Taking the consecrated horse, the sons of King Sagara journeyed down into the netherworld. Yet, despite their efforts, they could not see the demons, for those beings were masters of illusion and remained hidden from their sight. Frustrated at not finding the horse, these mighty sons of Sagara wandered in all directions, searching tirelessly, but the animal eluded them. Their search led them even to the realm of the gods. They scoured mountains, lakes, and forests, but still, the sacred horse was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, King Sagara, having completed the auspicious sacrificial rites and received blessings from his priests, grew anxious, for the beautiful sacrificial animal was missing. The Sagara princes, called the Oceans, continued their quest. They roamed through all the oceans and reached again the world of the gods, searching everywhere for the horse, but even there their efforts were in vain. So they returned to earth, combing through mountains and forests, but not even there did they see the horse. At that moment, a divine voice resounded: “The horse is bound in the netherworld, not elsewhere, O Oceans.” Hearing this proclamation, the Oceans, determined to reach the netherworld, began to dig up the entire earth in every direction. Consumed by hunger, they devoured the dry earth day and night, digging relentlessly until at last they broke through to the netherworld. The demons, hearing that the mighty and accomplished sons of Sagara—the Oceans—had arrived, were struck with terror and fled to the sage Kapila for refuge. Kapila, the great sage, lay resting in the netherworld. In ages past, he had performed an excellent task for the gods, and, weary and sleepless after completing their work, he had asked the gods for a place to rest. The gods granted him the netherworld as his abode, and Kapila further requested that anyone who foolishly disturbed his rest would be instantly reduced to ashes. Lying there in the netherworld, he declared, “If I am not asleep, it is only as if in a dream.” Thus, by the decree of the gods, he remained in the netherworld. Knowing the sage’s power, the demons, skilled in illusion, devised a scheme to destroy all the Oceans. Fearing open battle, they acted swiftly, and brought the consecrated horse, binding it near the head of the great and wrathful sage Kapila. Then, filled with haste, they stood at a distance, silently watching to see what would unfold. When the Oceans entered the netherworld, they saw the horse bound and a man lying there. Mistaking Kapila for the thief and the destroyer of their sacrifice, they said, “Let us slay this great sinner and return the horse to the king.” Some among them suggested simply taking the animal and leaving, but others, proud of their royal power, insisted on punishing the supposed wrongdoer. Lifting up the sage, they spoke harsh words and, in the arrogance of their kshatriya might, struck him with their feet. This act of disrespect filled Kapila with great anger. The eminent sage opened his eyes and, with a wrathful gaze, reduced all the Sagara princes to ashes on the spot. Back on earth, King Sagara, still engaged in his consecration rites, knew nothing of this calamity. It was the sage Nārada who came to him and recounted all that had transpired: the state of Kapila, the fate of the horse, the monstrous deeds of the rākṣasas, and the destruction of the Sagara princes. Overwhelmed by anxiety and confusion, the king was at a loss as to what should be done. King Sagara had another son, Asamañja, who, out of folly, used to throw the children of the citizens into the water. When the people came together and informed Sagara of his son’s wickedness, the king became angry and spoke: “Let this Asamañja be exiled; he has forsaken the kshatriya code and is a slayer of children.” The ministers, acting quickly on the king’s command, banished Asamañja, who then departed to the forest. Thus, all the Sagara princes were destroyed in the netherworld by Brahmā’s curse, and with only one son remaining—now gone to the forest—King Sagara lamented, “What path remains for me?” Asamañja, however, had a son named Aṃśumān. The king summoned this boy and entrusted him with the task of recovering the horse. Aṃśumān, approaching Kapila with reverence, succeeded in propitiating the sage and brought the horse back to Sagara, so that the sacrifice could be completed. Aṃśumān’s son was the radiant and righteous Dilīpa, and Dilīpa’s wise son was Bhagīratha. When Bhagīratha learned of the fate of his ancestors, he was filled with sorrow and humbly questioned Sagara, the tiger among kings, about how atonement might be made for the Sagaras. The king replied, “Kapila knows, my son.” Hearing these words, Bhagīratha journeyed to the netherworld, bowed to Kapila, and explained everything to him. The sage, after long meditation and worship through austerity, pleased Lord Śaṅkara (Śiva), who, with the water from his matted locks, purified the ancestors, O best of kings. After being saluted, the sage said once again, “Thus you and your fathers will be fulfilled; so I shall do.” Bhagīratha then asked, “Where should I go, O best of sages? Tell me also what ought to be done.” Kapila replied, “Go to Mount Kailāsa, O best of men, praise the great Lord, perform austerity as you are able, and then you will obtain your desire.