King Sagara, having been consecrated for the great horse sacrifice, addressed his grandsons and the assembled priests, declaring, “I shall remain here with you all, until the lost sacrificial horse is found. May good fortune be yours.” Thus, Sagara’s mighty and joyful sons, obedient to their father’s command, set out across the vast earth in search of the horse. They traversed the entire world, but the horse remained elusive. Driven by their quest, these powerful princes—each spanning a yojana in breadth—began to break open the earth with arms as hard as thunderbolts. With spears flashing like lightning and with terrible ploughs, they pierced the ground, causing it to roar as if great elephants, demons, and fierce rakshasas were being slain. The earth resounded with their efforts, and the princes dug relentlessly, breaking the ground for sixty thousand yojanas until they reached the deep and excellent region of Rasatala. As they dug everywhere, the sons of Sagara traversed the entire Jambudvipa, the earth crowded with mountains. The disturbance grew so great that all the gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, and Nagas, their minds deeply troubled, approached the Grandfather Brahma. With anxious faces, they sought his favor and, greatly frightened, spoke: “O Lord, Sagara’s sons are digging up the whole earth, and many great beings dwelling in the waters are being destroyed. The sacrificial horse, cause of this turmoil, has been led away by someone, and all creatures are suffering due to Sagara’s sons.” Hearing their plea, Brahma, the revered Grandfather, replied to the gods, who were distressed and deluded by the power of Death: “This entire earth belongs to the wise Vāsudeva, the consort of Mādhava, and he alone is the 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, foreseen by the wise, will come to pass.” Reassured by Brahma’s words, the thirty-three foremost gods, filled with joy, returned to their abodes. Meanwhile, the sound of Sagara’s sons splitting the earth rose like thunder. Having broken through the whole earth and circled it, all the princes returned to their father and reported, “We have traversed the entire earth. All powerful beings—gods, demons, rakshasas, pishachas, serpents, and nagas—have been slain. Yet, we have not found your horse, nor the one who took it. What should we do next?” Hearing this, King Sagara, angered, instructed his sons: “Dig again 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 rushed toward the netherworld and continued to dig. As they delved deeper, they encountered a great elephant, mountain-like, with deformed eyes, standing as a support for the earth. This mighty being bore the entire earth, with its mountains and forests, upon his head. Whenever he, weary, shook his head to rest at the junction of the quarters, the earth itself would quake. Honoring this guardian of the quarter, the princes circumambulated him and pressed on, breaking further into the netherworld. In the east, they encountered another great elephant, Mahāpadma, who bore the earth upon his head. Filled with wonder, they paid him respect and continued their search. In the west, they met Saumanasa, another mighty elephant, and after honoring him, they pressed on toward the north. In the north, they saw the snow-white Bhadra, auspicious in form, bearing the earth. Having greeted him and circled him with reverence, the sons of Sagara broke open the ground yet again. Proceeding to the renowned northeastern direction, driven by anger, they dug into the earth. There, in the depths, the sons of Sagara beheld the eternal Vāsudeva in the form of Kapila. Nearby, they saw the sacrificial horse wandering. Overcome with incomparable joy at finding the horse, their eyes then blazed with anger as they recognized Kapila as the destroyer of their sacrifice. Brandishing spades, ploughs, trees, and stones, they rushed at him, shouting, “Stop! Stop! You have stolen our sacrificial horse!” Thus, the relentless search of Sagara’s sons brought them to the very heart of the earth, where destiny awaited them at the feet of the divine Kapila.