Amshuman's search for horse reveals that Kapila rendered his paternal-uncles to ashes. When he wanted to offer water oblation as obsequies to their souls he did not find water. Then Garuda, the Eagle-vehicle of Vishnu and maternal uncle of Amshuman advises him to get River Ganga onto earth whereby the souls are cleansed and they go to heaven. Amshuman reports the same to King Sagara, but Sagara not finding any way to get River Ganga onto earth departs to heaven at the end of his time.
putraan cira gataan j~naatvaa sagaro raghunaMdana |
naptaaram abraviit raajaa diipyamaanam sva tejasaa || 1-41-1
1. raghunandana = oh, Rama, descendent of Raghu; raajaa sagaraH = king, Sagara; putraan cira gataan = sons, long time back, have gone - for searching horse; j~naatvaa = on knowing, on recalling to mind; sva tejasaa diipyamaanam = with his own, resplendence, who is resplendent; naptaaram abraviit = to grand son, spoke.
"On observing that his sons have gone long time back in search of ritual-horse, oh, Rama, king Sagara spoke this to his grandson, Amshuman, who is radiant with his own self-resplendence." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about Sagara. [1-41-1]
shuuraH ca kR^ita vidyaH ca puurvaiH tulyo asi tejasaa |
pitR^iNaam gatim anvicCha yena ca ashvo apahaaritaH || 1-41-2
2. shuuraH ca kR^ita vidyaH ca = [you are a] brave one, also, completed, education [in warfare]; suh as you are, you; tejasaa = by magnificence; puurvaiH tulyaH asi = with [your] fathers [paternal-uncles,] equal to, you are; pitR^INaam gatim anvicCha = your fathers [paternal-uncles',] course, you search; ashvaH yena apahaaritaH ca = horse, by whom, stolen, also. - you fin out.
" 'You are brave one and completed your education in warfare, such as you are, you are a coequal to your paternal-uncles in magnificence, thus you search the course of your paternal uncles, also him by whom the horse is stolen.' Thus King Sagara started speaking to his grandson Amshuman. [1-41-2]
antar bhaumaani sattvaani viiryavanti mahaanti ca |
teShaam tvam pratighaata artham sa asim gR^ihNiiShva kaarmukam || 1-41-3
3. antar bhaumaani sattvaani = underneath, earth, beings - living beings in netherworlds; viiryavanti = are intrepid ones; mahaanti ca = extraordinary ones, also; tvam teSaam pratighaata artham = you, their, retaliation [if they attack you,] for the purpose of; sa asim = with, sword; kaarmukam gR^i hNiiSva = bow, you take up - you wield.
" 'The living beings in netherworlds of earth are intrepid and they are extraordinary also, hence you take your bow along with your sword to retaliate them in the event of their attacking you. [1-41-3]
abhivaadya abhivaadyaan tvam hatvaa vighna karaan api |
siddhaarthaH saMnivartasva mama yaj~nasya paaragaH || 1-41-4
4. tvam = you; abhivaadyaan = those that are to be saluted; abhivaadya = on saluting them; vighna karaan hatvaa api = obstructions, causers, killing, even on; siddha arthaH san = achieved, purpose, on becoming; mama yaj~nasya = my, of Vedic-ritual; paara gaH = to other shore, be crossed over; sam nivartasva = well, return - safely come back.
" 'On saluting them that are worthy for salutations, and on eliminating them that are the causer of obstructions, you shall achieve your purpose of tracking the ritual-horse, and thus you comeback safely and let my Vedic-ritual be crossed over to the other shore of mortality by you.' Thus king Sagara told his grandson Amshuman. [1-41-4]
evam ukto aMshumaan saMyak sagareNa mahaatmanaa |
dhanur aadaaya khaDgam ca jagaama laghuvikramaH || 1-41-5
5. amshumaan = Amshuman; maha atmanaa sagareNa = by great-souled one, by Sagara; evam samyak uktaH = this way, thoroughly, when said; dhanuH khaDgam ca aadaaya = bow, sword, also, on taking; laghu vikramaH = in agility, adroit one; jagaama = proceeded.
