Amshuman’s search for horse reveals that Kapila rendered his paternal-uncles to ashes. When he wanted to offer water oblation as obsequies to their souls he did not find water. Then Garuda, the Eagle-vehicle of Vishnu and maternal uncle of Amshuman advises him to get River Ganga onto earth whereby the souls are cleansed and they go to heaven. Amshuman reports the same to King Sagara, but Sagara not finding any way to get River Ganga onto earth departs to heaven at the end of his time.
1. raghunandana = oh, Rama, descendent of Raghu; raajaa sagaraH = king, Sagara; putraan cira gataan = sons, long time back, have gone – for searching horse; j~naatvaa = on knowing, on recalling to mind; sva tejasaa diipyamaanam = with his own, resplendence, who is resplendent; naptaaram abraviit = to grand son, spoke.
“On observing that his sons have gone long time back in search of ritual-horse, oh, Rama, king Sagara spoke this to his grandson, Amshuman, who is radiant with his own self-resplendence.” Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about Sagara. [1-41-1]
शूरः च कृत विद्यः च पूर्वैः तुल्यो असि तेजसा |
पितृणाम् गतिम् अन्विच्छ येन च अश्वो अपहारितः || १-४१-२
shuuraH ca kR^ita vidyaH ca puurvaiH tulyo asi tejasaa | pitR^iNaam gatim anvicCha yena ca ashvo apahaaritaH || 1-41-2
2. shuuraH ca kR^ita vidyaH ca = [you are a] brave one, also, completed, education [in warfare]; suh as you are, you; tejasaa = by magnificence; puurvaiH tulyaH asi = with [your] fathers [paternal-uncles,] equal to, you are; pitR^INaam gatim anvicCha = your fathers [paternal-uncles’,] course, you search; ashvaH yena apahaaritaH ca = horse, by whom, stolen, also. – you fin out.
” ‘You are brave one and completed your education in warfare, such as you are, you are a coequal to your paternal-uncles in magnificence, thus you search the course of your paternal uncles, also him by whom the horse is stolen.’ Thus King Sagara started speaking to his grandson Amshuman. [1-41-2].
अन्तर् भौमानि सत्त्वानि वीर्यवन्ति महान्ति च |
तेषाम् त्वम् प्रतिघात अर्थम् स असिम् गृह्णीष्व कार्मुकम् || १-४१-३
antar bhaumaani sattvaani viiryavanti mahaanti ca |
teShaam tvam pratighaata artham sa asim gR^ihNiiShva kaarmukam || 1-41-3
3. antar bhaumaani sattvaani = underneath, earth, beings – living beings in netherworlds; viiryavanti = are intrepid ones; mahaanti ca = extraordinary ones, also; tvam teSaam pratighaata artham = you, their, retaliation [if they attack you,] for the purpose of; sa asim = with, sword; kaarmukam gR^i hNiiSva = bow, you take up – you wield.
” ‘The living beings in netherworlds of earth are intrepid and they are extraordinary also, hence you take your bow along with your sword to retaliate them in the event of their attacking you. [1-41-3].
4. tvam = you; abhivaadyaan = those that are to be saluted; abhivaadya = on saluting them; vighna karaan hatvaa api = obstructions, causers, killing, even on; siddha arthaH san = achieved, purpose, on becoming; mama yaj~nasya = my, of Vedic-ritual; paara gaH = to other shore, be crossed over; sam nivartasva = well, return – safely come back.
” ‘On saluting them that are worthy for salutations, and on eliminating them that are the causer of obstructions, you shall achieve your purpose of tracking the ritual-horse, and thus you comeback safely and let my Vedic-ritual be crossed over to the other shore of mortality by you.’ Thus king Sagara told his grandson Amshuman. [1-41-4].
6. nara shreSTha = oh, best one among men – Rama; saH = he, Amshuman; tena raaj~naa abhicoditaH = by him, that king, motivated by; mahaatmabhiH pitR^ibhiH = by great-souled ones, by fathers – paternal-uncles; antar bhaumam khaatam maargam = inside, of earth, hollowed, walkway; praapadyata = he attained – progressed on that path.
“Motivated by the King Sagara, oh, Rama, the best one among men, Amshuman progressed on the walkway that was hollowed out by his great-souled paternal-uncles inside the earth. [1-41-6].
देव दानव रक्षोभिः पिशाच पतग उरगैः |
पूज्यमानम् महातेजा दिशा गजम् अपश्यत || १-४१-७
7. mahaatejaa = that highly resplendent one – Amshuman; deva daanava rakSobhiH = by gods, monsters, demons; pishaaca pataga uragaiH = by imps, vultures, serpents; puujyamaanam = being venerated; dishaa gajam apashyata = directional, elephant, beheld.
