Sloka & Translation

Audio

[Brahma consoles the devatas--sons of Sagara continue to excavate the earth in search of sacrificial horse-- trace the horse near Kapila--cursed by Kapila, Sagara's sons are reduced to ashes].

देवतानां वचश्श्रुत्वा भगवान्वै पितामह:।

प्रत्युवाच सुसन्त्रस्तान्कृतान्तबलमोहितान्।।1.40.1।।


भगवान् the adorable one, पितामह: grandsire, Brahma, देवतानाम् devatas', वच: words, श्रुत्वा having heard, कृतान्तबलमोहितान् deprived of the activity of their senses by the prowess of fate, सुसन्त्रस्तान् exceedingly frightened, प्रत्युवाच replied back.

Having heard the devatas, extremely frightened, and deprived of their sensual perception by the prowess of fate. The adorable grandsire (Brahma) replied:
यस्येयं वसुधा कृत्स्ना वासुदेवस्य धीमत:।

कापिलं रूपमास्थाय धारयत्यनिशं धराम्।।1.40.2।।

तस्य कोपाग्निना दग्धा भविष्यन्ति नृपात्मजा:।


कृत्स्ना whole, इयं वसुधा this earth, यस्य whose, धीमत: sagacious, वासुदेवस्य Vasudeva's, कापिलं रूपम् the form of Kapila, आस्थाय assuming, अनिशम् always, धराम् earth, धारयति supports, नृपात्मजा: sons of Sagara, तस्य his, कोपाग्निना by the fire of wrath, दग्धा: भविष्यन्ति will be burnt.

'This whole earth belongs to sagacious Vasudeva. He always supports the earth assuming the form of Kapila. The princes will be burnt by the fire of his wrath.
पृथिव्याश्चापि निर्भेदोऽदृष्ट एव सनातन:।।1.40.3।।

सगरस्य च पुत्राणां विनाशोऽदीर्घजीविनाम्।


पृथिव्या this earth, निर्भेद: excavation, अदीर्घजीविनाम् of the short lived men, सगरस्य पुत्राणाम् of the sons of Sagara, विनाशश्च destruction, सनातन: in ancient times, दृष्ट एव is predestined.

The excavation of this earth and the destruction of the short lived sons of Sagara is predestined since eternity'.
पितामहवचश्श्रुत्वा त्रयस्त्रिंशदरिन्दम।।1.40.4।।

देवा: परमसंहृष्टा: पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम्।


अरिन्दम O Destroyer of enemies, पितामहवच: words of grandsire, Brahma, श्रुत्वा having heard, त्रयस्त्रिंशत् देवा: thirty three devatas, परमसंहृष्टा: exceedingly delighted, यथागतम् in the way they had come, पुन: again, जग्मु: returned.

"O Destroyer of enemies (Rama) On hearing the words of the grandsire (Brahma), the thirtythree gods, exceedingly delighted returned the way they had come.
सगरस्य च पुत्राणां प्रादुरासीन्महात्मनाम्।।1.40.5।।

पृथिव्यां भिद्यमानायां निर्घातसमनिस्वन:।


महात्मनाम् of the noble, सगरस्य Sagara's, पुत्राणाम् sons, पृथिव्याम् when the earth, भिद्यमानायाम् when the earth was being riven, निर्घातसमनिस्वन: resembling the crash of thunder, प्रादुरासीत् emanated.

A sound like the resembling of thunder emanated while the earth was being riven by the noble sons of Sagara.
ततो भित्वा महीं सर्वे कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम्।।1.40.6।।

सहिता स्सगरास्सर्वे पितरं वाक्यमब्रुवन्।0


तत: afterwards, सर्वे all of them, महीम् earth, भित्वा having riven, अभिप्रदक्षिणम् circumabulation, कृत्वा having made, सर्वे सगरा: all the sons of Sagara, सहिता together, पितरम् addrerssing their father, वाक्यम् words, अब्रुवन् spoke.

