03.105
Lomaśa said.
O bull among the Bharatas, having heard this from the sky, that king, the best among kings, then did as was said, believing it. (03-105-1)
O king, by Rudra's grace, sixty thousand sons, of incomparable energy, were born to that royal sage. (03-105-2)
They, being terrible and performing cruel deeds, move about the sky; being many, they despise all the worlds together with the gods. (03-105-3)
The heroes skilled in battle attacked not only the thirty gods, but also the gandharvas, rākṣasas, and in fact all beings. (03-105-4)
Then, as they were being killed by the Sāgaras of dull intellect, the beings together with all the deities went to take refuge in Brahmā. (03-105-5)
The highly fortunate grandsire of all the worlds said to them: "All you gods, return with your worlds as you have come." (03-105-6)
In not too long a time, there will be great destruction of the oceans; a very terrible event will happen to the gods because of their own actions and deeds. (03-105-7)
Thus addressed, the gods and the worlds, O lord of men, after obtaining permission from the grandsire, O wise one, departed as they had come. (03-105-8)
After a long time had passed, O foremost of the Bharatas, the powerful King Sagara, having been consecrated for the horse sacrifice, let his horse wander across the earth under the careful protection of his sons. (03-105-9)
He reached the ocean, which was waterless and terrifying in appearance, and though protected with effort, disappeared right there. (03-105-10)
Then they, thinking that the best horse was stolen from the ocean, went to their father and reported that the unseen horse was stolen. He told them, 'All of you search for the steed in every direction.' (03-105-11)
Then, O great king, they, having understood their father's command, searched for that horse in all directions and over the entire surface of the earth. (03-105-12)
Then all the oceans, having come together, did not find either the horse or the horse-thief. (03-105-13)
O king, having approached their father and, standing in front with joined palms, they spoke: the entire earth—together with its oceans, forests, islands, rivers, streams, caves, and all its mountains and forest regions. (03-105-14)
O king, we have searched (as commanded by you), O ruler, but we have not found either the horse or the horse-stealer. (03-105-15)
But having heard their words, the king, overcome with anger, then said words to them all, driven by force of fate, O king. (03-105-16)
Go forth again so as not to return, and seek the steed. Without obtaining that sacrificial horse, you must not come back, my sons. (03-105-17)
But having received the message, then the sons of Sagara again began to search the entire earth. (03-105-18)
Then those heroes saw the earth split open. Upon reaching that hole, Sagara's sons dug out the ocean with spades and hoes at that time. (03-105-19)
The ocean, abode of Varuṇa, as it was being excavated together with the other seas, was torn apart on all sides and plunged into extreme distress. (03-105-20)
Asuras, serpents, rākṣasas, and various other beings, while being killed by the oceans, made wailing cries. (03-105-21)
Living beings with severed heads, without bodies, and smashed thighs, bones, and skulls were seen in hundreds and thousands. (03-105-22)
Thus indeed, as they were digging the ocean, the abode of makara (sea-creatures), a very long time passed, but the horse was not seen. (03-105-23)
Then, O king, in the northeastern region of the ocean, the enraged sons of Sagara, having split open the netherworld, saw the horse wandering there on the surface of the earth. (03-105-24)
Kapila, that great-souled one, unsurpassed mass of brilliance, shining by his austerity, like a fire by its flames. (03-105-25)
