Hearing the words of the Grandfather, Brahmā, the thirty-three foremost gods, filled with great joy, departed and returned as they had come. Meanwhile, a tremendous sound arose from Sagara’s sons, as they split the earth apart—a noise like thunder rolling across the land. Having broken through the earth entirely and circled it, all the sons of Sagara gathered and spoke to their father. “We have traversed the whole earth,” they declared, “and all the mighty beings—gods, demons, rākṣasas, piśācas, serpents, and nāgas—have been slain. Yet we do not see your horse, nor the one who took it. What should we do next? Please consider what is best.” Hearing these words, Sagara, the greatest of kings, spoke with anger to his sons: “Dig again, may good come to you; 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 of Sagara, filled with resolve, rushed toward the netherworld. As they dug deeper, they came upon a great elephant, mountain-like and with deformed eyes, supporting the earth upon his head. This mighty elephant bore the entire earth, with its mountains and forests, upon his head. Whenever this great elephant, weary, shakes his head for rest at the junctions of the quarters, then the earth quakes. Honoring this guardian of the quarter, the sons of Sagara circled him respectfully and, breaking through, continued into the netherworld. Breaking through the eastern quarter, they then broke through the southern direction, where again they encountered a great elephant. There they beheld Mahāpadma, a being of immense soul, resembling a vast mountain, who bore the earth upon his head. Filled with utmost wonder, they circumambulated him. Next, the sixty thousand sons broke open the western direction. In the west, they saw another mighty elephant, Saumanasa, as massive as a mountain. They circled him, questioned him, and found him unharmed, then began to dig toward the direction of the moon. In the northern quarter, they saw the snow-white Bhadra, auspicious in form, who bore the earth upon his head. Having greeted and circled him as well, the sons broke open the surface of the earth once more. Finally, proceeding to the renowned northeastern direction, all the sons of Sagara, driven by anger, dug into the earth. There, these great-souled, mighty, and impetuous ones saw Kapila, the eternal Vāsudeva. Near this divine being, they saw the sacrificial horse wandering, and all of them were filled with incomparable joy. But knowing Kapila to be the destroyer of the sacrifice, their eyes blazed with anger. Grasping spades, ploughs, and various trees and stones, they rushed forward, shouting, “Stop, stop! You have stolen our sacrificial horse! You are wicked-minded! Know us to be the sons of Sagara who have now arrived!” Hearing their words, Kapila, overcome by great wrath, uttered a mighty roar. By the immeasurable power of the great-souled Kapila, all the sons of Sagara were reduced to ashes. Now, hear the forty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Knowing that his sons had long been gone, Sagara spoke to his grandson, who shone with his own radiant 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. Having saluted those worthy of respect, and having slain even those who cause obstacles, 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. Hearing this, the wise and great-minded elephant of the directions replied, “Āsamañja, your purpose is fulfilled; together with the horse, you will soon return.” Upon hearing these words, Āsamañja began to question all the elephants of the directions, each in turn and according to 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 assurances, the swift-footed one went to the place where his ancestors, the sons of Sagara, had been reduced to heaps of ashes. Then, overcome by sorrow, the son of Āsamañja cried out in great distress, deeply afflicted by their death.