लोमश उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्त्वान्तरिक्षाच्च स राजा राजसत्तमः। यथोक्तं तच्चकाराथ श्रद्दधद् भरतर्षभ॥
Lomasha said : O best of the Bharata race, having heard these words uttered in the sky, that foremost of kings reverentially did all that he was directed to do.
एकैकशस्ततः कृत्वा बीजं बीजं नराधिपः। घृतपूर्णेषु कुम्भेषु तान् भागान् विदधे ततः॥
That ruler of men took out separately each one of the seeds and he then kept these divisions (of the gourd) in vessels filled with Ghee.
धात्रीश्चैकैकशः प्रादात् पुत्ररक्षणतत्परः। ततः कालेन महता समुत्तस्थुर्महाबलाः॥ षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि तस्याप्रतिमतेजसः। रुद्रप्रसादाद् राजर्षेः समजायन्त पार्थिव॥
Being anxious to save the son, he placed one nurse in charge of one vessel. Then after a long time there were born greatly powerful and exceedingly effulgent sixty thousand sons. O king, they were born to that royal sage through the favour of Rudra (Shiva).
ते घोराः क्रूरकर्माण आकाशपरिसर्पिणः। बहुत्वाच्चावजानन्तः सर्वांल्लोकान् सहामरान्।।५
They were fierce, they were prone to do wicked acts, they were able to ascend to and roam about in the sky. Being numerous themselves, they disturbed all creatures including the immortals.
त्रिदशांश्चाप्यबाधन्त तथा गन्धर्वराक्षसान्। सर्वाणि चैव भूतानि शूराः समरशालिनः॥
Those heroes, ever fond of fight, chased even the celestials, the Gandharvas the Rakshashas and all other creatures.
वध्यमानास्ततो लोकाः सागरैर्मन्दबुद्धिभिः। ब्रह्माणं शरणं जग्मुः सहिताः सर्वदैवतैः॥
Persecuted by the wicked-minded sons of Sagara, all creatures with all the celestials went to ask protection from Brahma.
तानुवाच महाभागः सर्वलोकपितामहः। गच्छध्वं त्रिदशा: सर्वे लोकैः सार्धं यथागतम्॥
To them said the greatly cxalted Grandsire of all creatures, “O celestials, go back whence you came with all these creatures.
नातिदीर्पण कालेन सागराणां क्षयो महान्। भविष्यति महाघोरः स्वकृतैः कर्मभिः सुराः॥
Within a very short time, exceedingly fearful destruction of Sagara's heroic sons will take place through their own misdeeds.
एवमुक्तास्तु ते देवा लोकाश्च मनुजेश्वर। पितामहमनुज्ञाप्य विप्रजग्मुर्यथागतम्॥
O ruler of men, having been thus addressed, the celestials and the other creatures, bidding farewell to the Grandsire, went back to the place whence they had come.
ततः काले बहुतिथे व्यतीते भरतर्षभ। दीक्षितः सगरो राजा हयमेधेन वीर्यवान्॥
O best of the Bharata race, after a long time, the mighty king Sagara installed himself for the performance of a horse-sacrifice.
तस्याश्वो व्यचरद् भूमिं पुत्रैः स परिरक्षितः। समुद्रं स समासाद्य निस्तोयं भीमदर्शनम्॥ रक्ष्यमाणः प्रयत्नेन तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। ततस्ते सागरास्तात हृतं मत्वा हयोत्तमम्॥ आगम्य पितुराचख्युरदृश्यं तुरगं हृतम्। तेनोक्ता दिक्षु सर्वासु सर्वे मार्गत वाजिनम्॥
His horse, guarded by his sons, roamed over the world. Going to the fearful and waterless ocean. It disappeared there, though it was guarded with all care. O child, they thought that the excellent horse had been robbed. Going (back) to their father, they told him how the horse had disappeared and had been stolen. He (Sagara) said, “Go and search the horse in all directions."
