सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम् — The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara
बालकाण्ड
At the close of Viśvāmitra’s prior narration, Rāma—pleased and attentive—requests a fuller account of how his ancestors arranged the sacrifice. Viśvāmitra begins the Sagara-episode: in the region between Himavān and Vindhya, Sagara’s rite proceeds, with Aṃśumān appointed to guard the sacrificial horse. On the parvan (full-moon/concluding day), Indra (Vāsava), adopting a rākṣasa-form, steals the yajñīya horse. The officiating priests warn that a flaw in the sacrifice would be inauspicious and urge immediate recovery. Sagara, hearing the priests in the assembly, commands his sixty-thousand sons to search the ocean-girdled earth, excavating systematically until the horse and thief are found, while he remains initiated with Aṃśumān and the priestly retinue. The princes obey with zeal, digging vast tracts with diamond-sharp nails, ploughs, and lances; the churning of earth produces terrifying sounds and results in the killing of beings in the lower regions. Disturbed, gods, gandharvas, asuras, and serpents approach Brahmā to report that Sagara’s sons—suspecting a “sacrifice-destroyer”—are slaying creatures while the entire earth is being torn open.
Verse 1.39.1
विश्वामित्रवचश्श्रुत्वा कथाऽन्ते रघुनन्दन:।उवाच परमप्रीतो मुनिं दीप्तमिवानलम्।।1.39.1।।
Having heard Viśvāmitra’s words, at the close of the account Raghunandana (Rāma), greatly delighted, spoke to the sage, blazing like fire.
Verse 1.39.2
श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते विस्तरेण कथामिमाम्।पूर्वको मे कथं ब्रह्मन् यज्ञं वै समुपाहरत्।।1.39.2।।
As they churned and tore through the depths, O Rāghava, an unbearable clamour arose—from the nāgas, the asuras, the rākṣasas, and other beings disturbed there.
Verse 1.39.3
विश्वामित्रस्तु काकुत्स्थमुवाच प्रहसन्निव।श्रूयतां विस्तरो राम सगरस्य महात्मन:।।1.39.3।।
Then the gods—together with Gandharvas, Asuras, and the nāga serpents—alarmed in mind, all approached Pitāmaha Brahmā.
Verse 1.39.4
शङ्करश्वशुरो नाम हिमवानचलोत्तम:।विंध्यपर्वतमासाद्य निरीक्षेते परस्परम्।।1.39.4।।
Having propitiated the great-souled Brahmā, they then—downcast in face and greatly frightened—spoke these words to Pitāmaha.
Verse 1.39.5
तयोर्मध्ये प्रवृत्तोऽभूद्यज्ञ स्सपुरुषोत्तम।स हि देशो नरव्याघ्र प्रशस्तो यज्ञकर्मणि।।1.39.5।।
O Blessed Lord, the sons of Sagara are digging up the whole earth, and many great beings who dwell in the nether regions are being slain.
Verse 1.39.6
तस्याश्वचर्यां काकुत्स्थ दृढधन्वा महारथ:।अंशुमानकरोत्तात सगरस्य मते स्थित:।।1.39.6।।
“This is the one who destroys our yajña; by him our horse has been carried off!”—thinking so, the sons of Sagara strike down all living beings.
Verse 1.39.7
तस्य पर्वणि तं यज्ञं यजमानस्य वासव:।राक्षसीं तनुमास्थाय यज्ञीयाश्वमपाहरत्।।1.39.7।।
On the concluding sacred parvan-day, while Sagara was officiating in the yajña, Vāsava (Indra), assuming a rākṣasa-like form, stole away the horse meant for the rite.
Verse 1.39.8
ह्रियमाणे तु काकुत्स्थ तस्मिन्नश्वे महात्मन:।उपाध्यायगणास्सर्वे यजमानमथाब्रुवन्।।1.39.8।।
O Kakutstha, as that horse of the great-souled king was being carried off, all the groups of officiating priests then addressed the sacrificer.
Verse 1.39.9
अयं पर्वणि वेगेन यज्ञियाश्वोऽपनीयते।हर्तारं जहि काकुत्स्थ हयश्चैवोपनीयताम्।।1.39.9।।
On this parvan-day, the sacrificial horse is being forcibly taken away at speed. O Kakutstha, strike down the thief, and let the horse be brought back.
Verse 1.39.10
यज्ञच्छिद्रं भवत्येतत्सर्वेषामशिवाय न:।तत्तथा क्रियतां राजन् यथाऽच्छिद्र: क्रतुर्भवेत्।।1.39.10।।
This becomes a flaw in the sacrifice, bringing ill-omen to us all. Therefore, O king, let it be arranged so that the rite (kratu) may proceed without any defect.
Verse 1.39.11
उपाध्यायवच श्श्रुत्वा तस्मिन् सदसि पार्थिव:।षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।1.39.11।।
Blessings upon you, O Brahmin. I wish to hear this account in full detail—how did my forefather, O venerable one, arrange and set in motion the sacrifice (yajña)?
