23. tataH sarve = then, all; SaSTiH putrasahasraaNi = sixty thousand sons; enam = it - elephant; samaalabhya = on touching [reverently]; pradakSiNam kR^itvaa ca = on making circumambulations [to elephant], also; vasudhaatalam bibhiduH = burrowed earth's surface.
On touching that elephant reverently and also circumambulating it, those sixty thousands sons of Sagara further burrowed to the surface of the earth. [1-40-23]
ततः प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा सागराः प्रथितां दिशम् |
रोषादभ्यखनन्सर्वे पृथिवीं सगरात्मजाः || १-४०-२४
24. tataH = then; saagaraaH = sons of Sagara; prathitaam praak uttaraam disham gatvaa = on going to auspicious north east direction; sarve sagaraatmajaaH = all, Sagara's sons; roSaat pR^ithiviim abhyakhanan = they tunnelled earth rancorously.
The sons of Sagara have then gone to the auspicious northeast direction, iishaana-digbhaaga, Shiva-sthaana, and all those sons of Sagara have tunnelled the earth rancorously. [1-40-24]
ते तु सर्वे महत्मानो भीमवेगा महबलाः |
ददृशुः कपिलं तत्र वासुदेवं सनातनम् || १-४०-२५
हयं च तस्य देवस्य चरन्तमविदूरतः |
प्रहर्षमतुलं प्राप्ताः सर्वे ते रघुनंदन || १-४०-२६
25, 26. mahatmaanaH bhiimavegaa mahabalaaH = great-souled ones, great mighty ones with terrible dash; te sarve tu = they, all of them, but; tatra = there - northeast; kapilam = in sage Kapila's form; sanaatanam vaasudevam = the Infinite one, Vaasudeva - Vishnu; tasya devasya = from that, god's; aviduurataH = not very far - nearby; carantam hayam ca = moving, horse, also; dadR^ishuH = they saw; raghunandana = oh decedent of Raghu; then; te sarve = they, all; atulam praharSam praaptaaH = they obtained matchless delight.
But all those great-souled and great-mighty ones with terrible dash have seen the Infinite Vasudeva in the form of sage Kapila there in the northeast, and oh, descendant of Raghu, they have also seen the ritual-horse moving nearby that sage Kapila, thus all of the sons of Sagara obtained a matchless delight. [1-40-25, 26]
ते तं हयहरं ज्ञात्वा क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणाः |
खनित्रलांगलधरा नानावृक्षशिलाधराः || १-४०-२७
अभ्यधावन्त संक्रुद्धास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रुवन् |
27, 28a. te = they - princes; tam = him - sage Kapila; hayaharam = as horse stealer; [yaGYahanam = ritual-destroyer]; GYaatvaa = on construing; krodhaparyaakulekSaNaaH = agitating eyes with fury; khanitralaangaladharaa = handlers - wielding crowbars and ploughs; naanaavR^ikShashilaadharaaH = handlers - wielding various trees and boulders; samkruddhaaH abhyadhaavanta = very furiously dashed towards [sage] ; tiSTha tiSTha iti abruvan ca = stay, stay, thus, they said - shouted, also.
The eyes of the princes are agitated in fury in construing the sage Kapila as the stealer of ritual-horse, and they furiously dashed towards him wielding crowbars, ploughs, and various trees and boulders, and shouting at him, 'stay, stay.' [1-40-27, 28a]
अस्माकं त्वं हि तुरगं यज्ञियं हृतवानसि || १-४०-२८
दुर्मेधस्त्वं हि संप्राप्तान् विद्धि नः सगरात्मजान् |
28b, 29a. durmedhaH = oh evil minded - malicious one; tvam = you; asmaakam = ours; yaGYiyam = pertaining to Vedic ritual; turagam hR^itavaan asi hi = you have stolen horse , indeed; sampraaptaan naH = we who have come here ; sagaraatmajaan = as Sagara's sons; tvam viddhi hi = you, know, in fact.
You the malicious one, you have indeed stolen our ritual-horse, and in fact, you should know that we who arrived here are the sons of Sagara.' Thus Sagara's sons shouted at sage Kapila. [1-40-28b, 29a]
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तेषां कपिलो रघुनंदन || १-४०-२९
रोषेण महताविष्टो हुं कारमकरोत्तदा |
29b, 30a. raghunandana = oh descendant of Raghu; kapilaH teSaam tat vacanam shrutvaa = Kapila on listening their that sentence ; tadaa = then; mahataa roSeNa aaviSTaH = beset with high anger; hum kaaram akarot = hum [in dissent,] sound, he made - sage made the sound.
On hearing their words, oh, Rama, the descendant of Raghu, then sage Kapila is beset with high wrath, and he boomed a 'hum' sound at them. [1-40-29b, 30a]
ततस्तेनाप्रमेयेण कपिलेन महात्मना |
भस्मराशीकृताः सर्वे काकुत्स्थ सगरात्मजाः || १-४०-३०
30b, c. kaakutstha = oh Rama of Kakutstha; tataH = then; aprameyeNa = of unimaginable power; mahaatmanaa = by that great-souled one; tena kapilena = by him Kapila; sarve sagaraatmajaaH = all of the, Sagara's sons; bhasmaraashiikR^itaaH = rendered as heaps of ashes.
"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha, then that great-souled sage Kapila, rather Vishnu with unimaginable power, has rendered all of those sons of Sagara as heaps of ashes by virtue of his 'hum' sound." Thus Sage Vishvamitra is narrating the legend of Sagara to Rama and others. [1-40-30b, c]
इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे चत्वारिंशः सर्गः
© July, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao[Revised : September 04]