विश्वामित्र वचः श्रुत्वा कथांते रघुनंदनः ।
उवाच परमप्रीतो मुनिं दीप्तमिवानलम् ॥
'Hearing those words of Visvamitra , Rama spoke to that venerable sage who has a glow equal to that of fire God.'

Balakanda
Sarga Thirty nine.

Hearing those words of Visvamitra , Rama spoke to that venerable sage who has a glow equal to that of fire God. ' O Great Soul ! How did our ancient people perform the sacrifice? I am interested in hearing the same in detail'.Then with a smile the venerable spoke to SriRama. ' O Rama ! Please hear the story of great Sagara in detail'.

Visvamitra continued

' Sankara's faher-in-law Himavan, the best among non-moving things, and Vindhya mountain were looking across to each other O Rama ! The sacrifice took place in the land in between these two. That land is well known for the sacrificial activities. Dear son ! As per the strict orders of Sagara, the valiant Ansuman was in charge of the activities connected with the sacrificial horse. On one of the auspicious days during the sacrifice, Indra in the garb of a Rakshasa stole the sacrificial horse. Oh Rama ! since the sacrificial horse was stolen, all the Rishis attending on the sacrifices spoke to Sagara who is performing the sacrifice.'

The Rishis spoke:

" O Sagara! on this auspicious day the sacrificial horse was stolen. The one who stole the sacrificial horse should be killed and the sacrificial horse should be brought back. If there is an obstruction for the sacrifice it is inauspicious to all. Hence do all actions to ensure that such obstruction is removed."

Visvamitra continued

'Hearing those words of Rishis , the king spoke to his sixty thousand sons." Dear Sons ! I have not seen the movements of the Rakshasas. This sacrifice is being performed by great ones knowing all rituals. Dear sons ! You proceed and search the whole earth garlanded by high seas. Till you find the sacrificial horse you dig every yojana of the earth to search. As per my orders catch the one who stole the sacrificial horse. Myself along with Rishis and your sons will be continuing the sacrifice. I will be here. May you be safe in your search ".Having been ordered thus the king's sons were delighted and following the orders of their father went in search of the sacrificial horse.

Visvamitra continued
'O Rama ! each and every one of them started digging the earth with their nails sharp as the daimond edges. Oh Raghunandana ! As the earth is being dug with spears sharp as thunderbolt, and ploughs a fearful sound emnated. O Raghava ! when the digging was going on Nagas , Asuras , even the undefeatable Rakshasas and other beings started making sounds out of fear. O Raghunandana ! the sixty thousand bravehearts dug the earth deep into the nether world. Oh Best of men ! the princes who were digging up the earth, which is full of mountains , were moving freely all over those mountains.

Visvamitra continued

'Then the Devas along with Gandharvas , Asuras and Nagas worried approched Brahma , the father of all. With deep sorrow and fear they first pleased the father and then addressed him in the following manner. " Bhagavan ! The children of Sagara are digging up everything. Many great people living there are being killed. Saying ' This one obstructed the sacrifice" or 'This is the one who stole the sacrificial horse' they are killing all living beings."

|| Thus ended the thirty ninth sarga of Balakanda in the Valmiki Ramayan ||
||Om tat sat ||

अयं यज्ञहरोsस्माकं अनेनाश्वोs पनीयते ।
इतिते सर्वभूतानि निघ्नंति सगरात्मजाः ॥

" Saying ' this one obstructed the sacrifice" or 'this is the one who stole the sacrificial horse' they are killing all living beings."

|| om tat sat ||

|| Om tat sat ||