Shloka 24
उस बिलके पास पहुँचकर सगरपुत्रोंने कुदालों और फावड़ोंसे समुद्रको प्रयत्नपूर्वक खोदना आरम्भ किया ।। स खन््यमान: सहितै: सागरैर्वरुणालय: । अगच्छत् परमामार्ति दीर्यमाण: समन्ततः,एक साथ लगे हुए सगरकुमारोंके खोदनेपर सब ओरसे विदीर्ण होनेवाले समुद्रको बड़ी पीड़ाका अनुभव होता था। सगरपुत्रोंके हाथों मारे जाते हुए असुर, नाग, राक्षस और नाना प्रकारके जन्तु बड़े जोरसे आर्तनाद करते थे
tataḥ bilasya pāśvam upagamya sagaraputrāḥ kudālaiḥ phāvḍaiś ca prayatnapūrvakaṃ samudraṃ khanitum ārabdhavantaḥ || sa khanyamānaḥ sahitaiḥ sāgarair varuṇālayaḥ | agacchat paramām ārtiṃ dīryamāṇaḥ samantataḥ || sagaraputrāṇāṃ hastair māryamāṇā asurā nāgā rākṣasāś ca nānāvidhāś ca jantavaḥ mahāśabdena ārta-nādaṃ cakruḥ ||
Reaching the mouth of the cavern, the sons of Sagara began to dig at the ocean with spades and shovels, exerting themselves with relentless effort. As the ocean—Varuṇa’s abode—was cut and torn on every side by the united digging of the Sagara princes, it seemed to suffer intense agony. Struck down by their hands, asuras, nāgas, rākṣasas, and many kinds of creatures cried out loudly in distress—an image of how unchecked zeal and royal power can turn a single-minded quest into widespread harm to living beings.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical danger of single-minded pursuit backed by power: when effort is driven by obsession or anger, it can violate dharma by causing widespread suffering to beings who are not the true target. It implicitly urges restraint, discernment, and accountability for collateral harm.
The sons of King Sagara reach a cavern-like opening and begin digging into the ocean with tools. The ocean, described as Varuṇa’s dwelling, is torn on all sides, and many beings—demons, serpent-beings, rākṣasas, and other creatures—are killed or injured, crying out in anguish.