“And he that resplendent Amshuman beheld one of the four directional elephant of the earth which is being venerated by gods, monsters, demons, imps, vultures and serpents. [1-41-7].
स तम् प्रदक्षिणम् कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चैव निरामयम् |
पितृइन् स परिपप्रच्छ वाजि हर्तारम् एव च || १-४१-८
sa tam pradakShiNam kR^itvaa pR^iShTvaa caiva niraamayam | pitR^iin sa paripapracCha vaaji hartaaram eva ca || 1-41-8
8. saH tam pradakSiNam kR^itvaa = he, him [elephant,] circumambulations, on making; niraamayam pR^iSTvaa caiva = well being, on asking, also, even; saH = he – Amshuman; pitR^iin = about fathers; vaaji hartaaram eva ca = horse, robber, even, also; pari pa pracCha = in detail, enquired.
On circumambulating that elephant in supplication, and even on enquiring after its well-being, he that Amshuman has enquired in detail with it for his paternal-uncles and even about the robber of the ritual-horse. [1-41-8].
9. mahaamatiH = of great perception [elephant]; dishaa gajaH tu = directional, elephant, on its part; tat shrutvaa = that, on hearing; prati uvaaca = in turn, spoke – replied; aasamanja = oh, son of Asamanja; tvam kR^ita arthaH = you, achieving, your mission; saha ashvaH shiighram eSyasi = along with, horse, expeditiously, you will proceed – you will return.
“On hearing that enquiry of Amshuman that directional elephant with great perception replied on its part saying, ‘oh Amshuman, son of Asamanja, on achieving your mission you will return expeditiously along with the horse. [1-41-9].
10. tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa = his [elephant’s,] that, word, on hearing; sarvaan eva = all, like that; dishaa gajaan = directional, elephants; yathaa kramam yathaa nyaayam = according to, positioning, [i.e., their standing, north, east, south, west etc.,] according to, procedure; praSTum samupacakrame = to ask, he commenced.
“On hearing that word of that directional elephant he departed from there, and on sequentially reaching other directional elephants that are abiding in other directions of earth, he commenced to ask the same enquiry which he made with the first, according to the positioning of elephants in directions, and according to the established procedures of their venerability. [1-41-10].
तैः च सर्वैः दिशा पालैः वाक्यज्ञैः वाक्यकोविदैः |
पूजितः स हयः चैव गन्ता असि इति अभिचोदितः || १-४१-११
taiH ca sarvaiH dishaa paalaiH vaakyaj~naiH vaakyakovidaiH | puujitaH sa hayaH caiva gantaa asi iti abhicoditaH || 1-41-11
11. vaakya j~naiH vaakyakovidaiH = sentence, knowers, sentence-making, experts in – articulate, eloquent; sarvaiH taiH dishaa paalaiH ca = by all, of them, directions, safeguarding elephants; puujitaH = he who is adored; sa hayaH = with, horse – taking horse; gantaa asi iti abhicoditaH = gone, you will be, thus, motivated.
“All the elephants that safeguard the directions of earth which have the faculties of articulation and eloquence have adored Amshuman and motivated him by saying, ‘you will be going from here taking the horse.’ [1-41-11].
12. teSaam tat vacanam shrutvaa = of them [elephants,] that, word – common blessing, on hearing; laghu vikramaH = nimble-footed – prince; tasya pitaraH = his, fathers – paternal uncles; saagaraaH = sons of Sagara; yatra = where; bhasma raashii kR^itaa = ash, mound, made as; [tatra = [ to there]; jagaama = he has gone.
“On hearing that common blessing of all the directional-elephants, he that nimble-footed Amshuman has gone to the place where his paternal-uncles, sons of Sagara, were rendered as mounds of ashes. [1-41-12].
13. tadaa = then; saH = he that; asamanja sutaH = Asamanja’s, son – Amshuman; duHkha vasham aapannaH tu = anguish, into control, chanced upon, but; parama aartaH tu = highly, agonised, but; teSaam vadhaat su duHkhitaH = their – paternal-uncles, at the destruction, extremely, anguished; cukrosha = wept.
“But he on whom the control of anguish has chanced for not physically seeing his paternal-uncles, that son of Asamanja then wept, as he is highly agonised and extremely anguished at their destruction. [1-41-13].
14. duHkha shoka samanvitaH = by anguish, agony, one who is overwhelmed; puruSa vyaaghraH = tigerly-man – Amshuman; aviduurataH carantam = not very far, grazing; yaj~niyam hayam ca = of Vedic-ritual, horse, also; dadarsha = he beheld.
“That tigerly-man Amshuman who is overwhelmed by agony and anguish, also beheld there the horse of Vedic-ritual that is grazing nearby. [1-41-14].
