Valmiki Ramayana 1.40.7-8: Bala Kanda, Sarga 40, Shlokas 7-8
सगरपुत्राणां रसातलगमनम् · The Descent of Sagara’s Sons and the Wrath of Kapila
Spoken by Sagara's Sons to King SagaraSetting: Before Sagara (royal assembly/camp)Places named: पृथिवी (entire earth)Repeated debrief; decision point
परिक्रान्ता मही सर्वा सत्त्ववन्तश्च सूदिताः ॥७॥
देवदानवरक्षांसि पिशाचोरगकिन्नराः ।
न च पश्यामहेऽश्वं तमश्वहर्तारमेव च ॥८॥
किं करिष्याम भद्रं ते बुद्धिरत्र विचार्यताम् ।
parikrāntā mahī sarvā sattvavantaś ca sūditāḥ ||7||
devadānavarakṣāṁsi piśācōragakinnarāḥ |
na ca paśyāmahe ’śvaṁ tam aśvahartāram eva ca ||8||
kiṁ kariṣyāma bhadraṁ te buddhir atra vicāryatām |
बेटे वापस आके बोलने लगे, हमने पूरी ज़मीन घूम ली, बहुत लोगों को मारा, पर घोड़ा नहीं मिला। अब आप ही फैसला करो करना क्या है।
Sandhi Notes
- paśyāmahe aśvam < paśyāmahe’śvam
- aśva-hartāram eva < aśvahartāramēva
- kariṣyāmaḥ often written kariṣyāma (final visarga dropped in some recensions)
'The entire earth was ransacked. Mighty devatas, demons, rakshasas, pisachas, uragas and kinnaras were killed. (Yet) we could neither see the horse nor the thief of the horse. Reflect over this matter and direct us. Prosperity to you'!
The teaching
Even after exhaustive action, one must stop and submit to विचार—discernment is the rightful next step.
Duties in tension
- Ritual/state obligation to recover the horse
- Restraint from indiscriminate killing and cosmic disruption
- Ethical theme
- राजधर्म / विवेक
- How it resolves
- Appeal to authority
For your practice
Repetition supports japa-like reflection: pause, review actions, and seek higher guidance before proceeding.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Reiterated, strained, supplicatory
Themes
- Itihasa
- Dharma
- Textual-variant
- Satya
Repetition underscores the mind’s fixation (vṛtti) and the necessity of turning from rajas to sattva via inquiry.
Didactic insistence on विचार mirrors Upanishadic pedagogy: repetition to drive home the pivot from action to knowledge.
- Sagara's Sons and Sagara
- Sons requesting father’s considered decision (repetition) (anxious-deferential)
- Sagara's Sons and Devas
- Slain during search (repeated report) (violent)
- Sagara's Sons and Danavas
- Slain during search (violent)
- Sagara's Sons and Rakṣasas
- Slain during search (violent)
- Sagara's Sons and Piśācas
- Slain during search (violent)
- Sagara's Sons and Nagas / Serpents
- Slain during search (violent)
- Sagara's Sons and Kinnaras
- Slain during search (violent)
- Sagara's Sons and Aśvamedha horse
- Royal sacrificial property sought (urgent-seeking)
Same as 1.40.7 (duplicate/repetition in some editions or indexing)
Aśvamedha Vedic rite
Functions as a doubled refrain before Sagara’s response (1.40.9)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative
Steady madhyama with slight emphasis on बुद्धिरत्र विचार्यताम
FAQs
The repeated plea underscores that righteous action requires reflection and guidance; dharma is upheld not by rage but by considered judgment aligned with truth.
A duplicated textual presentation reiterates the sons’ failure and their request for Sagara’s direction.
Humility before rightful authority—seeking a decision rather than acting blindly.
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