Free The Ramayana by Ramesh Menon Page A

unequal encounter in brash, foolhardy waves. When all of them were ashed, Kapila shut his eyes again with a sigh, as if nothing of any moment had happened. He went back to his meditation.
    â€œSagara waited a long time for his host of sons to return to him with the sacrificial horse. But when no sign or word of them came, he sent Anshuman after them into the Patalas. Anshuman followed the trail of mayhem his uncles had left and arrived at the mouth of Kapila’s cave. He saw the glow from the rishi’s body, and went in very quietly. The horse was tethered beside the muni, who sat lost to the world, his aura illumining the darkness. Anshuman waited patiently for Kapila to emerge from his trance.
    â€œFor a long time Anshuman stood motionless; at last, Kapila opened his eyes and looked gently at the prince. Anshuman prostrated himself at the rishi’s feet. He said, ‘Holy one, I am King Sagara’s grandson Anshuman. I have come in search of my grandfather’s sacrificial horse.’
    â€œKapila smiled at the noble youth. ‘Your horse is with me, child. Indra left him here.’ He pointed at the ashes strewn across the cave’s floor. ‘Your uncles came here in violence,’ he said, ‘and I was forced to burn them.’
    â€œAnshuman grieved for his uncles. He wanted to offer tarpana for them, so their souls could rise into heaven. But he could find no water in Patala. As he ranged those dark labyrinths in quest of water, he heard a sound of vast wings. Garuda, who was Sumati’s brother, flew down to him.
    â€œGaruda said to the distraught Anshuman, ‘No common water will wash the sins of your uncles. They violated Bhumidevi and outraged the spirits who are her guardians. Only the waters of Himalaya’s daughter who flows through the stars can purify their souls. You must bring the Ganga down to wash their ashes; only then will they find deliverance.’
    â€œAnshuman stood in awe of Garuda, and terrified by the task he himself had inherited. The eagle-winged one said to him, ‘But it is not yet time for the sacred river to flow on earth. Take your horse home to your grandfather. He waits anxiously for you, and the aswamedha must be completed.’
    â€œAnshuman did as Garuda asked, and Sagara was able to finish his yagna. But the king was a broken man after he learned of the death of his sons. He left his kingdom to Anshuman, as soon as the prince was old enough, and went away to the mountains with his wives. He went to perform tapasya, to purify himself before he left his body and was gathered to his fathers.
    â€œAnshuman was a just king. But ruling his kingdom absorbed him entirely, and he found no time to undertake a penance that would bring the Ganga down to the earth, and to Patala below, where his uncles’ ashes lay whispering in grief that their souls languished in a limbo.
    â€œAnshuman’s son Dilipa was a great kshatriya, as well. But not even he could bring the Ganga down to redeem his ancestors. The destiny of the Ikshvaku line was impeded by the unresolved sins of the sons of Sumati, and the ruling kings were hard-pressed to keep evil from the kingdom. For by now, the curse was into their very blood.”
    Viswamitra’s story held princes and rishis in thrall. He bore them back to primeval times, dim and magnificent, when sovereigns of unearthly lineage ruled the kingdoms of the earth. Whenever he paused, the others sat with bated breath, lest they disturb his flow of inspiration beside the holy river.
    â€œDilipa had a son called Bhagiratha,” resumed the brahmarishi, master of the ancient lore. “Like his father Anshuman, Dilipa ruled Sagara’s kingdom until age and debility overtook him. He ruled for thirty thousand years, and that was how long men lived in those times if they were not killed in battle. But he did not rule as long as his fathers before him, for the curse grew stronger every day. Dilipa left