The Story of King Sagara and His Sons

King Sagara, a revered ruler of the Ikshvaku dynasty, was a mighty and virtuous king known for his valor, strength, and commitment to dharma. Under his reign, the kingdom flourished, and he gained respect across Bharatavarsha. Despite his success, King Sagara had one deep sorrow: he had no children. Determined to have a successor, Sagara performed numerous rituals and sacrifices, hoping for divine blessings to fulfill his desire for an heir.

The Birth of Sagara’s Sons

After performing a great penance, Sagara received blessings from sage Aurva, who granted him a boon. As a result, Sagara’s two wives, Sumati and Keshini, were blessed with children. Sumati, the elder wife, gave birth to sixty thousand sons, while Keshini, the younger wife, bore one son named Asamanja.

Sagara was delighted, especially as his lineage was now assured. Asamanja, his only son from Keshini, grew up to be a strong and intelligent prince. Unfortunately, as he grew older, Asamanja displayed cruel behavior, often harassing the people and performing vile acts, such as throwing children into the river for his amusement. Deeply troubled by Asamanja’s actions, King Sagara eventually exiled him from the kingdom.

Despite the misbehavior of Asamanja, the sixty thousand sons of Sumati grew up with dedication to their father and served him faithfully. These sons were loyal, dutiful, and strong, and they held a deep respect for Sagara, carrying out his orders with zeal.

King Sagara’s Ashwamedha Yajna

With his sons by his side, King Sagara decided to perform the Ashwamedha Yajna, a grand horse sacrifice that symbolized the ruler’s sovereignty over the land. This ritual was intended to declare Sagara’s supremacy as king and extend his influence across Bharatavarsha. In this yajna, a sacrificial horse was released to roam freely across various lands. If any king captured or halted the horse, it would signify a challenge to Sagara’s authority, and the matter would be settled through battle.

The horse was released and began its journey, traveling through different kingdoms without any interruption. However, as it reached the lands near the ashram of Sage Kapila, the horse suddenly vanished. The disappearance of the horse alarmed King Sagara, as its presence was essential for completing the yajna.

The Search for the Missing Horse

Furious and determined to complete the yajna, Sagara commanded his sixty thousand sons to search for the horse and bring it back. He instructed them to search every corner of the earth until they found the horse, leaving no stone unturned. The sixty thousand sons, united in their loyalty and mission, set out on a vigorous search across Bharatavarsha, digging up the land and scouring every region.

As they searched, the sons of Sagara caused considerable disruption, tearing through mountains, forests, rivers, and villages. Their relentless digging began to disturb the natural order, causing alarm among sages and creatures. Yet, the sons were determined, unyielding in their pursuit, and they finally dug deep enough to reach the netherworld, or Patala, where they found the missing horse.

Encounter with Sage Kapila

When the sixty thousand sons reached the depths of Patala, they found the sacrificial horse grazing peacefully near Sage Kapila, a revered sage known for his intense meditation and asceticism. However, they immediately suspected Sage Kapila of stealing the horse, assuming that he had taken it to disrupt their father’s sacrifice. In their rage and arrogance, they accused Kapila of wrongdoing, shouting insults and preparing to attack him.

Sage Kapila, who had been in deep meditation, was disturbed by their aggressive accusations. When he opened his eyes, his divine power was unleashed. The mere gaze of Kapila, an enlightened sage with immense spiritual energy, turned the sixty thousand sons into ashes. Their bodies were instantly incinerated, reduced to piles of ash, marking a tragic end for Sagara’s loyal but impulsive sons.

King Sagara’s Grief and the Need for Salvation

When news of his sons’ fate reached King Sagara, he was devastated. He mourned the loss of his sixty thousand sons, who had been destroyed by their own arrogance and impulsiveness. However, he also recognized that their souls were now trapped without peace or salvation due to the manner of their death. According to dharma, they could not attain liberation unless their remains were purified by sacred rites.

Realizing this, King Sagara turned to his grandson, Anshuman (the son of Asamanja), who had grown to be a wise and virtuous young prince. Sagara asked Anshuman to descend into the netherworld, find the ashes of his uncles, and seek a way to bring peace to their souls. Anshuman embarked on this difficult journey with a sense of duty and devotion, determined to fulfill his grandfather’s wish.

Anshuman’s Plea to Sage Kapila

Anshuman ventured into the netherworld, where he found the remains of his uncles and the sacrificial horse. He also encountered Sage Kapila and, recognizing the sage’s divinity, approached him with humility and reverence. Anshuman did not blame the sage for the fate of his uncles, understanding that it was their own anger and impulsive behavior that had led to their demise. Instead, he respectfully sought guidance on how to liberate their souls.

Pleased with Anshuman’s humility and wisdom, Sage Kapila blessed him and returned the sacrificial horse, allowing the yajna to be completed. However, Kapila explained that to bring true salvation to the souls of the sixty thousand sons, the sacred waters of the Ganga River needed to flow over their ashes. Only then would they attain peace and liberation.

Anshuman returned to King Sagara with the sacrificial horse and completed the Ashwamedha Yajna. He also relayed Kapila’s instructions for the liberation of Sagara’s sons. Though the yajna was completed, Sagara was deeply saddened that his sons’ souls remained without salvation. He spent the rest of his life in prayer and devotion, hoping to find a way to fulfill the sage’s instructions.