"When the great-souled king Sagara has thoroughly said in this way, that adroitly agile Amshuman proceeded wielding a bow and a sword. [1-41-5]
sa khaatam pitR^ibhiH maargam antar bhaumam mahaatmabhiH |
praapadyata narashreShTha tena raaj~naa abhicoditaH || 1-41-6
6. nara shreSTha = oh, best one among men - Rama; saH = he, Amshuman; tena raaj~naa abhicoditaH = by him, that king, motivated by; mahaatmabhiH pitR^ibhiH = by great-souled ones, by fathers - paternal-uncles; antar bhaumam khaatam maargam = inside, of earth, hollowed, walkway; praapadyata = he attained - progressed on that path.
"Motivated by the King Sagara, oh, Rama, the best one among men, Amshuman progressed on the walkway that was hollowed out by his great-souled paternal-uncles inside the earth. [1-41-6]
deva daanava rakShobhiH pishaaca pataga uragaiH |
puujyamaanam mahaatejaa dishaa gajam apashyata || 1-41-7
7. mahaatejaa = that highly resplendent one - Amshuman; deva daanava rakSobhiH = by gods, monsters, demons; pishaaca pataga uragaiH = by imps, vultures, serpents; puujyamaanam = being venerated; dishaa gajam apashyata = directional, elephant, beheld.
"And he that resplendent Amshuman beheld one of the four directional elephant of the earth which is being venerated by gods, monsters, demons, imps, vultures and serpents. [1-41-7]
sa tam pradakShiNam kR^itvaa pR^iShTvaa caiva niraamayam |
pitR^iin sa paripapracCha vaaji hartaaram eva ca || 1-41-8
8. saH tam pradakSiNam kR^itvaa = he, him [elephant,] circumambulations, on making; niraamayam pR^iSTvaa caiva = well being, on asking, also, even; saH = he - Amshuman; pitR^iin = about fathers; vaaji hartaaram eva ca = horse, robber, even, also; pari pa pracCha = in detail, enquired.
On circumambulating that elephant in supplication, and even on enquiring after its well-being, he that Amshuman has enquired in detail with it for his paternal-uncles and even about the robber of the ritual-horse. [1-41-8]
dishaa gajaH tu tat shrutvaa pratyuvaaca mahaamatiH |
aasamaMja kR^itaarthaH tvam saha ashvaH shiighram eShyasi || 1-41-9
9. mahaamatiH = of great perception [elephant]; dishaa gajaH tu = directional, elephant, on its part; tat shrutvaa = that, on hearing; prati uvaaca = in turn, spoke - replied; aasamanja = oh, son of Asamanja; tvam kR^ita arthaH = you, achieving, your mission; saha ashvaH shiighram eSyasi = along with, horse, expeditiously, you will proceed - you will return.
"On hearing that enquiry of Amshuman that directional elephant with great perception replied on its part saying, 'oh Amshuman, son of Asamanja, on achieving your mission you will return expeditiously along with the horse. [1-41-9]
tasya tad vacanam shrutvaa sarvaan eva dishaa gajaan |
yathaa kramam yathaa nyaayam praShTum samupacakrame || 1-41-10
10. tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa = his [elephant's,] that, word, on hearing; sarvaan eva = all, like that; dishaa gajaan = directional, elephants; yathaa kramam yathaa nyaayam = according to, positioning, [i.e., their standing, north, east, south, west etc.,] according to, procedure; praSTum samupacakrame = to ask, he commenced.
