Sarga 39: The Earth Dug Up
Prithvi Khanana
Indra steals Sagara's sacrificial horse; Sagara sends his sixty thousand sons to search the whole earth, and when the horse cannot be found they dig down through the world, slaughtering countless beings, until the terrified gods appeal to Brahma.
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विश्वामित्रवचश्श्रुत्वा कथाऽन्ते रघुनन्दन:। उवाच परमप्रीतो मुनिं दीप्तमिवानलम्।।1.39.1।।
Meaning
Hearing Vishvamitra's words, delight of Raghu, at the tale's end, spoke greatly delighted to the sage who blazed like fire.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते विस्तरेण कथामिमाम्। पूर्वको मे कथं ब्रह्मन् यज्ञं वै समुपाहरत्।।1.39.2।।
Meaning
May you prosper: I wish to hear this tale in full detail, Brahman — how my ancestor performed the sacrifice.
विश्वामित्रस्तु काकुत्स्थमुवाच प्रहसन्निव। श्रूयतां विस्तरो राम सगरस्य महात्मन:।।1.39.3।।
Meaning
Vishvamitra, smiling as it were, said to Kakutstha: hear at length, Rama, of the great-souled Sagara.
शङ्करश्वशुरो नाम हिमवानचलोत्तम:। विंध्यपर्वतमासाद्य निरीक्षेते परस्परम्।।1.39.4।।
Meaning
There is a best of mountains named Himavan, father-in-law of Shankara; reaching the Vindhya mountain, the two gaze upon each other.
तयोर्मध्ये प्रवृत्तोऽभूद्यज्ञ स्सपुरुषोत्तम। स हि देशो नरव्याघ्र प्रशस्तो यज्ञकर्मणि।।1.39.5।।
Meaning
Between those two, best of men, the sacrifice took place; that land, tiger among men, is renowned as most fit for sacrificial rites.
तस्याश्वचर्यां काकुत्स्थ दृढधन्वा महारथ:। अंशुमानकरोत्तात सगरस्य मते स्थित:।।1.39.6।।
Meaning
Kakutstha, Anshuman, firm of bow and a great charioteer, guarded that horse's wandering, standing by Sagara's decree.
तस्य पर्वणि तं यज्ञं यजमानस्य वासव:। राक्षसीं तनुमास्थाय यज्ञीयाश्वमपाहरत्।।1.39.7।।
Meaning
At the auspicious day of that sacrificer's rite, Indra, assuming a demonic form, carried off the sacrificial horse.
ह्रियमाणे तु काकुत्स्थ तस्मिन्नश्वे महात्मन:। उपाध्यायगणास्सर्वे यजमानमथाब्रुवन्।।1.39.8।।
Meaning
Kakutstha, when that great horse was being carried off, all the assembled priests spoke to the sacrificer.
अयं पर्वणि वेगेन यज्ञियाश्वोऽपनीयते। हर्तारं जहि काकुत्स्थ हयश्चैवोपनीयताम्।।1.39.9।।
Meaning
On this auspicious day the sacrificial horse is swiftly being taken away; slay the thief, Kakutstha, and let the horse be brought back.
यज्ञच्छिद्रं भवत्येतत्सर्वेषामशिवाय न:। तत्तथा क्रियतां राजन् यथाऽच्छिद्र: क्रतुर्भवेत्।।1.39.10।।
Meaning
This becomes a flaw in the sacrifice, inauspicious for all of us; king, act so that the rite may remain without flaw.