Shloka 58
Bhāgīratha’s Tapas and the Petition to Gaṅgā (गङ्गावतरण-प्रसङ्गः)
यज्ञ: समाप्यतां तात सगरस्य महात्मन: । अंशुमानेवमुक्तस्तु कपिलेन महात्मना,“तात! महात्मा सगरका यज्ञ पूर्ण करो।” महात्मा कपिलके ऐसा कहनेपर अंशुमान् उस अश्वको लेकर महामना सगरके यज्ञमण्डपमें आये और उनके चरणोंमें प्रणाम करके उनसे सब समाचार निवेदन किया। सगरने भी स्नेहसे अंशुमान्का मस्तक सूँघा। अंशुमानने सगर- पुत्रोंका विनाश जैसा देखा और सुना था, वह सब बताया, साथ ही यह भी कहा कि *यज्ञिय अश्व यज्ञममण्डपमें आ गया है।” यह सुनकर राजा सगरने पुत्रोंके मरनेका दुःख त्याग दिया
yajñaḥ samāpyatāṃ tāta sagarasya mahātmanaḥ | aṃśumān evam uktaḥ tu kapilena mahātmanā ||
Kapila, the great sage, said to Aṃśumān: “Dear child, let the sacrifice of the noble King Sagara be brought to completion.” Having been thus instructed by the venerable Kapila, Aṃśumān took the sacrificial horse and returned to Sagara’s ritual enclosure. Bowing at the king’s feet, he reported all that had occurred—how Sagara’s sons had perished and how the consecrated horse had now been recovered and brought back to the yajña. Hearing this, King Sagara set aside his grief over the death of his sons, choosing instead to uphold the completion of the rite and the kingly duty bound to it.
सगर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid personal loss, one should uphold dharma: Aṃśumān follows the sage’s instruction and restores the consecrated horse, and Sagara restrains grief to complete the royal rite, prioritizing duty, order, and the integrity of the yajña.
Kapila tells Aṃśumān to have Sagara’s sacrifice completed. Aṃśumān retrieves the sacrificial horse, returns to the yajña enclosure, reports the fate of Sagara’s sons and the recovery of the horse, and Sagara, hearing this, sets aside his sorrow and proceeds with the completion of the sacrifice.