Realizing the long absence of his sons, who were gone for a very long time Sagara sent for Anshuman, his valiant grandson. He told him that accomplished as he was in the arts of war and equal to his forefathers, he ought to search for the path taken by his uncles and also for the thief who had led away the horse. "Remarkable and indomitable are the powers of those that inhabit the nether worlds, take your bow and your sword to ward them off.Pay homage to those that deserve homage and destroy those that hinder you. Come back victorious and help me to complete my sacrifice."

Hurrying forth, Anshuman traveled by the path created and taken by his uncles, to reach the depths of the earth.There he saw the Diggajas being worshiped by the devatas, danavas, daityas, pisachas, rakshasas, birds and serpents. The princes too worshipfully went round the first celestial elephant and asked of their uncles and of him who had robbed the horse. Hearing Anshuman, the celestial elephant blessed him with his successful return home with the horse.Out of respect for the other three Diggajas, the son of Asamanjasa made inquiries of them too, who also gave him benediction for his victory.

Striding swiftly Anshuman reached the place where his uncles were reduced to a heap of ashes and also sighted the horse grazing in peace close by. He wept in anguish, at the fate of his uncles. Wishing to perform their funeral rites, Anshuman looked around for water, but saw none. At a distance he spotted his great uncle, Garuda, king of birds and son of Vinata who came to him and said, "Your uncles have been consumed by none other than the divine Kapila. You should not offer them the water of this world. You may get the holy water of Ganga, which alone will attain them heaven. Perform the rites and go back to complete the sacrifice, undertaken by your father".

Anshuman returned to Ayodhya and made known to Sagara of what had happened. Though Sagara was devastated at the dreadful news, composing himself he concluded the great sacrifice. Without ever making a decision to bring the river Ganga to earth he ruled for thirty thousand years and reached the land of the gods.