When Viśvāmitra finished his tale, Rāma, his heart full of delight, turned to the sage, who shone like a blazing fire. With reverence, Rāma said, “O Brāhmaṇa, I wish to hear in detail how my ancestor completed his great sacrifice. Please tell me the story, may all good come to you.” Hearing Rāma’s words, Viśvāmitra smiled, his curiosity awakened, and replied with gentle delight, “Listen well, O Rāma, to the story of the illustrious Sagara, whose father-in-law was the renowned Himavat. Sagara’s sacrifice was performed in the sacred region between Mount Himavat and Mount Vindhya, where the two mountains gaze upon each other. That place, dear Kākutstha, is highly revered for sacrificial rites. There, Aṃśumān, a mighty archer and Sagara’s grandson, watched over the sacrificial horse, faithfully carrying out Sagara’s command.” “But as the sacrifice was underway, Indra, king of the gods, took the form of a demoness and stole the horse belonging to the sacrificer. As the noble horse was spirited away, the assembled priests cried out to Sagara, ‘O descendant of Kakutstha, the sacrificial horse is being led away during the ceremony! Slay the thief and bring back the horse, or a flaw will mar the sacrifice and misfortune will befall us all.’ ‘Let it be done,’ the king replied, for the sacrifice must not be left incomplete. He turned to his sixty thousand sons and said, ‘O best among men, I see no other way but for you to pursue the demon who stole the horse. I am engaged in this great sacrifice, purified by mantras and attended by noble priests. Go forth, my sons, search everywhere—may good fortune be yours. Traverse the entire earth, which is encircled by the ocean, and each of you cover a stretch of one yojana in breadth. Dig the earth wherever you see the horse’s tracks, and seek out the thief who took the horse by my command. I, consecrated and accompanied by my grandsons and the priests, will remain here until the horse is found. Good fortune be with you.’ Obedient and eager, all those royal princes set out across the earth, compelled by their father’s command. They scoured the world, but when they could not find the horse, the mighty princes, each covering a yojana in breadth, began to break open the ground, their arms as strong as thunderbolts. They pierced the earth with lightning-bright spears and terrible ploughs, and the ground roared beneath their assault, sounding like the death cries of elephants, demons, and formidable rākṣasas. They dug for sixty thousand yojanas, reaching the deep region of Rasātala. In their relentless search, they traversed the entire Jambudvīpa, crowded with mountains. Witnessing this, the gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, and Nāgas, their minds troubled, approached Brahmā, the Grandfather of all. With anxious faces, they sought his favor, saying, ‘O Lord, Sagara’s sons are digging up the whole earth, and many great beings who dwell in the waters are being slain. The sacrificial horse is gone, and all creatures are suffering harm at their hands.’ Hearing their plea, Brahmā, the revered Grandfather, replied to the gods, who were troubled and bewildered by the power of Death: ‘This earth belongs to the wise Vāsudeva; she is the consort of Mādhava, and that blessed Lord alone is her master. Assuming the form of Kapila, he upholds the earth. By the fire of his wrath, Sagara’s sons will be destroyed. The ancient division of the earth will be revealed, and the fate of Sagara’s sons, as foreseen by those of great vision, will come to pass.’ Consoled by Brahmā’s words, the thirty-three best of the gods, filled with joy, returned to their abodes. Meanwhile, a thunderous sound arose from Sagara’s sons as they split the earth apart. Having circled and broken through the entire earth, all the Sagaras went to their father and said, ‘We have traversed the whole world, and all the powerful beings—gods, demons, rākṣasas, piśācas, serpents, and nāgas—have been slain. Yet we have not found your horse, nor the one who took it. What should we do now? Please guide us.’ Hearing his sons’ words, Sagara, the mighty king, spoke with anger, ‘Dig again, my sons, and break through the earth’s surface. When you find the horse-thief, return, your purpose accomplished.’ Receiving their father’s command, the sixty thousand sons of Sagara rushed toward the netherworld, digging deeper and deeper. As they pressed on, they came upon a great elephant, mountain-like and with deformed eyes, who supported the earth itself.