Afterwards, all the sons of Sagara, having riven the earth approached their father and circumamulating him said:
परिक्रान्ता मही सर्वा सत्त्ववन्तश्च सूदिता:।।1.40.7।।

देवदानवरक्षांसि पिशाचोरगकिन्नरा:।

न च पश्यामहेऽश्वं तमश्वहर्तारमेव च।।1.40.8।।

किं करिष्याम भद्रं ते बुद्धिरत्र विचार्यताम्।


सर्वा entire, मही earth, परिक्रान्ता roamed about, सत्त्ववन्त: च mighty, देवदानवरक्षांसि devatas, demons, rakshasas, पिशाचोरगकिन्नरा: pisachas, uragas, kinnaras, सूदिता: were killed, अश्वम् horse, तं अश्वहर्तारमेव च or the thief of the horse, न पश्यामहे च we could not see, किं करिष्याम what should we do?, ते भद्रम् prosperity to you, अत्र in this matter, बुध्दि: विचार्यताम् reflect over this matter.

'The entire earth was ransacked. Mighty devatas, demons, rakshasas, pisachas, uragas and kinnaras were killed. (Yet) we could neither see the horse nor the thief of the horse. Reflect over this matter and direct us. Prosperity to you'
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्राणां राजसत्तम:।।1.40.9।।

समन्युरब्रवीद्वाक्यं सगरो रघुनन्दन।


रघुनन्दन O Rama, तेषां पुत्राणाम् of those sons', तद्वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, राजसत्तम: magnanimous king, सगर: Sagara, समन्यु: incensed, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

"O Rama incensed to fury at the words of his sons, magnanimous king Sagara replied":
भूय: खनत भद्रं वो निर्भिद्य वसुधातलम्।।1.40.10।।

अश्वहर्तारमासाद्य कृतार्थाश्च निवर्तथ।


वसुधातलम् the surface of the earth, निर्भिद्य after haing riven, भूय: again, खनत: for them who were excavating, अश्वहर्तारम् the thief of the horse, आसाद्य having traced, कृतार्था: having accomplished the purpose, निवर्तथ return, व:भद्रम् safety to you.

Rive the earth again and excavate, capture the one who has stolen the horse and return after having accomplished the purpose. Safety to you
पितुर्वचनमासाद्य सगरस्य महात्मन:।।1.40.11।।

षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि रसातलमभिद्रवन्।


पितु: of the royal sire, महात्मन: magnanimous, सगरस्य Sagara's, वचनम् words, आसाद्य having received, षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि sixsty thousand sons, रसातलम् Rasatala(nether world), अभिद्रवन् ran towards.

Receiving the command of their father, the magnanimous Sagara, his sixty thousand sons ran towards Rasatala (nether world).
खन्यमाने ततस्तस्मिन् ददृशु: पर्वतोपमम्।।1.40.12।।

दिशागजं विरूपाक्षं धारयन्तं महीतलम्।


तत: Subsequently, तस्मिन् when that region, खन्यमाने was being excavated, पर्वतोपमम् in size equal to mountain, महीतलम् earth, धारयन्तम् supporting, विरूपाक्षम् named Virupaksha, दिशागजम् elephant of the quarter, ददृशु: beheld.

Then while they were excavating the region they beheld the elephant of the quarter named Virupaksha equal in size to a mountain, supporting the earth.
सपर्वतवनां कृत्स्नां पृथिवीं रघुनन्दन।।1.40.13।।

शिरसा धारयामास विरूपाक्षो महागज:।


रघुनन्दन O Rama, विरूपाक्ष: Virupaksha, महागज: mighty elephant, सपर्वतवनाम् together with mountains and forests, कृत्स्नाम् entire, महीम् earth, शिरसा on its head, धारयामास was holding.

O descendant of Raghu the mighty elephant Virupaksha was holding on its head the entire earth with its mountains and forests.
यदा पर्वणि काकुत्स्थ विश्रमार्थं महागज:।।1.40.14।।

खेदाच्चालयते शीर्षं भूमिकम्पस्तदाभवेत्।


काकुत्स्थ O Rama, महागज: that mighty elephant, पर्वणि on certain sacred days, यदा when, विश्रमार्थम् for refreshing, खेदात् from weariness, शीर्षम् head, चालयते shakes, तदा then, भूमिकम्प: earthquake, भवेत् takes place.

O descendant of Kakustha when that mighty elephant shakes its head for rest from weariness on certain sacred days earthquake occurs.
तं ते प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा दिशापालं महागजम्।।1.40.15।।

मानयन्तो हि ते राम जग्मुर्भित्त्वा रसातलम्।


राम O Rama, ते they, दिशापालं protector of the quarter, तम् महागजम् that mighty elephant, प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा having circumabulated, मानयन्त: honouring it, भित्त्वा riving the earth, रसातलम् Rasatala, जग्मु: had gone.

