Sloka & Translation

Audio

[Brahma consoles the devatas--sons of Sagara continue to excavate the earth in search of sacrificial horse-- trace the horse near Kapila--cursed by Kapila, Sagara's sons are reduced to ashes].

dēvatānāṅ vacaśśrutvā bhagavānvai pitāmaha:.

pratyuvāca susantrastānkṛtāntabalamōhitān৷৷1.40.1৷৷


bhagavān the adorable one, pitāmaha: grand-sire, Brahma, dēvatānām devatas', vaca: words, śrutvā having heard, kṛtāntabalamōhitān deprived of the activity of their senses by the prowess of fate, susantrastān exceedingly frightened, pratyuvāca replied back.

Having heard the devatas, extremely frightened, and deprived of their sensual perception by the prowess of fate. The adorable grandsire (Brahma) replied:
yasyēyaṅ vasudhā kṛtsnā vāsudēvasya dhīmata:.

kāpilaṅ rūpamāsthāya dhārayatyaniśaṅ dharām৷৷1.40.2৷৷

tasya kōpāgninā dagdhā bhaviṣyanti nṛpātmajā:.


kṛtsnā whole, iyaṅ vasudhā this earth, yasya whose, dhīmata: sagacious, vāsudēvasya Vasudeva's, kāpilaṅ rūpam the form of Kapila, āsthāya assuming, aniśam always, dharām earth, dhārayati supports, nṛpātmajā: sons of Sagara, tasya his, kōpāgninā by the fire of wrath, dagdhā: bhaviṣyanti will be burnt.

'This whole earth belongs to sagacious Vasudeva. He always supports the earth assuming the form of Kapila. The princes will be burnt by the fire of his wrath.
pṛthivyāścāpi nirbhēdō.dṛṣṭa ēva sanātana:৷৷1.40.3৷৷

sagarasya ca putrāṇāṅ vināśō.dīrghajīvinām.


pṛthivyā this earth, nirbhēda: excavation, adīrghajīvinām of the short lived men, sagarasya putrāṇām of the sons of Sagara, vināśaśca destruction, sanātana: in ancient times, dṛṣṭa ēva is pre-destined.

The excavation of this earth and the destruction of the short lived sons of Sagara is pre-destined since eternity'.
pitāmahavacaśśrutvā trayastriṅśadarindama৷৷1.40.4৷৷

dēvā: paramasaṅhṛṣṭā: punarjagmuryathāgatam.


arindama O! Destroyer of enemies, pitāmahavaca: words of grand-sire, Brahma, śrutvā having heard, trayastriṅśat dēvā: thirty three devatas, paramasaṅhṛṣṭā: exceedingly delighted, yathāgatam in the way they had come, puna: again, jagmu: returned.

"O Destroyer of enemies! (Rama) On hearing the words of the grandsire (Brahma), the thirtythree gods, exceedingly delighted returned the way they had come.
sagarasya ca putrāṇāṅ prādurāsīnmahātmanām৷৷1.40.5৷৷

pṛthivyāṅ bhidyamānāyāṅ nirghātasamanisvana:.


mahātmanām of the noble, sagarasya Sagara's, putrāṇām sons, pṛthivyām when the earth, bhidyamānāyām when the earth was being riven, nirghātasamanisvana: resembling the crash of thunder, prādurāsīt emanated.

A sound like the resembling of thunder emanated while the earth was being riven by the noble sons of Sagara.
tatō bhitvā mahīṅ sarvē kṛtvā cābhipradakṣiṇam৷৷1.40.6৷৷

sahitā ssagarāssarvē pitaraṅ vākyamabruvan.0


tata: afterwards, sarvē all of them, mahīm earth, bhitvā having riven, abhipradakṣiṇam circumabulation, kṛtvā having made, sarvē sagarā: all the sons of Sagara, sahitā together, pitaram addrerssing their father, vākyam words, abruvan spoke.

