Honoring the great elephant who guarded the quarter, the sons of Sagara, after paying him due respect by circling around him, broke through and entered the netherworld, O Rāma. Pressing onward, they broke through the eastern quarter, and then again through the southern direction. There, too, they beheld another mighty elephant—a being of vast soul and immense form, Mahāpadma, who resembled a towering mountain and bore the weight of the earth upon his head. Filled with awe and wonder at this sight, the sixty thousand sons of Sagara circled this great being as well, paying their respects. Not pausing in their quest, they broke open the western direction. There, in the west, they encountered yet another colossal elephant, Saumanasa, who also appeared as a massive mountain. After circumambulating him, they questioned him, found him unharmed, and then began to dig towards the direction of the moon. In the northern quarter, O best of Raghu’s line, they saw Bhadra, the snow-white, auspicious elephant, who bore the earth with his sacred form. They greeted him, circumambulated him, and broke open the earth’s surface once more. Proceeding to the famed northeastern direction, the sons of Sagara, driven by anger, began to dig furiously into the earth. There, these great-souled, mighty, and impetuous princes saw the sage Kapila, the eternal Vāsudeva. Near him, they found the sacrificial horse wandering, and all the sons of Sagara were filled with incomparable joy at the sight. However, believing Kapila to be the destroyer of their sacrifice, their eyes blazed with anger. Seizing spades, ploughs, and various trees and stones, they rushed toward him, shouting, "Stop! Stop! You have stolen our sacrificial horse!" Confronting him, they declared, "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 in that instant, by his immeasurable power, all the sons of Sagara were reduced to ashes, O Kakutstha. Now, O Rāma, listen to the next part of this sacred story from the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. When Sagara realized that his sons had been gone for a long time, he spoke to his grandson Aṃśumat, radiant with his own splendor. "You are brave, accomplished in knowledge, and equal in brilliance to your ancestors," Sagara said. "Seek the path of your fathers, by which the horse was led away. Within the earth dwell powerful and mighty beings; take up your sword and bow for protection. Offer respect to those who are worthy, and if any create obstacles, even slay them. Return successful, having completed my sacrifice." Thus addressed by the great king, the radiant Aṃśumat swiftly took up his bow and sword and departed, moving with light steps. He entered the subterranean path excavated by his ancestors, urged on by Sagara. Honored by gods, demons, yakshas, spirits, birds, and serpents, the mighty prince soon beheld the elephant of the directions. He circled it reverently, inquired about its well-being, and questioned it about his ancestors and the horse-stealer. The wise and great-minded elephant replied, "Āsamañja, your purpose will be fulfilled; together with the horse, you will soon return." Encouraged, Aṃśumat approached each of the elephants of the quarters in turn, honoring them and asking his questions. Each guardian of the directions, skilled and wise, honored him in return and assured him, "You will return with the horse." Heeding their words, Aṃśumat hastened to the place where his ancestors, the sons of Sagara, had been reduced to heaps of ashes. Overcome by sorrow, he cried out in great distress at the sight of their destruction. Not far from there, still heavy with grief, he saw the sacrificial horse wandering. Desiring to perform the water-rite for his ancestors, Aṃśumat searched for water but found no reservoir anywhere. As he cast his gaze around, he saw the king of birds, Suparṇa—the swift Vainateya, maternal uncle to his ancestors. The mighty Garuḍa spoke to him, "Do not grieve, tiger among men; this death is accepted by the world. These mighty ones were burned by the immeasurable Kapila; you should not offer them ordinary water. Only Gaṅgā, eldest daughter of Himavat, is fit for their funeral rite. When Gaṅgā, purifier of the worlds, washes over these ashes, the sixty thousand sons will attain the heavenly realm. Go forth, gather the horse, and complete the ancestral sacrifice, O hero." Hearing Suparṇa’s words, the radiant and powerful Aṃśumat quickly took the horse and returned. Approaching the consecrated king Sagara, he recounted all that had happened, including Suparṇa’s message. On hearing these dreadful tidings from Aṃśumat, the king completed the sacrifice according to the prescribed rites and procedures, as tradition demanded.