ते तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा दिशापालं महागजम् । मानयन्तो हि ते राम जग्मुर्भित्त्वा रसातलम् ॥१-४०-
Honoring that great elephant, guardian of the quarter, they circled him and, breaking through, went into the netherworld, O Rāma.
ततः पूर्वां दिशं भित्त्वा दक्षिणां बिभिदुः पुनः । दक्षिणस्यामपि दिशि ददृशुस्ते महागजम् ॥१-४०-
Then, breaking through the eastern quarter, they again broke through the southern; and in the southern direction too, they saw a great elephant.
महापद्मं महात्मानं सुमहत्पर्वतोपमम् । शिरसा धारयन्तं गां विस्मयं जग्मुरुत्तमम् ॥१-४०-
They beheld the great Mahāpadma, a being of immense soul, resembling a vast mountain, who was bearing the earth upon his head, and they were filled with utmost wonder.
ते तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा सगरस्य महात्मनः । षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि पश्चिमां बिभिदुर्दिशम् ॥१-४०-
Having circumambulated that great soul, Sagara, the sixty thousand sons broke open the western direction.
पश्चिमायामपि दिशि महान्तमचलोपमम् । दिशागजं सौमनसं ददृशुस्ते महाबलाः ॥१-४०-
In the western direction as well, those mighty ones saw the great elephant of the quarters, Saumanasa, resembling a massive mountain.
तं ते प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चापि निरामयम् । खनन्तः समुपक्रान्ता दिशं सोमवतीं तदा ॥१-४०-
They circumambulated him, questioned him and found him unharmed, and then began to dig towards the direction of the moon.
उत्तरस्यां रघुश्रेष्ठ ददृशुर्हिमपाण्डुरम् । भद्रं भद्रेण वपुषा धारयन्तं महीमिमाम् ॥१-४०-
In the northern direction, O best of Raghu's line, they saw the snow-white Bhadra, who, with auspicious form, was bearing this earth.
समालभ्य ततः सर्वे कृत्वा चैनं प्रदक्षिणम् । षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि बिभिदुर्वसुधातलम् ॥१-४०-
Having greeted him, and circumambulated him as well, the sixty thousand sons broke open the surface of the earth.
ततः प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा सागराः प्रथितां दिशम् । रोषादभ्यखनन् सर्वे पृथिवीं सगरात्मजाः ॥१-४०-
Then, proceeding to the renowned northeastern direction, all the sons of Sagara, out of anger, dug into the earth.
ते तु सर्वे महत्मानो भिमवेगा महबलाः । ददृशुः कपिलं तत्र वासुदेवं सनातनम् ॥१-४०-
There, all those great-souled, mighty, and impetuous ones saw Kapila, the eternal Vāsudeva.
हयं च तस्य देवस्य चरन्तमविदूरतः । प्रहर्षमतुलं प्राप्ताः सर्वे ते रघुनंदन ॥१-४०-
And near that god, they saw the horse wandering, and all of them, O descendant of Raghu, were filled with incomparable joy.
ते तं यज्ञहनं ज्ञात्वा क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणाः । खनित्रलाङ्गलधरा नानावृक्षशिलाधराः ॥१-४०-
Knowing him to be the destroyer of the sacrifice, their eyes inflamed with anger, holding spades, ploughs, and various trees and stones, they rushed forward.
अभ्यधावन्त संक्रुद्धास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रुवन् । अस्माकं त्वं हि तुरगं यज्ञियं हृतवानसि ॥१-४०-
Enraged, they charged at him, shouting, 'Stop, stop! For you have stolen our sacrificial horse!'
दुर्मेधस्त्वं हि संप्राप्तान् विद्धि नः सगरात्मजान् । श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तेषां कपिलो रघुनन्दन ॥१-४०-
'You are wicked-minded! Know us to be the sons of Sagara who have now arrived!' Hearing their words, Kapila, O descendant of Raghu—
रोषेण महताविष्टो हुंकारमकरोत् तदा । ततस्तेनाप्रमेयेण कपिलेन महात्मना । भस्मराशीकृताः सर्वे काकुत्स्थ सगरात्मजाः ॥१-४०-
Overcome by great wrath, uttered a roar. Then, by that immeasurable, great-souled Kapila, all the sons of Sagara, O Kakutstha, were reduced to ashes.
thumb|एकचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे एकचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the forty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa.
