Hearing the words spoken, Viśvāmitra, filled with curiosity and delight, turned to Rāma with a warm smile. “Listen closely, O Rāma,” he said, “to the story of the illustrious Sagara, whose father-in-law was the renowned Himavat himself.” Viśvāmitra began to recount how Sagara, accompanied by his entourage, had reached the mighty Mount Vindhya. There, the two great mountains—Himavat and Vindhya—gazed upon each other, and it was between them that Sagara’s grand sacrifice was performed. This region, he explained, was famed for its sacrificial rites, and there, the mighty archer Aṃśumān, acting according to Sagara’s wishes, tended the sacrificial horse. But during the course of this sacrifice, Indra, ever restless, assumed the form of a demoness and stealthily stole the horse belonging to the sacrificer. As the noble horse was spirited away, the priests, alarmed, turned to Sagara and said, “O descendant of Kakutstha, the sacrificial horse is being swiftly led away during the ceremony. Slay the thief and bring back the horse, for otherwise a flaw will mar the sacrifice and bring misfortune upon us all.” “Let it be so, O King, so that the sacrifice is not left incomplete,” they urged. Hearing these words, Sagara addressed his sixty thousand sons: “O best among men, I see no other way but for you, my sons, to pursue the demons. I am engaged in this great sacrifice, purified by mantras and attended by noble priests. Therefore, go forth, search everywhere. May good fortune be yours. Follow the entire earth, encircled by the ocean, and each of you cover a stretch of one yojana in breadth. Dig the earth as far as the horse’s tracks are visible, seeking the thief who took the horse, by my command. I, consecrated and accompanied by my grandsons and the group of priests, will remain here until the horse is found. May good fortune be yours.” Obedient and mighty, the royal princes set out across the earth, compelled by their father’s command. They traversed the whole earth, but, unable to find the horse, they began to break open the ground, their arms as hard as thunderbolts. They pierced the earth with spears like lightning and ploughs of terrible might, and the ground roared with the sound—like elephants, demons, and formidable rakshasas being slain. For sixty thousand yojanas, they broke through the earth, reaching the excellent region of Rasatala. Thus, the princes dug everywhere, traversing the entire Jambudvipa, crowded with mountains. Their actions disturbed the balance of the world, and all the gods, along with Gandharvas, Asuras, and Nagas, their minds agitated, approached the Grandfather, Brahma. With troubled faces, they sought his favor and, greatly frightened, spoke: “O Lord, the entire earth is being dug up by Sagara’s sons, and many great beings who dwell in the waters are being slain. This horse, which is the cause of the sacrifice, is being led away by someone; thus, all creatures are being harmed by Sagara’s sons.” Viśvāmitra paused and said, “Listen now, O Rāma, to the next part of this tale, as told in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa.” Hearing the gods’ pleas, the revered Grandfather Brahmā replied to them, who were greatly troubled and deluded by the power of Death: “This entire 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 constantly upholds the earth. By the fire of his wrath, the sons of Sagara will be burned. The ancient division of the earth will be seen, and the destruction of Sagara’s sons, foreseen by those of far vision.” Hearing Brahmā’s words, the thirty-three best of the gods, filled with great joy, returned to their realms. Meanwhile, a great thunderous sound arose from Sagara’s sons as they continued to split the earth. Having broken through and circled the whole earth, the Sagaras approached their father and said, “We have traversed the whole earth, and all the powerful beings—gods, demons, rākṣasas, piśācas, serpents, and nāgas—have been slain. But we do not see your horse, nor the one who took it. What should we do? Please consider what is best.” Hearing their words, Sagara, the best of kings, spoke with anger: “Dig again! May good come to you. Break through the earth’s surface. When you find the horse-thief, return, your purpose accomplished.” Receiving the command of their great-souled father, the sixty thousand sons rushed toward the netherworld. As they dug, they encountered a great elephant, mountain-like, with deformed eyes, supporting the earth. This mighty elephant bore the weight of the entire earth, with its mountains and forests, upon his head. Whenever this great elephant, weary, shook his head for rest at the junction of the quarters, then the earth quaked. Thus, Viśvāmitra concluded this portion of the tale, revealing to Rāma the extraordinary deeds of Sagara’s sons and the mysteries of the earth’s depths, as told in the ancient scripture.