ततस्ते पितुराज्ञाय दिक्षु सर्वासु तं हयम्। अमार्गन्त महाराज सर्वं च पृथिवीतलम्॥
O great king, at the command of their father, they searched for the horse in all directions and all over the world.
ततस्ते सागराः सर्वे समुपेत्य परस्परम्। नाध्यगच्छन्त तुरगमश्वहर्तारमेव च॥
Thereupon the sons of Sagara mutually united together could not find the horse nor the person who had stolen it.
आगम्य पितरं चोचुस्ततः प्राञ्जलयोऽग्रतः। ससमुद्रवनद्वीपा सनदीनदकन्दरा॥ सपर्वतवनोद्देशा निखिलेन मही नृप। अस्माभिर्विचिता राजञ्छासनात् तव पार्थिव॥ न चाश्वमधिगच्छामो नाश्वहर्तारमेव च। श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां स राजा क्रोधमूछितः॥
Coming to their father, they spoke to him with joined hands, "O king, O ruler of earth, O protector of men, at your command we have searched the whole earth with its seas, forests, islands, with its rivers and caves, with its mountains and forest lands, but we could not find cither the horse or the thief who had stolen it.” Having heard their words, the king grew senseless in anger.
उवाच वचनं सर्वांस्तदा दैववशानृप। अनागमाय गच्छध्वं भूयो मार्गत वाजिनम्॥
O king, impelled by Destiny, he spoke to them thus, “Go away, never return. O sons, search again for the horse in all directions.
यज्ञियं तं विना ह्यश्वं नागन्तव्यं हि पुत्रकाः। प्रतिगृह्य तु संदेशं पितुस्ते सगरात्मजाः॥ भूय एव महीं कृत्स्ना विचेतुमुपचक्रमुः। अथापश्यन्त ते वीराः पृथिवीमवदारिताम्॥
Without that sacrificial horse never return again." Accepting the command of their father, those sons of Sagara, once more began to search for the horse all over the world. The heroes saw a pit on the surface of the earth.
समासाद्य बिलं तच्चाप्यखनन् सगरात्मजाः। कुद्दालैर्तेषुकैश्चैव समुद्रं यत्नमास्थिताः॥
Having seen that pit, the sons of Sagara axes they dug on in the sea with the greatest efforts.
स खन्यमानः सहितैः सागरैर्वरुणालयः। अगच्छत् परमामार्ति दीर्यमाण: समन्ततः॥
That abode of Varuna (ocean), being thus dug by the united sons of Sagara and also rent and cut on all sides, found itself in the greatest possible distress.
असुरोरगरक्षांसि सत्त्वानि विविधानि च। आर्तनादमकुर्वन्त वध्यमानानि सागरैः॥
Being killed by the sons of Sagara, the Asuras, the Nagas, the Rakshashas and various other living creatures raised up distressful cries.
छिन्नशीर्षा विदेहाश्च भिन्नवगस्थिसंधयः। प्राणिनः समदृश्यन्त शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
Hundreds and thousands of living creatures were seen with severed heads, with separated trunks, with their skin, bones and joints rent asunder.
एवं हि खनतां तेषां समुद्रं वरुणालयम्। व्यतीत: सुमहान् कालो न चाश्वः समदृश्यत॥
Thus they dug on the ocean, the abode of Varuna, but a long period of time passed away and still the horse was not found.
ततः पूर्वोत्तरे देशे समुद्रस्य महीपते। विदार्य पातालमथ संक्रुद्धाः सगरात्मजाः॥
O ruler of men, the sons of Sagara then dug the sea in anger on its north eastern region till they reached the nether region.
अपश्यन्त हयं तत्र विचरन्तं महीतले। कपिलं च महात्मानं तेजोराशिमनुत्तमम्। तेजसा दीप्यमानं तु ज्वालाभिरिव पावकम्॥
They then saw that the horse was roaming there on the surface of the ground. (They also saw) the illustrious Kapila, a perfect mass of great effulgence. He was blazing in splendour like a blazing fire.