पुत्रांश्चिरगताञ्ज्ञात्वा सगरो रघुनन्दन । नप्तारमब्रवीद् राजा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा ॥१-४१-
Knowing that his sons had long been gone, Sagara, O descendant of Raghu, spoke to his grandson, who was radiant with his own splendor.
शूरश्च कृतविद्यश्च पूर्वैस्तुल्योऽसि तेजसा । पितॄणां गतिमन्विच्छ येन चाश्वोऽपवाहितः ॥१-४१-
'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.'
अन्तर्भौमानि सत्त्वानि वीर्यवन्ति महान्ति च । तेषां तु प्रतिघातार्थं सासिं गृह्णीष्व कार्मुकम् ॥१-४१-
'Within the earth dwell powerful and mighty beings. For protection against them, take up your sword and bow.'
अभिवाद्याभिवाद्यांस्त्वं हत्वा विघ्नकरानपि । सिद्धार्थः संनिवर्तस्व मम यज्ञस्य पारगः ॥१-४१-
'Having saluted those worthy of respect, and having slain even those who cause obstacles, return successful, having completed my sacrifice.'
एवमुक्तोंऽशुमान् सम्यक् सगरेण महात्मना । धनुरादाय खड्गं च जगाम लघुविक्रमः ॥१-४१-
Thus addressed by the great-souled Sagara, the radiant one swiftly took up his bow and sword and departed with light steps.
स खातं पितृभिर्मार्गमन्तर्भौमं महात्मभिः । प्रापद्यत नरश्रेष्ठ तेन राज्ञाभिचोदितः ॥१-४१-
He entered the subterranean path excavated by his ancestors, those great souls, urged on by the king, O best of men.
देवदानवरक्षोभिः पिशाचपतगोरगैः । पूज्यमानं महातेजा दिशागजमपश्यत ॥१-४१-
Honored by gods, demons, yakshas, spirits, birds, and serpents, the mighty one beheld the elephant of the directions.
स तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चैव निरामयम् । पितॄन् स परिपप्रच्छ वाजिहर्तारमेव च ॥१-४१-
He circled it reverently, inquired about its well-being, and then questioned his ancestors and the horse-stealer as well.
दिशागजस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच महामतिः । आसमञ्ज कृतार्थस्त्वं सहाश्वः शीघ्रमेष्यसि ॥१-४१-
Hearing this, the elephant of the directions, wise and great-minded, replied: 'Āsamañja, your purpose is fulfilled; together with the horse, you will soon return.'
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वानेव दिशागजान् । यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे ॥१-४१-
Upon hearing those words, he began to question all the elephants of the directions, each in turn and according to proper order.
तैश्च सर्वैर्दिशापालैर्वाक्यज्ञैर्वाक्यकोविदैः । पूजितः सहयश्चैवागन्तासीत्यभिचोदितः ॥१-४१-
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.'
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम लघुविक्रमः । भस्मराशीकृता यत्र पितरस्तस्य सागराः ॥१-४१-
Hearing their words, the swift-footed one went to the place where his ancestors, the Sagaras, had been reduced to heaps of ashes.
स दुःखवशमापन्नस्त्वसमञ्जसुतस्तदा । चुक्रोश परमार्तस्तु वधात् तेषां सुदुःखितः ॥१-४१-
Then, overcome by sorrow, the son of Asamañja cried out in great distress, deeply afflicted by their death.
यज्ञियं च हयं तत्र चरन्तमविदूरतः । ददर्श पुरुषव्याघ्रो दुःखशोकसमन्वितः ॥१-४१-
There, not far away, the tiger among men, filled with grief and sorrow, saw the sacrificial horse wandering.