Shloka 1.39.14

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम् — The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

एकैकयोजनं पुत्रा विस्तारमधिगच्छत।यावत्तुरगसन्दर्श: तावत् खनत मेदिनीम्।तं चैव हयहर्तारं मार्गमाणा ममाज्ञया।।1.39.14।।

Transliteration

tad gacchata vicinvadhvaṁ putrakāḥ bhadram astu vaḥ |

samudramālinīṁ sarvāṁ pṛthivīm anugacchata ||1.39.13||

Translation

Therefore, my sons, go forth and search; may auspiciousness attend you. Traverse and examine the whole earth, encircled by the oceans.

Context

'O sons, acquiring yojana by yojana the length and breadth of the earth, search for the thief of the horse. Excavate the earth till the time the horse is found. This is my command'.

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• earth (pṛthivī)
• oceans (samudra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is the performance of assigned duty with courage and care—Sagara sends his sons to act decisively while also blessing their safety, balancing authority with responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Sagara formally dispatches his sons to search across the entire world for the cause of the sacrificial disruption (the missing horse).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership that combines command with goodwill—he issues a clear task and invokes auspicious protection for those who must carry it out.