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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उपाध्यायवच श्श्रुत्वा तस्मिन् सदसि पार्थिव:। षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।1.39.11।।
Meaning
Hearing the priests' words, the king, in that assembly, spoke this word to his sixty thousand sons.
गतिं पुत्रा: न पश्यामि रक्षसां परुषर्षभा:। मन्त्रपूतैर्महाभागैरास्थितो हि महाक्रतु:।।1.39.12।।
Meaning
Bulls among men, I do not perceive how such demons could approach; this great rite is sanctified and guarded by mantras.
तद्गच्छत विचिन्वध्वं पुत्रका: भद्रमस्तु व:। समुद्रमालिनीं सर्वां पृथिवीमनुगच्छत।।1.39.13।।
Meaning
Go then and search, my sons, may fortune attend you; scour the whole sea-garlanded earth.
एकैकयोजनं पुत्रा विस्तारमधिगच्छत। यावत्तुरगसन्दर्श: तावत् खनत मेदिनीम्।।1.39.14।।
Meaning
Sons, take up a league's breadth each; dig the earth until the horse comes into sight, seeking the horse-thief by my command.
तं चैव हयहर्तारं मार्गमाणा ममाज्ञया।।1.39.15।।
Meaning
"Search too for the one who carried off our horse, at my command."
दीक्षित: पौत्रसहितस्सोपाध्यायगणो ह्यहम्। इह स्थास्यामि भद्रं वो यावत्तुरगदर्शनम्।।1.39.15।।
Meaning
Consecrated as I am, together with my grandson and the priests, I shall remain here; may fortune attend you until the horse is seen.
इत्युक्ता हृष्टमनसो राजपुत्रा महाबला:। जग्मुर्महीतलं राम पितुर्वचनयन्त्रिता:।।1.39.16।।
Meaning
So instructed, the greatly powerful princes, glad of heart, went out over the earth's surface, bound by their father's word.
योजनायामविस्तारमेकैको धरणीतलम्। बिभिदु: परुषव्याघ्र वज्रस्पर्शसमैर्नखै:।।1.39.17।।
Meaning
Tiger among men, each cleft the earth's surface a league in breadth with claws that struck like thunderbolts.
शूलैरशनिकल्पैश्च हलैश्चापि सुदारुणै:। भिद्यमाना वसुमती ननाद रघुनन्दन।।1.39.18।।
Meaning
Delight of Raghu, split apart by tridents like thunderbolts and by cruel plows, the earth groaned aloud.
नागानां मथ्यमानानामसुराणां च राघव । राक्षसानां च दुर्धर्षस्सत्त्वानां निनदोऽभवत्।।1.39.19।।
Meaning
Raghava, as serpents, demons, and unassailable rakshasas were churned and crushed, a terrible clamor of creatures arose.