स तेषाम् राज पुत्राणाम् कर्तु कामो जल क्रियाम् |
स जलार्थम् महातेजा न च अपश्यत् जल आशयम् || १-४१-१५
sa teShaam raaja putraaNaam kartu kaamo jala kriyaam | sa jalaartham mahaatejaa na ca apashyat jala aashayam || 1-41-15
15. mahaatejaa = great resplendent one; saH = he; teSaam raaja putraaNaam = for them, king’s, sons – to the departed souls; jala kriyaam kartu kaamaH = [obsequial] water, oblation, to offer, wanted to; jala artham = water, for the purpose of – when searched for; jala aashayam = water, receptacle – tank, fount; saH na apashyat ca = he, not, has seen – found, also.
“When he that great resplendent Amshuman wanted to offer obsequial waters to the departed sons of Sagara and searched for water he has not found any fount of water. [1-41-15].
विसार्य निपुणाम् दृष्टिम् ततो अपश्यत् खग अधिपम् |
पितृणाम् मातुलम् राम सुपर्णम् अनिल उपमम् || १-४१-१६
16. raama = oh, Rama; tataH = then; nipuNaam dR^iSTim visaarya = expert, glance, on spanning; pitR^iNaam maatulam = fathers’ paternal-uncles’, maternal uncle; khaga adhipam = birds, king of; anila upamam = wind-god, similar to; su parNam = rapid, winged – Garuda; apashyat = he saw.
“Spanning his expert glances, oh, Rama, he then saw the rapid-winged king of birds, namely Garuda, the Eagle-vehicle of Vishnu, who is the maternal uncle of his father and other paternal-uncles, and whose flight will be similar to that of the Wind-god. [1-41-16].
स च एनम् अब्रवीत् वाक्यम् वैनतेयो महाबलः |
मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र वधो अयम् लोक सम्मतः || १-४१-१७
sa ca enam abraviit vaakyam vainateyo mahaabalaH |
maa shucaH puruShavyaaghra vadho ayam loka sammataH || 1-41-17
17. mahaabalaH = great-mighty; saH vainateyaH = he, that son of Vinata – Garuda; enam vaakyam abraviit ca = to him – to Amshuman, sentence, spoke, also; puruSavyaaghra = oh, tigerly-man; maa shucaH = do not, bemoan; ayam vadhaH loka sammataH = this, eradication [of your paternal-uncles,] agreeable [worthwhile] to the worlds.
“That great-mighty son of Lady Vinata, namely Garuda, also spoke this word to Amshuman, ‘do not bemoan, oh, tigerly-man, this eradication of your paternal-uncles is worthwhile to the worlds. [1-41-17].
कपिलेन अप्रमेयेण दग्धा हि इमे महाबलाः |
सलिलम् न अर्हसि प्राज्ञ दातुम् एषाम् हि लौकिकम् || १-४१-१८
kapilena aprameyeNa dagdhaa hi ime mahaabalaaH |
salilam na ar.hhasi praaj~na daatum eShaam hi laukikam || 1-41-18
18. mahaa balaaH = great-mighty ones; ime = these [paternal-uncles of yours]; aprameyeNa kapilena = by the Imponderable one, by Kapila; dagdhaa hi = are burnt down, in fact; praaj~na = oh, observant – Amshuman; eSaam laukikam salilam daatum = to them, mundane [obsequial water-oblations,] to offer; na arhasi hi = not, apt of you, indeed.
” ‘In fact, Kapila, the Imponderable Sage, has burnt down those great-mighty paternal-uncles of yours, oh, observant Amshuman, as such it will not be apt of you to offer the mundane obsequial water-oblations to them, indeed. [1-41-18].
गंगा हिमवतो ज्येष्ठा दुहिता पुरुषर्षभ |
तस्याम् कुरु महाबाहो पितॄणाम् तु जल क्रियाम् || १-४१-१९
gaMgaa himavato jyeShThaa duhitaa puruSharShabha | tasyaam kuru mahaabaaho pitR^INaam tu jala kriyaam || 1-41-19
19. puruSarSabha = man, the best; himavataH jyeSThaa duhitaa gangaa = Himavanta’s, elder, daughter, Ganga – is there; mahaabaahuH = oh, dextrous one; pitR^INaam tu jala kriyaam = [to your departed] fathers [paternal-uncles,] but, water, oblation; tasyaam kuru= in her, [in Ganga waters,] you offer – you have to offer.
” ‘Oh, best one among men, River Ganga is the elder daughter of Himavanta, and oh, dextrous one, you have to offer water-oblation to the departed paternal-uncles of yours in her waters, namely the holy waters of River Ganga. [1-41-19].