ते तं दृष्ट्वा हयं राजन् सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहाः। अनादृत्य महात्मानं कपिलं कालचोदिताः॥
Having seen him and the horse, they were flushed with delight. Being impelled by Fate, they did not care the presence of the illustrious Kapila.
संक्रुद्धाः सम्प्रधावन्त अश्वग्रहणकाक्षिणः। ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज कपिलो मुनिसत्तमः॥
Being eager to get the horse, they ran towards it in anger. O great king, thereupon that foremost of Rishis, Kapila, grew angry.
वासुदेवेति यं प्राहुः कपिलं मुनिपुङ्गवम्। स चक्षुर्विकृतं कृत्वा तेजस्तेषु समुत्सृजन्॥
Kapila whom the great Rishis called Vasudeva assumed a fiery look and shot flames from his eyes.
ददाह सुमहातेजा मन्दबुद्धीन् स सागरान्। तान् दृष्ट्वा भस्मसाद् भूतान् नारदः सुमहातपाः॥ सगरान्तिकमागच्छत् तच्च तस्मै न्यवेदयत्। स तच्छ्रुत्वा वचो घोरं राजा मुनिमुखोद्गतम्॥ मुहूर्तं विमना भूत्वा स्थाणोर्वाक्यमचिन्तयत्। अंशुमन्तं समाहूय असमञ्जःसुतं तदा॥ पौत्रं भरतशार्दूल इदं वचनमब्रवीत्। षष्टिस्तानि सहस्राणि पुत्राणाममितौजसाम्॥ कापिलं तेज आसाद्य मत्कृते निधनं गताः। तव चापि पिता तात परित्यक्तो मयानघ। धर्म संरक्षमाणेन पौराणां हितमिच्छता॥
That greatly effulgent one burnt down those foolish-minded sons of Sagara. Having seen them reduced to ashes, the great ascetic Narada came to Sagara and told him all that had happened. Having heard those terrible words, uttered from the lips of the Rishi, the king (Sagara) remained unconscious for some time; he then thought of the words of Sthanu (Shiva). Then calling Anshuman, the son of Asamanjasa his grandson, O best of Bharata race, he spoke these words. "My sixty thousands immeasurably powerful sons, falling under the effulgence of Kapila, has met with their death on my account. O child, O sinless one, your father also has been abandoned by me from my desire to protect the citizens and to save my virtue.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच किमर्थं राजशार्दुल: सगरः पुत्रमात्मजम्। त्यक्तवान् दुस्त्यजं वीरं तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन॥
Yudhishthira said : O great ascetic, tell me why that foremost of kings, Sagara abandoned his own heroic son, a son who was not fit to be abandoned?
लोमश उवाच असमञ्जा इति ख्यातः सगरस्य सुतो ह्यभूत्। यं शैब्या जनयामास पौराणां स हि दारकान्॥ गलेषु क्रोशतो गृह्य नद्यां चिक्षेप दुर्बलान्। ततः पौरा: समाजग्मुर्भयशोकपरिप्लुताः॥ सगरं चाभ्यभाषन्त सर्वे प्राञ्जलयः स्थिताः। त्वं नस्त्राता महाराज परचक्रादिभिर्भयात्॥
Lomasha said: The son of Sagara who was born of Shaibya and who was called Asamanjasa used to seize by the throat the weak children of the citizens and to throw them into the river while screaming. Thereupon the citizens overwhelmed with grief and fear all met together and with joined hands they thus prayed to Sagara, "O great king, you are our protector from the fear of an attack from the hostile force.
असमञ्जोभयाद् घोरात् ततो नस्त्रातुमर्हसि। पौराणां वचनं श्रुत्वा घोरं नृपतिसत्तमः॥ मुहूर्तं विमना भूत्वा सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्। असमञ्जाः पुरादद्य सुतो मे विप्रवास्यताम्॥
You should therefore protect us from the fearful danger proceeding from your son.” Having heard those terrible words of the citizens, that foremost of kings. Becoming absent-minded for a moment, spoke thus to his ministers, “Drive away at once my son Asaınanjasa from the city.
