King Sagara, surrounded by his sixty thousand sons, addressed them with grave resolve: “O best among men,” he said, “I see no other path for you but to pursue the demons. Engaged as I am in this great sacrifice, purified by sacred mantras and attended by noble priests, I cannot leave. Therefore, my sons, go forth and search everywhere—may good fortune attend you. Traverse the entire earth, encircled by the ocean, and let each of you cover a stretch one yojana wide. Dig wherever the horse’s tracks are visible and seek out the thief who has taken the horse, for this is my command. I, consecrated and accompanied by my grandsons and the priests, will remain here until the horse is found. May success be yours.” Receiving their father’s command, the mighty princes, filled with joy and resolve, set out across the earth. Bound by their duty, they scoured the world, each covering his allotted path. Yet, even after traversing the whole earth, they could not find the horse. Determined, the princes, their arms as unyielding as thunderbolts, broke open the ground itself. With spears flashing like lightning and with terrible ploughs, they tore into the earth, causing it to roar as though elephants, demons, and formidable rakshasas were being slain. The sound shook the world, and the princes dug for sixty thousand yojanas, breaking through to the excellent region of Rasatala. In their relentless search, they traversed all of Jambudvipa, crowded with mountains, digging everywhere. The uproar and destruction alarmed all the gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, and Nagas. Disturbed and fearful, they approached the Grandfather, Brahma, seeking his favor. With troubled faces, they pleaded, “O Lord, the sons of Sagara are digging up the entire earth, and many great beings who dwell in the waters are being slain. This horse, the cause of the sacrifice, has been led away by someone, and all creatures suffer because of Sagara’s sons.” At this point, O Rama, listen to the fortieth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Hearing the gods’ words, the revered Grandfather Brahma replied, his wisdom undisturbed by their fear and confusion: “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 upholds the earth, and by the fire of his wrath, the sons of Sagara will be consumed. The ancient divisions of the earth will be revealed, and the destruction of Sagara’s sons, foreseen by those of far vision, shall come to pass.” Hearing Brahma’s words, the thirty-three foremost gods were filled with great joy and returned to their abodes as they had come. Meanwhile, a thunderous sound arose from Sagara’s sons as they split the earth, a noise like the crashing of thunder. Having broken through the whole earth and circled it, the sons of Sagara gathered and spoke to their father: “We have traversed the entire earth and slain all the powerful beings—gods, demons, rakshasas, pisachas, serpents, and nagas. Yet we do not see your horse, nor the one who took it. What should we do? Please advise us.” Hearing their words, the great king Sagara, his anger kindled, replied, “Dig again, and may good come to you. Break through the earth’s surface. When you find the horse-thief, return, your task accomplished.” With their father’s command, the sixty thousand sons surged toward the netherworld. As they dug deeper, they came upon a massive elephant, mountain-like, with deformed eyes, supporting the earth itself. This mighty being bore the entire world, with its mountains and forests, upon his head. Whenever, O descendant of Kakutstha, that great elephant, weary from his burden, shakes his head for rest at the junctions of the quarters, the earth itself quakes. Honoring this guardian of the quarter, the princes respectfully circled him and then pressed on, breaking further into the netherworld. In the eastern quarter, they broke through again, and in the southern direction, too, they beheld another great elephant—Mahāpadma, immense as a mountain, bearing the earth upon his head. Filled with wonder, they circumambulated him as well. Continuing westward, the mighty sons saw the great elephant of the quarters, Saumanasa, also resembling a massive mountain. They honored him, questioned him, and found him unharmed, then began to dig toward the direction of the moon. In the northern direction, O best of Raghu’s line, they discovered the snow-white Bhadra, auspicious in form, bearing the earth. After greeting and circumambulating him, the sixty thousand sons broke open the surface of the earth yet again. Finally, in their relentless quest, they proceeded to the renowned northeastern direction. Driven by anger and determination, all the sons of Sagara dug deep into the earth, their search for the sacrificial horse and its thief still unfulfilled.