Afterwards, all the sons of Sagara, having riven the earth approached their father and circumamulating him said:
parikrāntā mahī sarvā sattvavantaśca sūditā:৷৷1.40.7৷৷

dēvadānavarakṣāṅsi piśācōragakinnarā:.

na ca paśyāmahē.śvaṅ tamaśvahartāramēva ca৷৷1.40.8৷৷

kiṅ kariṣyāma bhadraṅ tē buddhiratra vicāryatām.


sarvā entire, mahī earth, parikrāntā roamed about, sattvavanta: ca mighty, dēvadānavarakṣāṅsi devatas, demons, rakshasas, piśācōragakinnarā: pisachas, uragas, kinnaras, sūditā: were killed, aśvam horse, taṅ aśvahartāramēva ca or the thief of the horse, na paśyāmahē ca we could not see, kiṅ kariṣyāma what should we do?, tē bhadram prosperity to you, atra in this matter, budhdi: vicāryatām reflect over this matter.

'The entire earth was ransacked. Mighty devatas, demons, rakshasas, pisachas, uragas and kinnaras were killed. (Yet) we could neither see the horse nor the thief of the horse. Reflect over this matter and direct us. Prosperity to you'!
tēṣāṅ tadvacanaṅ śrutvā putrāṇāṅ rājasattama:৷৷1.40.9৷৷

samanyurabravīdvākyaṅ sagarō raghunandana.


raghunandana O! Rama, tēṣāṅ putrāṇām of those sons', tadvacanam those words, śrutvā having heard, rājasattama: magnanimous king, sagara: Sagara, samanyu: incensed, vākyam words, abravīt said.

"O Rama! incensed to fury at the words of his sons, magnanimous king Sagara replied":
bhūya: khanata bhadraṅ vō nirbhidya vasudhātalam৷৷1.40.10৷৷

aśvahartāramāsādya kṛtārthāśca nivartatha.


vasudhātalam the surface of the earth, nirbhidya after haing riven, bhūya: again, khanata: for them who were excavating, aśvahartāram the thief of the horse, āsādya having traced, kṛtārthā: having accomplished the purpose, nivartatha return, va:bhadram safety to you.

Rive the earth again and excavate, capture the one who has stolen the horse and return after having accomplished the purpose. Safety to you!
piturvacanamāsādya sagarasya mahātmana:৷৷1.40.11৷৷

ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi rasātalamabhidravan.


pitu: of the royal sire, mahātmana: magnanimous, sagarasya Sagara's, vacanam words, āsādya having received, ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi sixsty thousand sons, rasātalam Rasatala(nether world), abhidravan ran towards.

Receiving the command of their father, the magnanimous Sagara, his sixty thousand sons ran towards Rasatala (nether world).
khanyamānē tatastasmin dadṛśu: parvatōpamam৷৷1.40.12৷৷

diśāgajaṅ virūpākṣaṅ dhārayantaṅ mahītalam.


tata: Subsequently, tasmin when that region, khanyamānē was being excavated, parvatōpamam in size equal to mountain, mahītalam earth, dhārayantam supporting, virūpākṣam named Virupaksha, diśāgajam elephant of the quarter, dadṛśu: beheld.

Then while they were excavating the region they beheld the elephant of the quarter named Virupaksha equal in size to a mountain, supporting the earth.
saparvatavanāṅ kṛtsnāṅ pṛthivīṅ raghunandana৷৷1.40.13৷৷

śirasā dhārayāmāsa virūpākṣō mahāgaja:.


raghunandana O! Rama, virūpākṣa: Virupaksha, mahāgaja: mighty elephant, saparvatavanām together with mountains and forests, kṛtsnām entire, mahīm earth, śirasā on its head, dhārayāmāsa was holding.

O descendant of Raghu! the mighty elephant Virupaksha was holding on its head the entire earth with its mountains and forests.
yadā parvaṇi kākutstha viśramārthaṅ mahāgaja:৷৷1.40.14৷৷

khēdāccālayatē śīrṣaṅ bhūmikampastadābhavēt.


kākutstha O! Rama, mahāgaja: that mighty elephant, parvaṇi on certain sacred days, yadā when, viśramārtham for refreshing, khēdāt from weariness, śīrṣam head, cālayatē shakes, tadā then, bhūmikampa: earthquake, bhavēt takes place.

O descendant of Kakustha! when that mighty elephant shakes its head for rest from weariness on certain sacred days earthquake occurs.
taṅ tē pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā diśāpālaṅ mahāgajam৷৷1.40.15৷৷

mānayantō hi tē rāma jagmurbhittvā rasātalam.


rāma O! Rama, tē they, diśāpālaṅ protector of the quarter, tam mahāgajam that mighty elephant, pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā having circumabulated, mānayanta: honouring it, bhittvā riving the earth, rasātalam Rasatala, jagmu: had gone.

