Shloka 1.40.24
सगरपुत्राणां रसातलगमनम् — The Descent of Sagara’s Sons and the Wrath of Kapila
ते तु सर्वे महात्मानो भीमवेगा महाबला:।।।।ददृशु: कपिलं तत्र वासुदेवं सनातनम्।हयं च तस्य देवस्य चरन्तमविदूरत:।।।।प्रहर्षमतुलं प्राप्तास्सर्वे ते रघुनन्दन।
te tu sarve mahātmāno bhīmavegā mahābalāḥ | dadṛśuḥ kapilaṃ tatra vāsudevaṃ sanātanam | hayaṃ ca tasya devasya carantam avidūrataḥ | praharṣam atulaṃ prāptāḥ sarve te raghunandana |
But all those great-souled sons of Sagara—terribly swift and immensely strong—beheld there Kapila, the eternal Vāsudeva; and nearby they saw that god’s horse grazing. O Raghunandana, all of them were filled with unparalleled delight.
Great sons of Sagara terribly swift-footed and exceedingly powerful beheld the eternal Visnu in (sage) Kapila and not far away from him the horse grazing. O descendant of Raghu! they all experienced unparalleled joy.
Dharma requires reverence and discernment when encountering sanctity. Recognizing the divine presence should lead to humility and careful speech, not impulsive accusation.
During the search, Sagara’s sons find Kapila (identified as Vāsudeva) and see the sacrificial horse grazing nearby, causing them to feel great excitement.
Awe and devotion are suggested by their joy at seeing the horse and the revered figure; however, the episode also foreshadows the need for viveka (discernment).