"On hearing that word of that directional elephant he departed from there, and on sequentially reaching other directional elephants that are abiding in other directions of earth, he commenced to ask the same enquiry which he made with the first, according to the positioning of elephants in directions, and according to the established procedures of their venerability. [1-41-10]
taiH ca sarvaiH dishaa paalaiH vaakyaj~naiH vaakyakovidaiH |
puujitaH sa hayaH caiva gantaa asi iti abhicoditaH || 1-41-11
11. vaakya j~naiH vaakyakovidaiH = sentence, knowers, sentence-making, experts in - articulate, eloquent; sarvaiH taiH dishaa paalaiH ca = by all, of them, directions, safeguarding elephants; puujitaH = he who is adored; sa hayaH = with, horse - taking horse; gantaa asi iti abhicoditaH = gone, you will be, thus, motivated.
"All the elephants that safeguard the directions of earth which have the faculties of articulation and eloquence have adored Amshuman and motivated him by saying, 'you will be going from here taking the horse.' [1-41-11]
teShaam tat vacanam shrutvaa jagaama laghuvikramaH |
bhasma raashii kR^itaa yatra pitaraH tasya saagaraaH || 1-41-12
12. teSaam tat vacanam shrutvaa = of them [elephants,] that, word - common blessing, on hearing; laghu vikramaH = nimble-footed - prince; tasya pitaraH = his, fathers - paternal uncles; saagaraaH = sons of Sagara; yatra = where; bhasma raashii kR^itaa = ash, mound, made as; [tatra = [ to there]; jagaama = he has gone.
"On hearing that common blessing of all the directional-elephants, he that nimble-footed Amshuman has gone to the place where his paternal-uncles, sons of Sagara, were rendered as mounds of ashes. [1-41-12]
sa duHkha vasham aapannaH tu asamaMja sutaH tadaa |
cukrosha parama aartaH tu vadhaat teShaam suduHkhitaH || 1-41-13
13. tadaa = then; saH = he that; asamanja sutaH = Asamanja's, son - Amshuman; duHkha vasham aapannaH tu = anguish, into control, chanced upon, but; parama aartaH tu = highly, agonised, but; teSaam vadhaat su duHkhitaH = their - paternal-uncles, at the destruction, extremely, anguished; cukrosha = wept.
"But he on whom the control of anguish has chanced for not physically seeing his paternal-uncles, that son of Asamanja then wept, as he is highly agonised and extremely anguished at their destruction. [1-41-13]
yaj~niyam ca hayam tatra carantam aviduurataH |
dadarsha puruShavyaaghro duHkha shoka samanvitaH || 1-41-14
14. duHkha shoka samanvitaH = by anguish, agony, one who is overwhelmed; puruSa vyaaghraH = tigerly-man - Amshuman; aviduurataH carantam = not very far, grazing; yaj~niyam hayam ca = of Vedic-ritual, horse, also; dadarsha = he beheld.
"That tigerly-man Amshuman who is overwhelmed by agony and anguish, also beheld there the horse of Vedic-ritual that is grazing nearby. [1-41-14]
sa teShaam raaja putraaNaam kartu kaamo jala kriyaam |
sa jalaartham mahaatejaa na ca apashyat jala aashayam || 1-41-15
15. mahaatejaa = great resplendent one; saH = he; teSaam raaja putraaNaam = for them, king's, sons - to the departed souls; jala kriyaam kartu kaamaH = [obsequial] water, oblation, to offer, wanted to; jala artham = water, for the purpose of - when searched for; jala aashayam = water, receptacle - tank, fount; saH na apashyat ca = he, not, has seen - found, also.
"When he that great resplendent Amshuman wanted to offer obsequial waters to the departed sons of Sagara and searched for water he has not found any fount of water. [1-41-15]
visaarya nipuNaam dR^iShTim tato apashyat khaga adhipam |
pitR^iNaam maatulam raama suparNam anila upamam || 1-41-16
16. raama = oh, Rama; tataH = then; nipuNaam dR^iSTim visaarya = expert, glance, on spanning; pitR^iNaam maatulam = fathers' paternal-uncles', maternal uncle; khaga adhipam = birds, king of; anila upamam = wind-god, similar to; su parNam = rapid, winged - Garuda; apashyat = he saw.