O Rama! having circumabulated and honoured that mighty elephant, the protector of the quarter they reached the Rasatala by riving the earth.
tata: pūrvāṅ diśaṅ bhittvā dakṣiṇāṅ bibhidu: puna:৷৷1.40.16৷৷

dakṣiṇasyāmapi diśi dadṛśustē mahāgajam.

mahāpadmaṅ mahātmānaṅ sumahatparvatōpamam৷৷1.40.17৷৷

śirasā dhārayantaṅ tē vismayaṅ jagmuruttamam.


tata: Subsequently, pūrvām eastern, diśam region, bhittvā having dug, puna: again, dakṣiṇām southern region, bibhidu: broken, tē they, dakṣiṇasyām in the southern region also, sumahatparvatōpamam resembling a great mountain, śirasā with head, dhārayantam holding, mahāpadmam Mahapadma, mahātmānam magnanimous, mahāgajam mighty elephant, dadṛśu: beheld, tē they, vismayam astonishment, uttamam great, jagmu: obtained.

Subsequently, having dug the eastern region, they went on to southern and dug it too. In the southern region, they beheld a mighty elephant, magnanimous Mahapadma, resembling a great mountain. To their astonishment, they saw that elephant holding
the earth on its head.
tata: pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā sagarasya mahātmana:৷৷1.40.18৷৷

ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi paścimāṅ bibhidurdiśam.


tata: thereafter, mahātmana: of the illustrious, sagarasya Sagara's, ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi sixty thousand sons, pradakṣiṇaṅ circumabulation, kṛtvā having made, paścimam western, diśam region, bibhidu: dug up.

Thereafter, illustrious Sagara's sixty thousand sons, having circumabulated the elephant of the western region dug up that region.
paścimāyāmapi diśi mahāntamacalōpamam৷৷1.40.19৷৷

diśāgajaṅ saumanasaṅ dadṛśustē mahābalā:.


mahābalā: possessed of great strength, tē they, paścimāyāṅ diśyapi in the western quarter also, mahāntam great, acalōpamam resembling mountain, saumanasam named Saumanasa, diśāgajam elephant of the quarter, dadṛśu: beheld.

Possessed of great strength, they beheld also in the western quarter a great elephant of the quarter named Saumanasa resembling a mountain.
taṅ tē pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā cāpi nirāmayam.

khananta ssamupakrāntā diśaṅ haimavatīṅ tata:৷৷1.40.20৷৷


tē they, taṅ pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā having circumambulated, nirāmayam as to its well-being, pṛṣṭvā having enquired, khananta: digging, tata: from there, haimavatīm northern, diśam region, samupakrāntā: arrived.

Having paid homage and enquiring as to his well-being, they arrived at the northern region by digging the earth.
uttarasyāṅ raghuśrēṣṭha dadṛśurhimapāṇḍuram৷৷1.40.21৷৷

bhadraṅ bhadrēṇa vapuṣā dhārayantaṅ mahīmimām.


raghuśrēṣṭha O! Rama, uttarasyām northern region, himapāṇḍuram white like snow, bhadrēṇa vapuṣā with auspicious body, imām mahīm this earth, dhārayantam holding, bhadram elephant named as Bhadra, dadṛśu: beheld.

O Rama! in the northern region, they beheld an auspicious elephant named Bhadra, who was white like snow, was holding that quater.
samālabhya tata ssarvē kṛtvā cainaṅ pradakṣiṇam৷৷1.40.22৷৷

ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi bibhidurvasudhātalam.


tata: afterwards, sarvē all, ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi sixty thousand sons, ēnam this one, samālabhya having touched, pradakṣiṇaṅ ca circumambulation, kṛtvā having made, vasudhātalam earth, bibhidu: penetrated.

