Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 9 Chapter 8:1-13

Book 9: Chapter 8

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 9: Chapter 8: Verses 1-13
The story of King Sagara

Sri Suka resumed: Harita was the son of Rohita and from (the loins of) Harita sprang up Campa,. by whom was built the city of Campa. And of Campa was born Sudeva, whose son was Vijaya. Vijaya's son was Bharuka; and from (the loins of) Bharuka sprang up Vrka, whose son again was Bahuka. His land having been usurped by the enemies, King Bharuka retired to the forest alongwith his wife. Intending to follow (ascend the funeral pile of) the aged king, who died (in the forest), the queen was stopped by the sage Aurva, who knew her to be enceinte.By her co-wives, who came to know this, poison was administered to her with her food (through jealousy); but (no harm came to her. On the other hand,) a highly renowned son was born of her alongwith that poison and (thus) came to be known by the name of Sagara (one born with poison) Sagara turned out to be a universal monarch, and by his sons was dug out the ocean (which was thenceforward named after them as Sagara). In deference to the advice of his preceptor (the sage Aurva) he did not kill (even though he conquered) the Talajarnghas, Yavanas (Ionians), Sakas (Scythians), Haihayas and Barbaras (Barbarians), but only caused them to be disfigured. Some he had thoroughly shaved, while others he left with beards and moustaches (alone); some he left with dishevelled hair (alone, causing their moustaches and beards to be removed), while others he left with their heads half shaven. Some he caused to be stripped of their under-garment, while he had others shorn of their outer garment. In the manner pointed out by the sage Aurva he (then) propitiated by means of (a number of) Aswamedha sacrifices Lord Sri Hari, his (very) Self, manifested in the form of all the Vedas and the divinities. Indra (the destroyer of his enemies' towns) stole away his consecrated horse released as a prelude to the sacrifice. Looking for the horse in obedience to their father's command, the proud sons of Sumati (one of the two wives of Sagara), numbering sixty thousand, excavated the earth down to the sea-level on all sides. (While carrying on their excavation) in a north-easterly direction they perceived the horse by the side of the (divine) sage Kapila. "Here is the thief, who stole the horse, sitting with his eyes closed. Let this wicked fellow be killed and killed (at once)!' Shouting thus, they (all) rushed (towards Him) with uplifted weapons. At that moment the sage opened His eyes. Deprived of their (good) sense by the powerful Indra and already killed by (the sin of) their having offended against an exalted soul (like the divine Kapila), they were instantly reduced to ashes by the fire of their own body. It is not correct to say that the sons of Sagara (the king of kings) were burnt by the wrath of the sage (Kapila). How can Tamoguna (ignorance) in the form of anger be conceived in Him who is an embodiment of pure Sattva (Sattva unmixed with Rajas and Tamas), and whose (divine) person is capable of purifying the (whole) universe, any more than (prticles of) dust belonging to the earth can be conceived as attaching to the sky (which is absolutely unattached)?

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