Lomasha said : O best of the Bharata race, having heard these words uttered in the sky, that foremost of kings reverentially did all that he was directed to do.

That ruler of men took out separately each one of the seeds and he then kept these divisions (of the gourd) in vessels filled with Ghee.

Being anxious to save the son, he placed one nurse in charge of one vessel. Then after a long time there were born greatly powerful and exceedingly effulgent sixty thousand sons. O king, they were born to that royal sage through the favour of Rudra (Shiva).

They were fierce, they were prone to do wicked acts, they were able to ascend to and roam about in the sky. Being numerous themselves, they disturbed all creatures including the immortals.

Those heroes, ever fond of fight, chased even the celestials, the Gandharvas the Rakshashas and all other creatures.

Persecuted by the wicked-minded sons of Sagara, all creatures with all the celestials went to ask protection from Brahma.

To them said the greatly cxalted Grandsire of all creatures, “O celestials, go back whence you came with all these creatures.

Within a very short time, exceedingly fearful destruction of Sagara's heroic sons will take place through their own misdeeds.

O ruler of men, having been thus addressed, the celestials and the other creatures, bidding farewell to the Grandsire, went back to the place whence they had come.

O best of the Bharata race, after a long time, the mighty king Sagara installed himself for the performance of a horse-sacrifice.

His horse, guarded by his sons, roamed over the world. Going to the fearful and waterless ocean. It disappeared there, though it was guarded with all care. O child, they thought that the excellent horse had been robbed. Going (back) to their father, they told him how the horse had disappeared and had been stolen. He (Sagara) said, “Go and search the horse in all directions."

O great king, at the command of their father, they searched for the horse in all directions and all over the world.

Thereupon the sons of Sagara mutually united together could not find the horse nor the person who had stolen it.

Coming to their father, they spoke to him with joined hands, "O king, O ruler of earth, O protector of men, at your command we have searched the whole earth with its seas, forests, islands, with its rivers and caves, with its mountains and forest lands, but we could not find cither the horse or the thief who had stolen it.” Having heard their words, the king grew senseless in anger.

O king, impelled by Destiny, he spoke to them thus, “Go away, never return. O sons, search again for the horse in all directions.

Without that sacrificial horse never return again." Accepting the command of their father, those sons of Sagara, once more began to search for the horse all over the world. The heroes saw a pit on the surface of the earth.

Having seen that pit, the sons of Sagara axes they dug on in the sea with the greatest efforts.

That abode of Varuna (ocean), being thus dug by the united sons of Sagara and also rent and cut on all sides, found itself in the greatest possible distress.

Being killed by the sons of Sagara, the Asuras, the Nagas, the Rakshashas and various other living creatures raised up distressful cries.

Hundreds and thousands of living creatures were seen with severed heads, with separated trunks, with their skin, bones and joints rent asunder.

Thus they dug on the ocean, the abode of Varuna, but a long period of time passed away and still the horse was not found.

O ruler of men, the sons of Sagara then dug the sea in anger on its north eastern region till they reached the nether region.

They then saw that the horse was roaming there on the surface of the ground. (They also saw) the illustrious Kapila, a perfect mass of great effulgence. He was blazing in splendour like a blazing fire.

Having seen him and the horse, they were flushed with delight. Being impelled by Fate, they did not care the presence of the illustrious Kapila.

Being eager to get the horse, they ran towards it in anger. O great king, thereupon that foremost of Rishis, Kapila, grew angry.

Kapila whom the great Rishis called Vasudeva assumed a fiery look and shot flames from his eyes.

That greatly effulgent one burnt down those foolish-minded sons of Sagara. Having seen them reduced to ashes, the great ascetic Narada came to Sagara and told him all that had happened. Having heard those terrible words, uttered from the lips of the Rishi, the king (Sagara) remained unconscious for some time; he then thought of the words of Sthanu (Shiva). Then calling Anshuman, the son of Asamanjasa his grandson, O best of Bharata race, he spoke these words. "My sixty thousands immeasurably powerful sons, falling under the effulgence of Kapila, has met with their death on my account. O child, O sinless one, your father also has been abandoned by me from my desire to protect the citizens and to save my virtue.