Then all sixty thousand sons having touched the elephant and circumambulated it, penetrated the earth.
tata: prāguttarāṅ gatvā sāgarā: prathitāṅ diśam৷৷1.40.23৷৷

rōṣādabhyakhanan sarvē pṛthivīṅ sagarātmajā:.


tata: Subsequently, sāgarā: sons of Sagara, prathitām celebrated, prāguttarāṅ diśam towards north-eastern region, gatvā having gone, sarvē all, sagarātmajā: sons of Sagara, rōṣāt with wrath, pṛthivīm earth, abhyakhanan began to dig.

Subsequently, the sons of Sagara, having gone towards the celebrated north-eastern region began to dig with wrath.
tē tu sarvē mahātmānō bhīmavēgā mahābalā:৷৷1.40.24৷৷

dadṛśu: kapilaṅ tatra vāsudēvaṅ sanātanam.

hayaṅ ca tasya dēvasya carantamavidūrata:৷৷1.40.25৷৷

praharṣamatulaṅ prāptāssarvē tē raghunandana.


mahātmāna: magnanimous, bhīmavēgā: those having dreadful speed, mahābalā: exceedingly powerful, tē they, sarvē all, tatra there, kapilam of Kapila, sanātanam eternal, vāsudēvam Vasudeva, tasya dēvasya that god's, avidūrata: not far away, carantam grazing, hayaṅ ca horse, dadṛśu: beheld, raghunandana O! Rama, tē sarvē all of them, atulam unparalleled, praharṣam joy, prāptā: experienced.

Great sons of Sagara terribly swift-footed and exceedingly powerful beheld the eternal Visnu in (sage) Kapila and not far away from him the horse grazing. O descendant of Raghu! they all experienced unparalleled joy.
tē taṅ hayavaraṅ jñātvā krōdhaparyākulēkṣaṇā:৷৷1.40.26৷৷

khanitralāṅgaladharā nānāvṛkṣaśilādharā:.

abhyadhāvanta saṅkruddhāstiṣṭha tiṣṭhēti cābruvan৷৷1.40.27৷৷


tē they, taṅ hayavaram that best of horses, jñātvā knowing, krōdhaparyākulēkṣaṇā: with eyes reddened with anger, khanitralāṅgaladharā: armed with spades, plough-shares, nānāvṛkṣaśilādharā: with every kind of trees, stones, saṅkruddhā: furious with anger, abhyadhāvanta rushed towards him, tiṣṭha stay, tiṣṭha stay, iti abruvan ca also said.

They recognised that best of horses. Their eyes were red with anger. Armed with spades, plough-shares and every kind of tree and stone and furious with wrath, they rushed towards Kapila shouting, wait, wait!
asmākaṅ tvaṅ hi turagaṅ yajñīyaṅ hṛtavānasi.

durmēdhastvaṅ hi samprāptān viddhi nassagarātmajān ৷৷1.40.28৷৷


durmēdha: O! Wicked minded one, tvam you, asmākam our, yajñīyam relating to sacrifice, turagam horse, hṛtavān asi you have stolen, samprāptān those who have come here, na: us, sagarātmajān sons of Sagara, viddhi you may know.

'O Wicked-minded one! you have stolen our sacrificial horse. Know that those of us who have come here are the sons of Sagara'.
śrutvā tu vacanaṅ tēṣāṅ kapilō raghunandana.

rōṣēṇa mahatā৷৷viṣṭō huṅkāramakarōttadā৷৷1.40.29৷৷


raghunandana O! Rama, kapila: Kapila, tēṣām their, vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, tadā then, mahatā great, rōṣēṇa wrath, āviṣṭa: overwhelmed, huṅkāram the sound "H'm", akarōt uttered.

"O descendant of Raghu! Kapila, having heard their words, overwhelmed with great wrath, uttered the sound "H'm".
tatastēnāpramēyēna kapilēna mahātmanā.

bhasmarāśīkṛtāssarvē kākutstha sagarātmajā:৷৷1.40.30৷৷


kākutstha O! Rama, tata: thereafter, apramēyēna by the possesser of power beyond imagination, mahātmanā by the magnanimous, tēna kapilēna by that Kapila, sarvē all, sagarātmajā: sons of Sagara, bhasmarāśīkṛtā: reduced to a heap of ashes.

O son of Kakusthas! all the sons of Sagara were reduced to a heap of ashes, by that magnanimous Kapila, whose power was beyond imagination".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē catvāriṅśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fortieth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.