Verse 1.39.12
गतिं पुत्रा: न पश्यामि रक्षसां परुषर्षभा:।मन्त्रपूतैर्महाभागैरास्थितो हि महाक्रतु:।।1.39.12।।
Having heard the words of the officiating priests (upādhyāyas) in that sacrificial assembly, the king addressed his sixty thousand sons and spoke as follows.
Verse 1.39.13
तद्गच्छत विचिन्वध्वं पुत्रका: भद्रमस्तु व:।समुद्रमालिनीं सर्वां पृथिवीमनुगच्छत।।1.39.13।।
“My sons—best among men—I do not see any way for the rākṣasas to gain entry here, for this great sacrifice (kratu) is safeguarded by mantra-consecration and is being conducted under eminent priests.”
Verse 1.39.14
एकैकयोजनं पुत्रा विस्तारमधिगच्छत।यावत्तुरगसन्दर्श: तावत् खनत मेदिनीम्।तं चैव हयहर्तारं मार्गमाणा ममाज्ञया।।1.39.14।।
Therefore, my sons, go forth and search; may auspiciousness attend you. Traverse and examine the whole earth, encircled by the oceans.
Verse 1.39.15
दीक्षित: पौत्रसहितस्सोपाध्यायगणो ह्यहम्।इह स्थास्यामि भद्रं वो यावत्तुरगदर्शनम्।।1.39.15।।
Sons, cover the land systematically, yojana by yojana. Until the horse is sighted, dig into the earth; and, by my command, search out that very thief who stole the sacrificial horse.
Verse 1.39.16
इत्युक्ता हृष्टमनसो राजपुत्रा महाबला:।जग्मुर्महीतलं राम पितुर्वचनयन्त्रिता:।।1.39.16।।
Initiated for the rite, I shall remain here along with my grandson and the assembled teachers. May welfare be yours, until the horse is seen and recovered.
Verse 1.39.17
योजनायामविस्तारमेकैको धरणीतलम्।बिभिदु: परुषव्याघ्र वज्रस्पर्शसमैर्नखै:।।1.39.17।।
Thus instructed, the mighty princes—glad at heart—set out across the earth, O Rāma, driven by obedience to their father’s command.
Verse 1.39.18
शूलैरशनिकल्पैश्च हलैश्चापि सुदारुणै:।भिद्यमाना वसुमती ननाद रघुनन्दन।।1.39.18।।
Each of them took up a stretch of ground a yojana in extent, O tiger among men, and tore into the earth with nails as hard and sharp as a thunderbolt’s touch.
Verse 1.39.19
नागानां मथ्यमानानामसुराणां च राघव ।राक्षसानां च दुर्धर्षस्सत्त्वानां निनदोऽभवत्।।1.39.19।।
As the earth was split by dreadful ploughs and by lances like thunderbolts, the ground resounded with a mighty roar, O delight of the Raghus.
Verse 1.39.20
योजनानां सहस्राणि षष्टिं तु रघुनन्दन ।बिभिदुर्धरणीं वीरा: रसातलमनुत्तमम्।।1.39.20।।
Viśvāmitra, as if smiling, addressed Kakutstha Rāma: “Hear, O Rāma, the full account of the great king Sagara.”
Verse 1.39.21
एवं पर्वतसम्बाधं जम्बूद्वीपं नृपात्मजा:।खनन्तो नरशार्दूल सर्वत: परिचक्रमु:।।1.39.21।।
Himavān, the foremost of mountains—known as Śaṅkara’s father-in-law—drew near the Vindhya range, and the two looked upon each other.
Verse 1.39.22
ततो देवास्सगन्धर्वास्सासुरास्सहपन्नगा:।सम्भ्रान्तमनसस्सर्वे पितामहमुपागमन्।।1.39.22।।
Between those two mountains the sacrifice (yajña) was undertaken, O best of men; for that region, O tiger among men, was well-suited for sacrificial rites.
Verse 1.39.23
ते प्रसाद्य महात्मानं विषण्णवदनास्तदा। ऊचु: परमसन्त्रस्ता पितामहमिदं वच:।।1.39.23।।
O Kakutstha, dear child—Aṁśumān, the great charioteer of the firm bow, undertook the guarding and following of that sacrificial horse, abiding by Sagara’s command.
Verse 1.39.24
भगवन् पृथिवी सर्वा खन्यते सगरात्मजै:।बहवश्च महात्मानो हन्यन्ते तलवासिन:।।1.39.24।।
O Raghunandana, the heroic sons of Sagara split open the earth for sixty thousand yojanas, reaching the excellent realm of Rasātala, the netherworld.
Verse 1.39.25
अयं यज्ञहरोऽस्माकमनेनाश्वोऽपनीयते।इति ते सर्वभूतानि निघ्नन्ति सगरात्मजा:।।1.39.25।।
Thus, while digging through Jambūdvīpa—crowded with mountains—the king’s sons, O tiger among men, ranged about in every direction.