BRAHMANANDA PURANA – The Destruction of the Sons of Sagara Jamini Said

  1. When they reached there, the wind god who had been directed by Indra, carried away the horse to the netherworlds within a moment.
  2. Stealing the horse without being seen by any of them, O king, the wind god carried it away along that path to the vicinity of sage Kapila.
  3. 3-4. When the horse disappeared, all those princes became perplexed. Searching for the horse, they went ’round and ’round the earth. After searching the entire earth including the cities, mountains and forests, they attained great sorrow because they were still unable to see the sacrificial animal.
  1. Then they went back to Ayodhya, surrounded by the sagas, met their father, bowed down to him and initiated to him everything.
  2. ” The moment we entered the ocean after wandering over the whole of the earth, the horse was taken away by some one though it was being vigilantly guarded by us who were on the watch.”

7-8. On being told thus by them the excellent king became infuriated and told them ” Go away hence, unrighteous ones, never to return again. How was it lost by you, while you were alive. You were indeed evil minded ones. There is no question of your returning without the horse here”.

  1. Then all of them together setout from that place and said to one another: ” Even now the horse is not to be seen, what shall we do ?”
  2.  The whole of the earth was searched by us, including the mountains, forests and park The horse is not seen anywhere nor its news is heard.
  3.  Hence, starting with the ocean and extending as far as the netherworlds, we shall split the earth and dig it. We shall enter the netherworlds and search for the hor
  4.  Having decided thus, all those sons of Sagara, of cruel resolve, dug the earth everywhere beginning with the seashore.
  1.  Being dug by them, the earth became greatly excited and cried aloud. On seeing their activity, all living beings cried in distress.
  2.  After digging the Bharata subcontinent and casting it off on the ground, they united a thousand Yojanas of the earth to the ocean.
  3. 15. Digging the earth upto the netherworlds, the sons of the king saw the horse grazing in the netherworld

I6. Delighted very much they gathered together and laughed out of contentment. Some of them danced with great joy.

17-21. They saw the noble-souled Kapila of brilliant lustre who was very old; who was seated in the lotusposture, with his eyes fixed yet at the tip of his nose, who had kept the head and neck straight and long; who had kept the chest projecting forward, who was shining with his own splendour radiating all round in full like a lamp placed in a windless spot; whose body was full of perfect knowledge shining within himself; whose mind was engaged in abstract meditation; who appeared like the motionless ocean; who was duly engaged in the yogic exercise; whose mind was engrossed in what should be meditated upon; who was the most excellent among leading Yogins and who looked like the fire with its clusters of flames extinguished. On seeing him staying there, they consulted one another about him for a short while. For a short while, they underwent excessive agitation.

22-23. Thinking that it was he who stole the horse, the evil-minded sons of’ Sagara, induced by the God of death, surrounded Kapila, the excellent sage. Encircling him they said, ” This is the thief: There is no doubt about it. This evil-minded robber of the horse deserves to be killed by us”. Jaimini said :

24-27 a. ” All those Sagaras whose intellect had become deluded and whose death was imminent, suddenly molested the sage who was sitting like an ordinary person. Then sage Kapila who had never been dejected in mind, was overwhelmed with wrath, because he lead been upset due to the break in his abstract meditation. He was agitated. Assailed by those evilminded ones, the unassailable sage Kapila became agitated. He assumed a huge size like the fire that increases in size at the end of the Kalpa on account of the gusts of wind.

27-30 a. The fire of anger arising out of his body as vast and majestic as the ocean, burst forth like the Samkarshana fire issuing from the poison of Sesha out to burn down the netherworlds. His anger was further kindled by the recollection of attack. The sage who had a lustre similar to that of a wheel of fire ( i.e. whirling fire ) opened his eyes. Then for a moment, O king, his eyes became extremely red and shone like the Sun and the Moon simultaneously appearing in the sky at dawn.

30-35. He looked at the princes with rolling eyes gravely, like the God of annihilation at the close of ( Kalpa ) period. Sparks and flames of fire suddenly emerged from the eyes of that infuriated sage and spread all round in various directions continuously, like the sparks of Kalagni ( destructive fire at the time of final annihilation ). The sparks of fire of the Sage’s anger pervaded the quarters all round, with columns of smoke projecting forward and emitting floods of sparks frequently.The sparks emanating from his eyes like the poisonous flames with the cavity of the belly of a python, shone like the flames of the Vadavafire ( submarine fire ) of the violent ocean. The fire of anger, O great king, that pervaded the spaces in the quarters by means of its flames, enveloped the firmament and burned the sons of Sagara.

  1.  The world became enveloped by the clusters of flames of fire and smoke whirling round and round on account of the angry ( i. violent ) blasts of wind that blew with a loud report. It became filled with the dusts of the earth too, that were blown up excessively. Hence, the world became too much afflicted.
  2.  All round, the fire appeared to be scraping the firmament by means of its flames struck by the velocity of wind. It immediately burned down completely the sons of the king who were the enemies of the Suras.
  1.  Even as all the worlds were watching, the fire of Kapila’s anger reduced the Sagaras to ashes completely, sparing only the hor
  2.  Thus the sons of Sagara, of sinful mind, were burned suddenly on account of that fire of anger like the dry trees that get consumed in the forest conflagration.
  3.  On seeing the annihilation of those evil-minded Sagaras, the Devas spoke to one another in wonder, along with the Sages.

41-42. Oh, the ultimate bad result of those persons who have committed terrible sins has not been delayed. Indeed, in this world, men of wicked souls have to meet with a bad end. These wicked and cruel minded persons, huge in size like mountains, have suddenly and forcibly perished like dry grass in fire.

  1. They had caused anxiety and torture to all living beings. They were extremely censured by good men throughout their liv Fortunately, they have met with their destruction.
  2.  Which man can attain happiness in this world after committing an inauspicious action that is censured by the worlds and that causes harassment to others? 45. These sinners had made all living beings cry alou They have now been struck dead by means of brahmadanda ( the punishing rod of a brahmana ). Hence, on account of their own evil actions, they have gone to hell where they will be spending many many years.
  3.  Hence, only good actions should be performed by intelligent persons. The other type of actions censured by the world should be cast off far away ( i. completely avoided ).
  4.  As long as one is alive, one should strive for the attainment of final be This should be done by one who knows what is good for him. One should not harm or injure any one, as life is transitory.
  5.  This body is nonpermanent. Riches are extremely fickle. The entire worldly existence is utterly worthl How may the learned one believe ( otherwise )?” 49. Even as the leading Suras and sages were telling one another thus, the sons of Sagara perished after becoming the fuel to the fire of the anger of the sage.
  6.  The sons of Sagara whose bodies were burnt down suddenly, ( as if ) paralysed the earth with their ashes and instantaneously fell into hell due to their sinful dee
  7. 51. After burning those sons of Sagara entirely, the fire arising from his anger was on the point of burning all the worlds suddenly in a moment.

52. The Devas who became frightened gathered together and stood by in the firmament. Being desireous of suppressing the fire of anger, they eulogised the noble-souled sage.

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