Yudhishthira said : O great ascetic, tell me why that foremost of kings, Sagara abandoned his own heroic son, a son who was not fit to be abandoned?

Lomasha said: The son of Sagara who was born of Shaibya and who was called Asamanjasa used to seize by the throat the weak children of the citizens and to throw them into the river while screaming. Thereupon the citizens overwhelmed with grief and fear all met together and with joined hands they thus prayed to Sagara, "O great king, you are our protector from the fear of an attack from the hostile force.

You should therefore protect us from the fearful danger proceeding from your son.” Having heard those terrible words of the citizens, that foremost of kings. Becoming absent-minded for a moment, spoke thus to his ministers, “Drive away at once my son Asaınanjasa from the city.

If you desire to do what will be pleasing to me, do it soon." O ruler of men having been thus addressed by the king, the ministers, soon performed what they were commanded to do by the king. I have thus narrated to you how the son was exiled by the illustrious Sagara for the welfare of the citizens. I shall now narrate to you in detail what the great bowman Anshumana was told by Sagara. Listen to me.

Sagara said: O son, I am greatly aggrieved on account of the abandonment of my son, on account of the death of my sons and also on account of being unsuccessful in getting the horse.

Therefore, O grandson, I am afflicted with grief and confounded with the hindrance that has taken place to my sacrifice. You must save me from sin by bringing the horse.

Lomasha said: Having been thus addressed by the illustrious Sagara, Anshumana went to the place where the earth had been excavated (by his uncles).

By that passage he entered the ocean and saw the high-souled Kapila and also the horse.

Seeing that ancient great Rishi, a mass of effulgence, he bowed down his head to the ground and told him the reason of his coming.

O great king, O descendant of Bharata, thereupon Kapila was pleased with Angsumana and that virtuous-minded Rishi told him to ask a boon from him.

He first asked the horse for the sacrifice and then he asked for the revivification of his fathers (uncles).

To him replied that foremost of Rishis, Kapila of great splendour, “O sinless one, be blessed; I grant you all that you ask. In you there exist forbearance truth and righteousness. By you Sagara has his desire fulfilled and your father has really got a son.

Through your might, the sons of Sagara will go to heaven and your grand-son will bring the three-coursed river (the Ganges) from heaven, by gratifying Maheshvara in order to purify the sons of Sagara. O foremost of men, be blessed; take (back) the sacrificial horse.

And O child, complete the sacrifice of the illustrious Sagara.” Having been thus addressed by the illustrious Kapila, Anshuman, the highsouled one, taking the horse, came to (the sacrificial ground (of Sagara). Then saluting the feet of the illustrious Sagara who smelt his head, he told him all that had been seen and heard by him and all about the destruction of the sons of Sagara. (He also told him) that the horse had been brought to the sacrificial ground; Having heard this, the king Sagara no more grieved for his sons.

He praised and honoured Anshuman and completed his sacrifice. When the sacrifice was completed, Sagara was greeted by all the celestials.

He made the ocean, the abode of Varuna, as one of his sons. That lotus-cyed hero ruled over his kingdom for a long period of time. Then giving the charge (of his kingdom) to his grandson (Angsuman), he went to heaven; and the virtuous-minded Anshaman also, O great king following the example of his grandfather ruled over the earth with the belt of sea. His son was named Dilipa who was learned in the precepts of virtue.

Giving him the charge of the kingdom, Anshuman also gave up his life. Having heard the terrible fate of his ancestors (Sagara's son) Dilipa. Was overwhelmed with grief and thought of the means of delivering them. That king then made every effort to bring down the Ganges (from heaven).

Though he tried it with all his mighi, he could not bring her down (1O earth). A virtuous and handsome son was then born to him. He was truthful and without malice and he was known by the name of Bhagiratha. Installing him in the kingdom, Dilipa retired into the forest.

O best of the Bharata race, O descendant of Bharata, that king after attaining success in austerities went in due time from that forest to heaven.