"Spanning his expert glances, oh, Rama, he then saw the rapid-winged king of birds, namely Garuda, the Eagle-vehicle of Vishnu, who is the maternal uncle of his father and other paternal-uncles, and whose flight will be similar to that of the Wind-god. [1-41-16]
sa ca enam abraviit vaakyam vainateyo mahaabalaH |
maa shucaH puruShavyaaghra vadho ayam loka sammataH || 1-41-17
17. mahaabalaH = great-mighty; saH vainateyaH = he, that son of Vinata - Garuda; enam vaakyam abraviit ca = to him - to Amshuman, sentence, spoke, also; puruSavyaaghra = oh, tigerly-man; maa shucaH = do not, bemoan; ayam vadhaH loka sammataH = this, eradication [of your paternal-uncles,] agreeable [worthwhile] to the worlds.
"That great-mighty son of Lady Vinata, namely Garuda, also spoke this word to Amshuman, 'do not bemoan, oh, tigerly-man, this eradication of your paternal-uncles is worthwhile to the worlds. [1-41-17]
kapilena aprameyeNa dagdhaa hi ime mahaabalaaH |
salilam na ar.hhasi praaj~na daatum eShaam hi laukikam || 1-41-18
18. mahaa balaaH = great-mighty ones; ime = these [paternal-uncles of yours]; aprameyeNa kapilena = by the Imponderable one, by Kapila; dagdhaa hi = are burnt down, in fact; praaj~na = oh, observant - Amshuman; eSaam laukikam salilam daatum = to them, mundane [obsequial water-oblations,] to offer; na arhasi hi = not, apt of you, indeed.
" 'In fact, Kapila, the Imponderable Sage, has burnt down those great-mighty paternal-uncles of yours, oh, observant Amshuman, as such it will not be apt of you to offer the mundane obsequial water-oblations to them, indeed. [1-41-18]
gaMgaa himavato jyeShThaa duhitaa puruSharShabha |
tasyaam kuru mahaabaaho pitR^INaam tu jala kriyaam || 1-41-19
19. puruSarSabha = man, the best; himavataH jyeSThaa duhitaa gangaa = Himavanta's, elder, daughter, Ganga - is there; mahaabaahuH = oh, dextrous one; pitR^INaam tu jala kriyaam = [to your departed] fathers [paternal-uncles,] but, water, oblation; tasyaam kuru= in her, [in Ganga waters,] you offer - you have to offer.
" 'Oh, best one among men, River Ganga is the elder daughter of Himavanta, and oh, dextrous one, you have to offer water-oblation to the departed paternal-uncles of yours in her waters, namely the holy waters of River Ganga. [1-41-19]
bhasma raashii kR^itaan etaan paavayet loka kaaMtayaa |
tayaa klinnam idam bhasma gaMgayaa loka kaantayaa |
ShaShTim putra sahasraaNi svarga lokam gamiShyati || 1-41-20
20. loka pavanii = world, purifier [Ganga]; bhasma raashii kR^itaan = ash, mounds, made as; etaan plaavayet = them [sons of Sagara,] drifts - to heavens; [paavaet = will purify them]; loka kaantayaa = by worlds, adored; tayaa gangayaa = by her, by Ganga; klinnam idam bhasma = drenched, this, ash; SaSTim putra sahasraaNi = sixty, sons, thousands; svarga lokam gamiSyati = to empyrean, world, she can lead them.
" 'World purifier River Ganga will drift them who are rendered as mounds of ashes to heaven, and when she who is much adored by all worlds drenches this ash, that River Ganga herself will lead the sixty-thousand sons of Sagara to heaven. [1-41-20]
nir.hgacCha ca ashvam mahaabhaaga saMgR^ihya puruSharShabha |
yaj~nam paitaamaham viira nirvartayitum arhasi || 1-41-21
21. mahaabhaaga = oh, great fortunate one; puruSa rSabha = oh, best one among men; ashvam samgR^ihya nir gacCha = horse, on taking, out, you go - you may proceed from here; viira = oh, brave one; paitaamaham yaj~nam nirvartayitum arhasi = of grand father, Vedic- ritual, to carry out, apt of you.