भस्म राशी कृतान् एतान् पावयेत् लोक कांतया |
तया क्लिन्नम् इदम् भस्म गंगया लोक कान्तया |
षष्टिम् पुत्र सहस्राणि स्वर्ग लोकम् गमिष्यति || १-४१-२०
bhasma raashii kR^itaan etaan paavayet loka kaaMtayaa | tayaa klinnam idam bhasma gaMgayaa loka kaantayaa |
ShaShTim putra sahasraaNi svarga lokam gamiShyati || 1-41-20
20. loka pavanii = world, purifier [Ganga]; bhasma raashii kR^itaan = ash, mounds, made as; etaan plaavayet = them [sons of Sagara,] drifts – to heavens; [paavaet = will purify them]; loka kaantayaa = by worlds, adored; tayaa gangayaa = by her, by Ganga; klinnam idam bhasma = drenched, this, ash; SaSTim putra sahasraaNi = sixty, sons, thousands; svarga lokam gamiSyati = to empyrean, world, she can lead them.
” ‘World purifier River Ganga will drift them who are rendered as mounds of ashes to heaven, and when she who is much adored by all worlds drenches this ash, that River Ganga herself will lead the sixty-thousand sons of Sagara to heaven. [1-41-20].
21. mahaabhaaga = oh, great fortunate one; puruSa rSabha = oh, best one among men; ashvam samgR^ihya nir gacCha = horse, on taking, out, you go – you may proceed from here; viira = oh, brave one; paitaamaham yaj~nam nirvartayitum arhasi = of grand father, Vedic- ritual, to carry out, apt of you.
” ‘Oh, great fortunate one, oh, best one among men, you may proceed from here with the horse, oh, brave one, it will be apt of you to carry out the Vedic-ritual of your grandfather.’ Thus Garuda said to Amshuman. [1-41-21].
22. ati viiryavaan = highly, braving one; mahaayashaaH = highly renowned one; saH amshumaan = he, Amshuman; suparNa vacanam shrutvaa = great-winged eagle [Garuda’s,] words, on hearing; tvaritam hayam aadaaya = swiftly, horse, on taking along; punaH aayaat = again, came- returned to his grandfather.
“On hearing the words of that great-winged eagle, Garuda, he that highly brave and well-renowned Amshuman swiftly took the horse, and returned to the ritual place of his grandfather, king Sagara. [1-41-22].
23. raghu nandana = oh, Rama, the descendant of Raghu; tataH = then; diikSitam raajaanam aasaadya = under vow, king, on getting at; yathaa vR^ittam = as has happened; tathaa = all that; suparNa vacanam = Garuda’s, words, [also]; nyavedayat = submitted – described to Sagara.
“Then on reaching the King Sagara, who is under the vow of the ritual, oh, Rama, Amshuman described what all has happened and even the words of Garuda. [1-41-23].
24. nR^ipaH = king Sagara; amshumataH = from Amshuman; ghora samkaasham = unendurable; tat vaakyam shrutvaa = that, sentence, on hearing; yathaa kalpam yathaa vidhi = as per, scriptures, as per procedure; yaj~nam nirvartayaamaasa = Vedic ritual, restarted to – firstly – complete, and to see bout Ganga later.
“On hearing those unendurable words from Amshuman, the king Sagara firstly completed the Vedic-ritual scripturally and procedurally. [1-41-24].
स्व पुरम् च अगमत् श्रीमान् इष्ट यज्ञो महीपतिः |
गंगायाः च आगमे राजा निश्चयम् न अध्यगच्छत || १-४१-२५
sva puram ca agamat shriimaan iShTa yaj~no mahiipatiH | gaMgaayaaH ca aagame raajaa nishcayam na adhyagacChata || 1-41-25
25. shriimaan mahiipatiH = fortunate one, land, lord – king Sagara; iSTa yaj~naH = having completed, Vedic-ritual; sva puram = his own, to capital; agamat = arrived; raajaa gangaayaaH aagame ca = king, about Ganga’s, arrival, also; nishcayam na adhyagacChata = decision, not, arrived at.
“On completing the Vedic-ritual King Sagara arrived at his capital, but that king could not arrive at a decision about the arrival of Ganga to the earth. [1-41-25].
अगत्वा निश्चयम् राजा कालेन महता महान् |
त्रिंशत् वर्ष सहस्राणि राज्यम् कृत्वा दिवम् गतः || १-४१-२६
26. mahaan raajaa = great, king; mahataa kaalena = long, by time – even after; nishcayam a gatvaa = resolve, not, getting at – for Ganga’s descent; trimshat varSa sahasraaNi = thirty, years, thousands; raajyam kR^itvaa divam gataH = kingdom, on ruling, to heaven, went to.
“That great king Sagara could not get at any resolve in getting Ganga to earth even after a long time, and on ruling kingdom for thirty-thousand years he went to heaven.” Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about the ancestors of Rama. [1-41-26].
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