The Epic King: Sagar

Our story begins with King Bahuka, whose enemies took away his land and wealth by force after they defeated him in battle. Overcome with despair, he ventured deep into the forest accompanied by one of his wives. Tragically, the King died, leaving his beloved wife alone and heartbroken. Consumed by grief, the queen felt that she could not bear to live without her husband and resolved to end her life on his funeral pyre. Just as she was about to step into the flames, a sage intervened, urging her to reconsider her decision.

The sage firmly, but gently said, "Do not extinguish the light before it has had a chance to shine. You carry the spark of life within you, a child who deserves to see the world."

Poison, Jealousy, and Unbreakable Fate

When the news of the King's unexpected passing reached his other wives, they were all devastated; however, they were overcome with jealousy because his beloved queen was glowing with the promise of new life.

The beloved queen became the target of envy and malice from the other wives, who could only seethe with jealousy over the fortune that favoured her. They conspired to eliminate her unborn child, subtly slipping poison into the meals crafted for her.

But fate, it seemed, had a different story to tell. The poison failed to harm the queen; she emerged from the shadows of adversity untouched, her spirit unbroken.

Birth and Past Life Unveiled

When the moment of birth finally arrived. The child was born covered in the very poison intended to seal his fate. This was nothing short of extraordinary grace.

As the queen held her newborn boy, a wise sage appeared. He gazed upon the miraculous child and proclaimed, "He shall be known as Sagar."

Sagar ascended the throne and became a renowned king. King Sagar had two wives, Sumati and Keshini. Sumati was the mother of sixty thousand sons. Keshini was the mother of one son named Asamanja.

Asamanja, in his previous birth, was a revered yogi, delving deep into the practice of meditation; however, because of material attachments in his past life, he was reborn as the son of King Sagar. But, due to his good deeds and spiritual practice, he was able to remember his past life. With this knowledge, Asamanja made a vow: to rise above the shackles of attachment that bind the soul.

A Facade

Determined to safeguard himself from the chains of desire, Asamanja donned a grim facade, embracing an image of cruelty.

Tales arose of Asamanja snatching children from their homes and casting them into the river, much to the horror of the frightened villagers. Dread gripped the hearts of the people, and soon their whispers reached the ears of the benevolent King Sagar.

Driven by concern, the King made a heart-wrenching decision to banish his own son from the kingdom.

Banishment as Freedom and The Grandson

Rather than feeling disappointed and daunted by this punishment, Asamanja was elated with the decision of his father, King Sagar. Alone in the wilderness, far from the chains of royalty and the clutches of worldly desires, Asamanja embraced the solitude like a long-lost friend. He poured his energy into rigorous austerities, immersing himself in fierce meditation and devotion. Leading him to his ultimate goal of God-realisation.

Meanwhile, King Sagar, heartbroken by the loss of his beloved son, turned his affections toward his grandson, Anshuman, son of Asamanja, showering him with unconditional love. Anshuman loved his grandfather dearly.

A Grand Quest

King Sagar had a deep yearning to perform the grand Ashvamedha yagya. This ritual involved a horse that would freely roam the countryside. The success of the yagya depends on the horse's return; if the horse was stolen or failed to return, the ceremony would be deemed incomplete. Indra, sensing that his position of power was threatened by King Sagar, cunningly stole the horse.

When King Sagar realised that the horse was nowhere to be found, he summoned all sixty thousand of his sons, who were brave warriors. Each prince, cloaked in arrogance and confidence, vowed to find the stolen horse and return it to their father. They embarked on a quest to find the horse and restore the honour of their kingdom.

They scoured every corner of the globe, their hearts pounding with a mix of hope and desperation in their quest for the lost horse. With unwavering determination, they unleashed their incredible strength, delving deep into the earth until they reached the netherworld. Suddenly, they stumbled upon an ancient cave, its entrance dark and foreboding.

Inside the cave, they discovered a Sage, his presence radiating an aura of power as he meditated in profound silence. And there, grazing peacefully beside him, was their long-lost horse.

"Look at this thief!" exclaimed the proud princes. "He has stolen our horse and sits there, eyes closed, as if he's impervious to our wrath! We must confront him."

All sixty thousand sons of King Sagar gripped their weapons tightly, with a fierce battle cry charged toward the Sage.

The Divine: Kapil Bhagavan

The princes rushed towards the sage, unaware that He was Kapil Bhagavan. Kapil Bhagvan opened His eyes and looked at them; all the sons of Sagar were instantly reduced to ashes.

People often question, How could Kapil Bhagavan become angry and destroy the sons of Sagar. It is important to understand that Kapil Bhagavan did not act out of mere rage; the sons of King Sagar had insulted a great personality due to their pride and arrogance. In addition, Indra had clouded the judgment of the sons of Sagar, robbing them of their clarity of thought.

It is interesting to note that the sixty thousand sons of Sagar did not take a moment to understand the entire situation and concluded that Kapil Bhagavan stole the prized horse. What you see is not always the truth.

The Last Hope

A storm of dread washed over King Sagar when his sixty thousand sons did not return with the horse. The Ashvamedha ceremony couldn’t proceed without the presence of the horse, and time was slipping away. King Sagar, in his desperation, turned to his grandson Anshuman, a young man brimming with courage and determination, who accepted the daunting task of seeking out the missing horse and his lost uncles.

What do you think will happen next? Will Anshuman succeed? Will he face the same fate as his uncles?

To be continued........

Summary

This is the story of King Sagar, whose life is marked by tragedy and divine intervention. It begins with the difficult circumstances of Sagar's birth after his father, King Bahuka, is defeated and dies. Sagar's mother survives being poisoned by her jealous co-wives. The narrative then shifts to Sagar's reign and the unusual behaviour of his son, Asamanja, who feigns cruelty to detach himself from worldly ties. Finally, the story recounts how King Sagar's sixty thousand sons are reduced to ashes by the Kapil Bhagavan after they accuse him of stealing a horse crucial for the Ashvamedha ceremony, leaving King Sagar to send his grandson Anshuman to find the missing horse and his lost uncles.

Let's Reflect

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you wrapped up an agreement, a meeting, or a class project by focusing solely on the basic facts, without truly grasping the entire context or underlying issues? Please share your thoughts and experiences on this.