Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 10

सगरपुत्राणां रसातलगमनम्

The Descent of Sagara’s Sons and the Wrath of Kapila

Devanagari script

भूय: खनत भद्रं वो निर्भिद्य वसुधातलम्।।।।अश्वहर्तारमासाद्य कृतार्थाश्च निवर्तथ।

Transliteration

bhūyaḥ khanata bhadraṃ vo nirbhidya vasudhātalam |

aśva-hartāram āsādya kṛtārthāś ca nivartatha || 1.40.10 ||

Translation

“Dig again—may it be well with you—cleaving the earth’s surface; having found the horse-stealer, return when your purpose is fulfilled.”

Word by Word

• pituḥ: of the father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vacanam: command/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āsādya: having received/reached
• āsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• sagarasya: of Sagara
• sagarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (‘great-souled’), qualifying sagarasya

• ṣaṣṭiḥ: sixty
• ṣaṣṭiḥ: Saṅkhyā (संख्या/Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्या (numeral) used with sahasrāṇi: ‘sixty (thousand)’

• putra-sahasrāṇi: thousands of sons
• putra-sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘thousands of sons’); with ṣaṣṭiḥ = ‘sixty thousand sons’

• rasātalam: Rasātala (netherworld)
• rasātalam: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasātala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abhidravan: ran towards
• abhidravan: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dru (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Having heard the devatas, extremely frightened, and deprived of their sensual perception by the prowess of fate. The adorable grandsire (Brahma) replied:

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• aśva (sacrificial horse)
• earth (vasudhā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma as duty-fulfillment: the instruction emphasizes completing a righteous objective (recovering the sacrificial horse) and then returning without excess or disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā issues a directive connected to the search for the stolen sacrificial horse: resume digging, locate the thief, and return after success.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kartavya-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in duty): perseverance toward a defined goal, paired with restraint—ending action once the purpose is achieved.