यदि वो मत्प्रियं कार्यमेतच्छीघ्रं विधीयताम्। एवमुक्ता नरेन्द्रेण सचिवास्ते नराधिप॥ यथोक्तं त्वरिताश्चक्रुर्यथाऽज्ञापितवान् नृपः। एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथा पुत्रो महात्मना॥ पौराणां हितकामेन सगरेण विवासितः। अंशुमांस्तु महेष्वासो यदुक्तः सगरेण हि। तत् ते सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि कीर्त्यमानं निबोध मे॥
If you desire to do what will be pleasing to me, do it soon." O ruler of men having been thus addressed by the king, the ministers, soon performed what they were commanded to do by the king. I have thus narrated to you how the son was exiled by the illustrious Sagara for the welfare of the citizens. I shall now narrate to you in detail what the great bowman Anshumana was told by Sagara. Listen to me.
सगर उवाच पितुश्च तेऽहं त्यागेन पुत्राणां निधनेन च। अलाभेन तथाश्वस्य परितप्यामि पुत्रक॥
Sagara said: O son, I am greatly aggrieved on account of the abandonment of my son, on account of the death of my sons and also on account of being unsuccessful in getting the horse.
तस्माद् दुःखाभिसंतप्तं यज्ञविघ्नाच्च मोहितम्। हयस्यानयनात् पौत्र नरकान्मां समुद्धर॥
Therefore, O grandson, I am afflicted with grief and confounded with the hindrance that has taken place to my sacrifice. You must save me from sin by bringing the horse.
अंशुमानेवमुक्तस्तु सगरेण महात्मना। जगाम दुःखात् तं देशं यत्र वै दारिता मही॥
Lomasha said: Having been thus addressed by the illustrious Sagara, Anshumana went to the place where the earth had been excavated (by his uncles).
स तु तेनैव मार्गेण समुद्रं प्रविवेश ह। अपश्यच्च महात्मानं कपिलं तुरगं च तम्॥
By that passage he entered the ocean and saw the high-souled Kapila and also the horse.
स दृष्ट्वा तेजसो राशिं पुराणमृषिसत्तमम्। प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ कार्यमस्मै न्यवेदयत्॥
Seeing that ancient great Rishi, a mass of effulgence, he bowed down his head to the ground and told him the reason of his coming.
ततः प्रीतो महाराज कपिर्लोऽशुमतोऽभवत्। उवाच चैनधर्मात्मा वरदोऽस्मीति भारत॥
O great king, O descendant of Bharata, thereupon Kapila was pleased with Angsumana and that virtuous-minded Rishi told him to ask a boon from him.
स ववे तुरगं तत्र प्रथमं यज्ञकारणात्। द्वितीयं वरकं ववे पितृणां पावनेच्छया।॥
He first asked the horse for the sacrifice and then he asked for the revivification of his fathers (uncles).
तमुवाच महातेजाः कपिलो मुनिपुङ्गवः। ददानि तव भद्रं ते यद् यत् पार्थयसेऽनघ।॥ त्वयि क्षमा चधर्मश्च सत्यं चापि प्रतिष्ठितम्। त्वया कृतार्थः सगरः पुत्रवांश्च त्वया पिता॥
To him replied that foremost of Rishis, Kapila of great splendour, “O sinless one, be blessed; I grant you all that you ask. In you there exist forbearance truth and righteousness. By you Sagara has his desire fulfilled and your father has really got a son.
तव चैव प्रभावेण स्वर्गं यास्यन्ति सागराः। पौत्रश्च ते त्रिपथगां त्रिदिवादानयिष्यति॥ पावनार्थं सागराणां तोषयित्वा महेश्वरम्। हयं नयस्व भद्रं ते यज्ञियं नरपुङ्गव॥
Through your might, the sons of Sagara will go to heaven and your grand-son will bring the three-coursed river (the Ganges) from heaven, by gratifying Maheshvara in order to purify the sons of Sagara. O foremost of men, be blessed; take (back) the sacrificial horse.
