In ancient times, the division of the earth and the fate of Sagara’s sons were known to those gifted with far-seeing vision. When the Grandfather of all, Brahmā, spoke, the thirty-three foremost gods, hearts brimming with joy, returned to their celestial abodes as they had come. Meanwhile, a tremendous sound erupted from Sagara’s sons as they dug into the earth—a roar like thunder—as the ground was split open. Together, they broke through the earth’s surface and circled its expanse, then approached their father, Sagara. “Father,” they said, “we have traversed the entire earth. We have slain all the mighty beings—gods, demons, rākṣasas, piśācas, serpents, and nāgas. Yet, we do not find your horse, nor the one who took it. What should we do next? Please guide us.” Hearing their words, Sagara, the noble king, spoke with anger: “Dig again, and may good fortune come to you. Break through the earth’s surface. When you find the horse-thief, return to me with your task accomplished.” Receiving their father’s command, Sagara’s sixty thousand sons rushed toward the netherworld, digging deeper and deeper. As they dug, they came upon a great elephant, mountain-like, with deformed eyes, supporting the earth. This mighty elephant bore the entire earth, with its mountains and forests, upon his head. O descendant of Kakutstha, whenever this elephant, weary from his burden, shakes his head for rest at the junction of the quarters, the earth itself quakes. Honoring the elephant, the guardian of the quarter, Sagara’s sons circled him respectfully and pressed onward, breaking through into the netherworld. They broke through the eastern quarter, then the southern, where they encountered another great elephant. There, they beheld Mahāpadma, a being of immense soul, resembling a vast mountain, bearing the earth upon his head. Filled with wonder, they circumambulated him and continued their quest, breaking open the western direction. In the west, they saw the elephant Saumanasa, massive as a mountain. They circled him, questioned him, found him unharmed, and then began to dig toward the direction of the moon. In the north, O best of Raghu’s line, they discovered the snow-white Bhadra, auspicious in form, bearing the earth. After greeting and circumambulating Bhadra, the sixty thousand sons broke open the earth’s surface once more. Proceeding to the renowned northeastern direction, all the sons of Sagara, driven by anger, dug into the earth. There, they saw Kapila, the eternal Vāsudeva, and near him, the sacrificial horse wandered. All of them, O descendant of Raghu, were filled with incomparable joy at this sight. But, recognizing Kapila as the destroyer of their sacrifice, their eyes blazed with anger. Grasping spades, ploughs, trees, and stones, they rushed at him, shouting, “Stop! You have stolen our sacrificial horse!” “You are wicked-minded! Know us to be the sons of Sagara who have now arrived!” they cried. Hearing these words, Kapila, O descendant of Raghu, was overcome with great wrath. He uttered a mighty roar, and by his immeasurable power, all sixty thousand sons of Sagara were reduced to ashes. Now, O listener, hear the forty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Knowing that his sons had been gone for a long time, Sagara spoke to his grandson, radiant in 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. Within the earth dwell powerful and mighty beings. For protection against them, take up your sword and bow. Salute those worthy of respect, and, if any cause obstacles, slay them. Return successful, having completed my sacrifice.” Thus addressed by the great-souled Sagara, the radiant grandson swiftly took up his bow and sword and departed with light steps. He entered the subterranean path excavated by his ancestors, urged on by the king. Honored by gods, demons, yakshas, spirits, birds, and serpents, the mighty one beheld the elephant of the directions. He circled it reverently, inquired about its well-being, and then questioned his ancestors and the horse-stealer as well. The elephant of the directions, wise and great-minded, replied, “Āsamañja, your purpose is fulfilled; together with the horse, you will soon return.” Hearing these words, he began to question all the elephants of the directions, each in turn and in proper order. By all the guardians of the directions, skilled in speech and wise in words, he was honored and told, “You will return with the horse.” Hearing their words, the swift-footed one went to the place where his ancestors, the Sagaras, had been reduced to heaps of ashes.