O Rama having circumabulated and honoured that mighty elephant, the protector of the quarter they reached the Rasatala by riving the earth.
तत: पूर्वां दिशं भित्त्वा दक्षिणां बिभिदु: पुन:।।1.40.16।।

दक्षिणस्यामपि दिशि ददृशुस्ते महागजम्।

महापद्मं महात्मानं सुमहत्पर्वतोपमम्।।1.40.17।।

शिरसा धारयन्तं ते विस्मयं जग्मुरुत्तमम्।


तत: Subsequently, पूर्वाम् eastern, दिशम् region, भित्त्वा having dug, पुन: again, दक्षिणाम् southern region, बिभिदु: broken, ते they, दक्षिणस्याम् in the southern region also, सुमहत्पर्वतोपमम् resembling a great mountain, शिरसा with head, धारयन्तम् holding, महापद्मम् Mahapadma, महात्मानम् magnanimous, महागजम् mighty elephant, ददृशु: beheld, ते they, विस्मयम् astonishment, उत्तमम् great, जग्मु: obtained.

Subsequently, having dug the eastern region, they went on to southern and dug it too. In the southern region, they beheld a mighty elephant, magnanimous Mahapadma, resembling a great mountain. To their astonishment, they saw that elephant holding
the earth on its head.
तत: प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा सगरस्य महात्मन:।।1.40.18।।

षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि पश्चिमां बिभिदुर्दिशम्।


तत: thereafter, महात्मन: of the illustrious, सगरस्य Sagara's, षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि sixty thousand sons, प्रदक्षिणं circumabulation, कृत्वा having made, पश्चिमम् western, दिशम् region, बिभिदु: dug up.

Thereafter, illustrious Sagara's sixty thousand sons, having circumabulated the elephant of the western region dug up that region.
पश्चिमायामपि दिशि महान्तमचलोपमम्।।1.40.19।।

दिशागजं सौमनसं ददृशुस्ते महाबला:।


महाबला: possessed of great strength, ते they, पश्चिमायां दिश्यपि in the western quarter also, महान्तम् great, अचलोपमम् resembling mountain, सौमनसम् named Saumanasa, दिशागजम् elephant of the quarter, ददृशु: beheld.

Possessed of great strength, they beheld also in the western quarter a great elephant of the quarter named Saumanasa resembling a mountain.
तं ते प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चापि निरामयम्।

खनन्त स्समुपक्रान्ता दिशं हैमवतीं तत:।।1.40.20।।


ते they, तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा having circumambulated, निरामयम् as to its wellbeing, पृष्ट्वा having enquired, खनन्त: digging, तत: from there, हैमवतीम् northern, दिशम् region, समुपक्रान्ता: arrived.

Having paid homage and enquiring as to his wellbeing, they arrived at the northern region by digging the earth.
उत्तरस्यां रघुश्रेष्ठ ददृशुर्हिमपाण्डुरम्।।1.40.21।।

भद्रं भद्रेण वपुषा धारयन्तं महीमिमाम्।


रघुश्रेष्ठ O Rama, उत्तरस्याम् northern region, हिमपाण्डुरम् white like snow, भद्रेण वपुषा with auspicious body, इमाम् महीम् this earth, धारयन्तम् holding, भद्रम् elephant named as Bhadra, ददृशु: beheld.

O Rama in the northern region, they beheld an auspicious elephant named Bhadra, who was white like snow, was holding that quater.
समालभ्य तत स्सर्वे कृत्वा चैनं प्रदक्षिणम्।।1.40.22।।

षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि बिभिदुर्वसुधातलम्।


तत: afterwards, सर्वे all, षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि sixty thousand sons, एनम् this one, समालभ्य having touched, प्रदक्षिणं च circumambulation, कृत्वा having made, वसुधातलम् earth, बिभिदु: penetrated.