यज्ञः समाप्यतां तात सगरस्य महात्मनः। अंशुमानवमुक्तस्तु कपिलेन महात्मना॥ आजगाम हयं गृह्य यज्ञवाटं महात्मनः। सोऽभिवाद्य ततः पादौ सगरस्य महात्मनः॥ मूर्ध्नि तेनाप्युपाघ्रातस्तस्मै सर्वं न्यवेदयत्। यथा दृष्टं श्रुतं चापि सागराणां क्षयं तथा॥ तं चास्मै हयमाचष्ट यज्ञवाटमुपागतम्। तच्छ्रुत्वा सगरो राजा पुत्रजं दुःखमत्यजत्॥
And O child, complete the sacrifice of the illustrious Sagara.” Having been thus addressed by the illustrious Kapila, Anshuman, the highsouled one, taking the horse, came to (the sacrificial ground (of Sagara). Then saluting the feet of the illustrious Sagara who smelt his head, he told him all that had been seen and heard by him and all about the destruction of the sons of Sagara. (He also told him) that the horse had been brought to the sacrificial ground; Having heard this, the king Sagara no more grieved for his sons.
अंशुमन्तं च सम्पूज्य समापयत तं क्रतुम्। समाप्तयज्ञः सगरो देवैः सर्वैः सभाजितः॥
He praised and honoured Anshuman and completed his sacrifice. When the sacrifice was completed, Sagara was greeted by all the celestials.
पुत्रत्वे कल्पयामास समुद्रं वरुणालयम्। प्रशास्य सुचिरं कालं राज्यं राजीवलोचनः॥ पौत्रे भारं समावेश्य जगाम त्रिदिवं तदा। अंशुमानपिधर्मात्मा महीं सागरमेखलाम्॥ प्रशशास महाराज यथैवास्य पितामहः। तस्य पुत्रः समभवद् दिलीपो नामधर्मवित्॥
He made the ocean, the abode of Varuna, as one of his sons. That lotus-cyed hero ruled over his kingdom for a long period of time. Then giving the charge (of his kingdom) to his grandson (Angsuman), he went to heaven; and the virtuous-minded Anshaman also, O great king following the example of his grandfather ruled over the earth with the belt of sea. His son was named Dilipa who was learned in the precepts of virtue.
तस्मै राज्यं समाधाय अंशुमानपि संस्थितः। दिलीपस्तु ततः श्रुत्वा पितृणां निधनं महत्॥ पर्यतप्यत दुःखेन तेषां गतिमचिन्तयत्। गङ्गावतरणे यत्नं सुमहच्चाकरोनृपः॥
Giving him the charge of the kingdom, Anshuman also gave up his life. Having heard the terrible fate of his ancestors (Sagara's son) Dilipa. Was overwhelmed with grief and thought of the means of delivering them. That king then made every effort to bring down the Ganges (from heaven).
न चावतारयामास चेष्टमानो यथाबलम्। तस्य पुत्रः समभवच्छ्रीमान्धर्मपरायणः॥ भगीरथ इति ख्यातः सत्यवागनसूयकः। अभिषिच्य तु तं राज्ये दिलीपो वनमाश्रितः॥
Though he tried it with all his mighi, he could not bring her down (1O earth). A virtuous and handsome son was then born to him. He was truthful and without malice and he was known by the name of Bhagiratha. Installing him in the kingdom, Dilipa retired into the forest.
तप:सिद्धिसमायोगात् स राजा भरतर्षभ। वनाज्जगाम त्रिदिवं कालयोगेन भारत॥
O best of the Bharata race, O descendant of Bharata, that king after attaining success in austerities went in due time from that forest to heaven.