King Sagara, intent on completing a great sacrifice, had purified himself through sacred mantras and was attended by noble priests. Summoning his sons, he addressed them with earnestness: “I am engaged in this grand rite, and all preparations are in place. Therefore, my sons, set forth across the world and search everywhere for the missing sacrificial horse. May good fortune be with you.” He instructed them further: “Traverse the entire earth, which is encircled by the ocean. Each of you must cover a stretch one yojana wide. Wherever the horse’s tracks are visible, dig deep into the earth and seek out the thief who has stolen it. This I command you.” Sagara assured them, “I am consecrated for this sacrifice and, with my grandsons and the assembly of priests, I shall remain here until you find the horse. May success be yours.” Obedient and resolute, all the royal princes—mighty and joyous—set out across the earth, compelled by their father’s command. They journeyed over the entire world, but found no trace of the horse. Undeterred, these powerful princes, each covering a yojana in breadth, began to break open the earth with their arms, which were as strong as thunderbolts. They pierced the ground with spears flashing like lightning and with terrible ploughs, causing the earth itself to roar. The tumult was like the cries of elephants, demons, and fierce rakshasas being slain. They dug and broke open the earth for sixty thousand yojanas, reaching even the mysterious region of Rasatala. Thus, these princes, searching everywhere, traversed the whole of Jambudvipa, which is crowded with mountains. Meanwhile, the gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, and Nagas, their minds troubled by the disturbance, approached Brahma, the Grandfather of all. With anxious faces, they sought his favor and, greatly frightened, spoke: “O Lord, Sagara’s sons are digging up the entire earth, and many great beings who dwell in the waters are being destroyed. The sacrificial horse, the cause of all this, has been taken by someone, and all creatures are suffering because of Sagara’s sons.” Now, listen to the next part of this tale, as recounted in the fortieth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Hearing the words of the gods, the revered Grandfather Brahma replied, perceiving the distress caused by the power of Death: “This entire earth belongs to the wise Vāsudeva; she is the consort of Mādhava, and the blessed Lord alone is her master. Assuming the form of Kapila, he upholds the earth at all times. By the fire of his wrath, the sons of Sagara will be consumed. The ancient division of the earth will be revealed, and the destruction of Sagara’s sons, long foreseen, will come to pass.” Upon hearing Brahma’s words, the thirty-three foremost gods were filled with joy and returned as they had come. Meanwhile, a tremendous sound arose from the sons of Sagara as they split the earth, a noise like thunder itself. Having broken through the whole world and circled it, all the sons of Sagara assembled and spoke to their father: “We have traversed the entire earth and have slain every powerful being—gods, demons, rakshasas, pisachas, serpents, and nagas. Yet, we do not see your horse, nor the one who took it. What should we do next? Please guide us.” Hearing this, King Sagara, angered, replied: “Dig again, and may good come to you. Break through the surface of the earth. When you find the horse-thief, return to me, your mission accomplished.” Receiving their father’s command, the sixty thousand sons of Sagara rushed toward the netherworld. As they dug deeper, they encountered a great elephant, mountain-like and with deformed eyes, who supported the earth itself. This mighty elephant bore the entire world, with its mountains and forests, upon his head. Whenever this elephant, weary from his burden, shook his head for rest at the junction of the quarters, the earth would quake. Honoring this guardian of the quarter, the princes circled him respectfully and continued their quest, breaking through further into the netherworld. They then broke through the eastern quarter and, moving on, broke through the southern quarter, where they saw another great elephant. This was Mahāpadma, a being of immense soul, resembling a vast mountain, who also supported the earth. The princes were filled with awe at the sight. Circumambulating Mahāpadma, they proceeded to break open the western direction, where they beheld the mighty Saumanasa, another elephant of the quarters, massive as a mountain. They greeted him, questioned him, and found him unharmed, and then began to dig toward the direction of the moon. In the northern quarter, they saw the snow-white Bhadra, auspicious in form, who also bore the earth. After greeting and circumambulating him, the sixty thousand sons broke open the surface of the earth once again. At last, reaching the renowned northeastern direction, all the sons of Sagara—angry and determined—dug into the earth. There, those great-souled, mighty, and impetuous princes beheld Kapila, the eternal Vāsudeva.