Valmiki Ramayana 1.40.23 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 23

सगरपुत्राणां रसातलगमनम्

The Descent of Sagara’s Sons and the Wrath of Kapila

Devanagari script

तत: प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा सागरा: प्रथितां दिशम्।।।।रोषादभ्यखनन् सर्वे पृथिवीं सगरात्मजा:।

Transliteration

tataḥ prāguttarāṃ gatvā sāgarāḥ prathitāṃ diśam | roṣād abhyakhanan sarve pṛthivīṃ sagarātmajāḥ |

Translation

അനന്തരം അവർ പ്രസിദ്ധമായ വടക്കുകിഴക്കൻ ദിശയിലേക്കു ചെന്നു, ക്രോധം കൊണ്ടു പ്രേരിതരായി സഗരപുത്രന്മാർ എല്ലാവരും ഭൂമിയെ കുഴിയാൻ തുടങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb

• prāk-uttarām: northeastern
• prāk-uttarām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāc (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) directional compound ‘east+north’ = ‘northeast’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); agrees with diśam

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √gam

• sāgarāḥ: the sons of Sagara
• sāgarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); patronymic/collective ‘Sagara’s (sons)’

• prathitām: famed/renowned
• prathitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); agrees with diśam

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• roṣāt: from anger/with wrath
• roṣāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी) Singular (एकवचन); causal sense ‘out of’

• abhyakhanan: they dug up
• abhyakhanan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-khan (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person Plural; with upasarga अभि

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural

• pṛthivīm: the earth
• pṛthivīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Singular

• sagarātmajāḥ: sons of Sagara
• sagarātmajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘Sagara’s sons’; Masculine, Nominative Plural; apposition to sarve/sāgarāḥ

Context

Subsequently, the sons of Sagara, having gone towards the celebrated north-eastern region began to dig with wrath.

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• Sagarātmajāḥ (sons of Sagara)
• Pṛthivī (earth)

FAQs

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

Dharma cautions against acting from krodha (anger). Even when pursuing a legitimate aim (recovering the sacrificial horse), wrath-driven action becomes reckless and sets the stage for harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Sagara’s sons move to the north‑eastern region and begin excavating the earth in their search for the missing Aśvamedha horse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse primarily highlights a lack of restraint; the implied virtue is self-control (dama/kṣamā), which is absent as they act in anger.