" 'Oh, great fortunate one, oh, best one among men, you may proceed from here with the horse, oh, brave one, it will be apt of you to carry out the Vedic-ritual of your grandfather.' Thus Garuda said to Amshuman. [1-41-21]
suparNa vacanam shrutvaa saH aMshumaan ativiiryavaan |
tvaritam hayam aadaaya punar aayaat mahaayashaaH || 1-41-22
22. ati viiryavaan = highly, braving one; mahaayashaaH = highly renowned one; saH amshumaan = he, Amshuman; suparNa vacanam shrutvaa = great-winged eagle [Garuda's,] words, on hearing; tvaritam hayam aadaaya = swiftly, horse, on taking along; punaH aayaat = again, came- returned to his grandfather.
"On hearing the words of that great-winged eagle, Garuda, he that highly brave and well-renowned Amshuman swiftly took the horse, and returned to the ritual place of his grandfather, king Sagara. [1-41-22]
tato raajaanam aasaadya diikShitam raghunaMdana |
nyavedayat yathaa vR^ittam suparNa vacanam tathaa || 1-41-23
23. raghu nandana = oh, Rama, the descendant of Raghu; tataH = then; diikSitam raajaanam aasaadya = under vow, king, on getting at; yathaa vR^ittam = as has happened; tathaa = all that; suparNa vacanam = Garuda's, words, [also]; nyavedayat = submitted - described to Sagara.
"Then on reaching the King Sagara, who is under the vow of the ritual, oh, Rama, Amshuman described what all has happened and even the words of Garuda. [1-41-23]
tat shrutvaa ghora saMkaasham vaakyam aMshumato nR^ipaH |
yaj~nam nirvartayaamaasa yathaa kalpam yathaa vidhi || 1-41-24
24. nR^ipaH = king Sagara; amshumataH = from Amshuman; ghora samkaasham = unendurable; tat vaakyam shrutvaa = that, sentence, on hearing; yathaa kalpam yathaa vidhi = as per, scriptures, as per procedure; yaj~nam nirvartayaamaasa = Vedic ritual, restarted to - firstly - complete, and to see bout Ganga later.
"On hearing those unendurable words from Amshuman, the king Sagara firstly completed the Vedic-ritual scripturally and procedurally. [1-41-24]
sva puram ca agamat shriimaan iShTa yaj~no mahiipatiH |
gaMgaayaaH ca aagame raajaa nishcayam na adhyagacChata || 1-41-25
25. shriimaan mahiipatiH = fortunate one, land, lord - king Sagara; iSTa yaj~naH = having completed, Vedic-ritual; sva puram = his own, to capital; agamat = arrived; raajaa gangaayaaH aagame ca = king, about Ganga's, arrival, also; nishcayam na adhyagacChata = decision, not, arrived at.
"On completing the Vedic-ritual King Sagara arrived at his capital, but that king could not arrive at a decision about the arrival of Ganga to the earth. [1-41-25]
agatvaa nishcayam raajaa kaalena mahataa mahaan |
triMshat varSha sahasraaNi raajyam kR^itvaa divam gataH || 1-41-26
26. mahaan raajaa = great, king; mahataa kaalena = long, by time - even after; nishcayam a gatvaa = resolve, not, getting at - for Ganga's descent; trimshat varSa sahasraaNi = thirty, years, thousands; raajyam kR^itvaa divam gataH = kingdom, on ruling, to heaven, went to.
"That great king Sagara could not get at any resolve in getting Ganga to earth even after a long time, and on ruling kingdom for thirty-thousand years he went to heaven." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about the ancestors of Rama. [1-41-26]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe eka catvaariMshaH sargaH
© July, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao[Revised : September 04]
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