Then all sixty thousand sons having touched the elephant and circumambulated it, penetrated the earth.
तत: प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा सागरा: प्रथितां दिशम्।।1.40.23।।

रोषादभ्यखनन् सर्वे पृथिवीं सगरात्मजा:।


तत: Subsequently, सागरा: sons of Sagara, प्रथिताम् celebrated, प्रागुत्तरां दिशम् towards northeastern region, गत्वा having gone, सर्वे all, सगरात्मजा: sons of Sagara, रोषात् with wrath, पृथिवीम् earth, अभ्यखनन् began to dig.

Subsequently, the sons of Sagara, having gone towards the celebrated northeastern region began to dig with wrath.
ते तु सर्वे महात्मानो भीमवेगा महाबला:।।1.40.24।।

ददृशु: कपिलं तत्र वासुदेवं सनातनम्।

हयं च तस्य देवस्य चरन्तमविदूरत:।।1.40.25।।

प्रहर्षमतुलं प्राप्तास्सर्वे ते रघुनन्दन।


महात्मान: magnanimous, भीमवेगा: those having dreadful speed, महाबला: exceedingly powerful, ते they, सर्वे all, तत्र there, कपिलम् of Kapila, सनातनम् eternal, वासुदेवम् Vasudeva, तस्य देवस्य that god's, अविदूरत: not far away, चरन्तम् grazing, हयं च horse, ददृशु: beheld, रघुनन्दन O Rama, ते सर्वे all of them, अतुलम् unparalleled, प्रहर्षम् joy, प्राप्ता: experienced.

Great sons of Sagara terribly swiftfooted and exceedingly powerful beheld the eternal Visnu in (sage) Kapila and not far away from him the horse grazing. O descendant of Raghu they all experienced unparalleled joy.
ते तं हयवरं ज्ञात्वा क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणा:।।1.40.26।।

खनित्रलाङ्गलधरा नानावृक्षशिलाधरा:।

अभ्यधावन्त सङ्क्रुद्धास्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रुवन्।।1.40.27।।


ते they, तं हयवरम् that best of horses, ज्ञात्वा knowing, क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणा: with eyes reddened with anger, खनित्रलाङ्गलधरा: armed with spades, ploughshares, नानावृक्षशिलाधरा: with every kind of trees, stones, सङ्क्रुद्धा: furious with anger, अभ्यधावन्त rushed towards him, तिष्ठ stay, तिष्ठ stay, इति अब्रुवन् च also said.

They recognised that best of horses. Their eyes were red with anger. Armed with spades, ploughshares and every kind of tree and stone and furious with wrath, they rushed towards Kapila shouting, wait, wait
अस्माकं त्वं हि तुरगं यज्ञीयं हृतवानसि।

दुर्मेधस्त्वं हि सम्प्राप्तान् विद्धि नस्सगरात्मजान् ।।1.40.28।।


दुर्मेध: O Wicked minded one, त्वम् you, अस्माकम् our, यज्ञीयम् relating to sacrifice, तुरगम् horse, हृतवान् असि you have stolen, सम्प्राप्तान् those who have come here, न: us, सगरात्मजान् sons of Sagara, विद्धि you may know.

'O Wickedminded one you have stolen our sacrificial horse. Know that those of us who have come here are the sons of Sagara'.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां कपिलो रघुनन्दन।

रोषेण महताऽऽविष्टो हुङ्कारमकरोत्तदा।।1.40.29।।


रघुनन्दन O Rama, कपिल: Kapila, तेषाम् their, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा having heard, तदा then, महता great, रोषेण wrath, आविष्ट: overwhelmed, हुङ्कारम् the sound "H'm", अकरोत् uttered.

"O descendant of Raghu Kapila, having heard their words, overwhelmed with great wrath, uttered the sound "H'm".
ततस्तेनाप्रमेयेन कपिलेन महात्मना।

भस्मराशीकृतास्सर्वे काकुत्स्थ सगरात्मजा:।।1.40.30।।


काकुत्स्थ O Rama, तत: thereafter, अप्रमेयेन by the possesser of power beyond imagination, महात्मना by the magnanimous, तेन कपिलेन by that Kapila, सर्वे all, सगरात्मजा: sons of Sagara, भस्मराशीकृता: reduced to a heap of ashes.

O son of Kakusthas all the sons of Sagara were reduced to a heap of ashes, by that magnanimous Kapila, whose power was beyond imagination".
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे चत्वारिंशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fortieth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.