Addressing the supplicants, Brahma spoke with a reassuring calm, “Fear not. The earth lies under the protection of Vasudeva, who appears now in the form of Kapila. However, it will soon be disrupted by the sons of Sagara, who, driven by their boundless zeal, shall dig deep and disturb all habitats. They will meet their fate in their reckless fervor—reduced to ashes, as destiny has decreed. Now, go in peace and lay your worries to rest.” Comforted by Brahma’s assurance, they sought his blessing and returned to their realms.
Meanwhile, the thirty-three gods, eight Vasus, twelve Adityas, eleven Rudras, and the two Aswins awaited the unfolding of events stirred by the sons of King Sagara. These sons, having split the earth’s core in search of their sacrificial horse, scoured every corner but found nothing. Returning to their father, they reported, “We have vanquished creatures of nearly every realm, from Gandharvas to ghosts, yet still, we have not found the horse. Pray, guide us in our next steps.” Infuriated at their failure, King Sagara commanded them, “Delve into the depths of the netherworld, uncover the thief, and retrieve the horse. Meanwhile, Amsumantha shall guard the kingdom and watch over the sacrificial rites.”
Thus, the sons set forth once more, digging eastward until they encountered a mighty elephant, Virupaksha, who bore the earth upon its head. With reverence, they circled Virupaksha, offered prayers, and resumed their search, moving toward the southern quadrant, where they discovered Mahapadma, another grand celestial elephant holding the world. They honored him similarly before proceeding westward, where they met Soumanasya, also burdened with the earth. After paying their respects, they journeyed north and came upon Bhadra, a great white elephant who upheld the planet in the same way. Honoring Bhadra, they pressed onward to the northeast.
There, they encountered a daunting sight: fierce warriors surrounding a sage of immense power—Kapila—near whom grazed their sacrificial horse. Mistaking the sage as the captor of their prize, all sixty thousand sons of Sagara surged forward, roaring their battle cries. But in a moment of divine wrath, Kapila’s mere glance reduced the vast host to ashes. “O Rama!” it was the supreme power and holy fire of Kapila that turned this army to dust.
Hearing no news of his sons, the king sent his brave grandson, Amsumantha, on a quest to locate them, recover the sacrificial horse, and return. Amsumantha, equipped with arms and wisdom, set out, showing respect to each of the celestial elephants as he traced the sons’ path. Finally, he reached the site of their tragic end, where he found only ashes and the wandering sacrificial horse. Nearby, he encountered the mighty Garuda, maternal uncle to the fallen sons of Sagara. Garuda spoke, “Noble Amsumantha, Kapila’s wrath has turned your uncles to ashes, but their departure has brought relief to many. Offer their spirits oblations, take the horse, and fulfill your grandfather’s sacrificial rite. Yet know this: only the sacred waters of the Ganga can redeem their souls, lifting them to heavenly realms.”
With reverence, Amsumantha thanked Garuda, took the horse, and returned to the king. Though the sacrifice was completed, sorrow weighed upon the king, who, after anointing Amsumantha as ruler of Ayodhya, retired to a life of penance and eventually attained the heavens.
Amsumantha, now king, begot a son, Dilipa, who ruled wisely. In his later years, Amsumantha retreated to the hermitage, passing into the celestial realm. Yet despite his efforts, he could not bring the Ganga to earth to absolve his ancestors. It was Dilipa’s son, Bhagiratha, a virtuous and devoted prince, who would take up this sacred mission. Ruling with compassion and justice, Bhagiratha was beloved by his subjects, but his heart remained burdened by the unfulfilled duty of redeeming his ancestors’ souls.
Lacking an heir and driven by his vow, Bhagiratha entrusted his kingdom to his council and undertook severe austerities in the Himalayas. After years of penance, Brahma appeared and granted his request: the descent of the Ganga to redeem his forefathers and a continuation of the Ikshvaku lineage. However, Brahma warned that the Ganga’s descent would be fierce beyond mortal endurance and advised Bhagiratha to seek Shiva’s aid to bear the river’s force.
Thus, with Brahma’s blessing and Ganga’s summons, Bhagiratha prepared to undertake this final, sacred quest, setting the stage for a trial that would etch his name forever in the annals of his line.