O Rama, delight of the Raghus, the mighty sons of Sagara continued their relentless search for the lost sacrificial horse. With their great strength and determination, they broke through the earth itself, digging down for sixty thousand yojanas, finally reaching the deep and excellent region of Rasatala. These princes, O tiger among kings, did not leave any part of Jambudvipa untouched; everywhere, through mountain-crowded lands, they dug, turning the whole continent upside down in their quest. The disturbance caused by their actions did not go unnoticed. All the gods, joined by the Gandharvas, Asuras, and Nagas, found their minds deeply troubled by the havoc. Their faces clouded with worry, they approached the Grandfather, Brahma, seeking his favor and protection. With great fear, they spoke to him: “O Lord, the entire earth is being torn apart by Sagara’s sons. Many great beings who dwell in the waters are being slain. The sacrificial horse, cause of this turmoil, is being led away by someone, and all creatures are suffering from the actions of Sagara’s sons.” Hear now, O Rama, the continuation of this tale as told in the glorious Valmiki Ramayana. Listening to the anxious words of the gods, the revered Grandfather Brahma replied, understanding their distress and the power of Death that had deluded them. He said, “This whole 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 consumed. The ancient divisions of the earth will be revealed, and the destruction of Sagara’s sons will be witnessed by those with far-seeing vision.” Hearing these words from Brahma, the thirty-three best of the gods were filled with great joy and returned to their abodes as they had come. Meanwhile, a tremendous sound arose from the sons of Sagara as they split the earth—a noise like thunder, echoing through the worlds. Having broken through the entire earth and circled it, all the Sagaras approached their father and reported, “We have traversed the whole earth, 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 shall we do now? Please guide us further.” Hearing these words from his sons, King Sagara, the best among kings, spoke with anger: “Dig again, and may good come to you. Break through the earth’s surface once more. When you find the thief of the horse, return after accomplishing your purpose.” Receiving this command from their great-souled father, the sixty thousand sons of Sagara rushed toward the netherworld. As they dug deeper, they encountered a great elephant, mountain-like in form, with deformed eyes, who supported the earth itself. This mighty being bore the entire world, with its mountains and forests, upon his head. Whenever, O descendant of Kakutstha, this great elephant, weary from his burden, shakes his head to rest at the junction of the quarters, the earth itself quakes. Honoring this guardian of the quarter, the sons of Sagara circled him respectfully and continued, breaking further into the netherworld. Breaking through the eastern quarter, they pressed on to the southern direction, where they saw yet another great elephant, Mahāpadma, a being of immense soul and vast as a mountain, holding up the earth. Filled with awe, they circumambulated this mighty soul as well and broke open the western direction. In the west, they beheld the great elephant Saumanasa, mountain-like and strong, the guardian of that quarter. Circumambulating him, they questioned him and, seeing him unharmed, began to dig toward the direction of the moon. In the north, O best of Raghu’s line, they saw the snow-white Bhadra, auspicious in form, bearing the earth upon his head. Greeting and circumambulating him, the sixty thousand sons broke open the earth’s surface yet again. At last, proceeding to the renowned northeastern direction, all the sons of Sagara, driven by anger, dug into the earth. There, those great-souled, mighty, and impetuous princes saw Kapila, the eternal Vāsudeva, resplendent and unmoved. Near that divine being, they saw the sacrificial horse wandering freely, and all of them, O descendant of Raghu, were filled with incomparable joy. But their joy quickly turned to fury. Knowing Kapila to be the destroyer of their sacrifice, their eyes blazing with anger, they seized spades, ploughs, trees, and stones, and rushed forward. Shouting, “Stop, stop! You have stolen our sacrificial horse!” they accused him, “You are wicked-minded! Know us to be the sons of Sagara who have now arrived!” Hearing their words, Kapila, O descendant of Raghu, was overcome by great wrath. He uttered a mighty roar, and by his immeasurable power, the great-souled Kapila reduced all the sons of Sagara to ashes. Hear now, O Rama, the next part of this sacred tale. Knowing that his sons had long been gone, Sagara, O descendant of Raghu, spoke to his grandson, a youth radiant with his own splendor. “You are brave, accomplished in knowledge, and equal in brilliance to your ancestors. Seek the path of your fathers, by which the horse was led away.” Thus, the story of the sons of Sagara’s quest, their encounter with the divine Kapila, and the fate that befell them, unfolds in the sacred Ramayana.