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.
putrān cira gatān jñātvā sagaro raghunaṃdana |
naptāram abravīt rājā dīpyamānam sva tejasā || 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]
śūraḥ ca kṛta vidyaḥ ca pūrvaiḥ tulyo asi tejasā |
pitṛṇām gatim anviccha yena ca aśvo apahāritaḥ || 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 bhaumāni sattvāni vīryavanti mahānti ca |
teṣām tvam pratighāta artham sa asim gṛhṇīṣva kārmukam || 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]
abhivādya abhivādyān tvam hatvā vighna karān api |
siddhārthaḥ saṃnivartasva mama yajñasya pāragaḥ || 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 aṃśumān saṃyak sagareṇa mahātmanā |
dhanur ādāya khaḍgam ca jagāma laghuvikramaḥ || 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 khātam pitṛbhiḥ mārgam antar bhaumam mahātmabhiḥ |
prāpadyata naraśreṣṭha tena rājñā abhicoditaḥ || 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 dānava rakṣobhiḥ piśāca pataga uragaiḥ |
pūjyamānam mahātejā diśā gajam apaśyata || 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 pradakṣiṇam kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā caiva nirāmayam |
pitṛin sa paripapraccha vāji hartāram 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]
diśā gajaḥ tu tat śrutvā pratyuvāca mahāmatiḥ |
āsamaṃja kṛtārthaḥ tvam saha aśvaḥ śīghram eṣyasi || 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 śrutvā sarvān eva diśā gajān |
yathā kramam yathā nyāyam praṣṭum 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]
taiḥ ca sarvaiḥ diśā pālaiḥ vākyajñaiḥ vākyakovidaiḥ |
pūjitaḥ sa hayaḥ caiva gantā asi iti abhicoditaḥ || 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]
teṣām tat vacanam śrutvā jagāma laghuvikramaḥ |
bhasma rāśī kṛtā yatra pitaraḥ tasya sāgarāḥ || 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 duḥkha vaśam āpannaḥ tu asamaṃja sutaḥ tadā |
cukrośa parama ārtaḥ tu vadhāt teṣām suduḥkhitaḥ || 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]
yajñiyam ca hayam tatra carantam avidūrataḥ |
dadarśa puruṣavyāghro duḥkha śoka samanvitaḥ || 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 teṣām rāja putrāṇām kartu kāmo jala kriyām |
sa jalārtham mahātejā na ca apaśyat jala āśayam || 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]
visārya nipuṇām dṛṣṭim tato apaśyat khaga adhipam |
pitṛṇām mātulam rāma suparṇam 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 abravīt vākyam vainateyo mahābalaḥ |
mā śucaḥ puruṣavyāghra vadho ayam loka sammataḥ || 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 aprameyeṇa dagdhā hi ime mahābalāḥ |
salilam na arhasi prājña dātum eṣām 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]
gaṃgā himavato jyeṣṭhā duhitā puruṣarṣabha |
tasyām kuru mahābāho pitṝṇām tu jala kriyām || 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 rāśī kṛtān etān pāvayet loka kāṃtayā |
tayā klinnam idam bhasma gaṃgayā loka kāntayā |
ṣaṣṭim putra sahasrāṇi svarga lokam gamiṣyati || 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]
nirgaccha ca aśvam mahābhāga saṃgṛhya puruṣarṣabha |
yajñam paitāmaham vīra 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]
suparṇa vacanam śrutvā saḥ aṃśumān ativīryavān |
tvaritam hayam ādāya punar āyāt mahāyaśāḥ || 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 rājānam āsādya dīkṣitam raghunaṃdana |
nyavedayat yathā vṛttam suparṇa vacanam tathā || 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 śrutvā ghora saṃkāśam vākyam aṃśumato nṛpaḥ |
yajñam nirvartayāmāsa yathā kalpam yathā 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 śrīmān iṣṭa yajño mahīpatiḥ |
gaṃgāyāḥ ca āgame rājā niścayam 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]
agatvā niścayam rājā kālena mahatā mahān |
triṃśat varṣa sahasrāṇi rājyam kṛtvā divam gataḥ || 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 vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe eka catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
© July, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao[Revised : September 04]