The Wise Anshuman

In our previous blog, we explored the tale of King Sagar and his grand Ashvamedha yagya. For the yagya to be considered a success, the prized horse must return safely to its master. However, after being released to roam the vast kingdoms, the majestic horse mysteriously vanished without a trace.

Panic gripped the King's heart as he dispatched his sixty thousand valiant sons on a quest to locate the horse; they too disappeared into the unknown.

In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation, King Sagar called upon his courageous grandson, Anshuman, to undertake a treacherous journey in search of both his uncles and the prized horse.

Will Anshuman rise to the occasion and navigate the perilous paths that lie ahead? Join us as we unravel this mesmerising saga and discover what happens next......

Anshuman set off on his journey with the blessing from Sagar that echoed in his heart. He treaded along the path his uncles took, each step laden with anticipation. The trails twisted and turned, leading him beyond the familiar realms of Earth, into the unknown. 

A Scene of Mystery and Ashes

Suddenly, he found himself standing before a cave, its mouth gaping wide like an open secret. Anshuman stepped inside, his senses heightened. There in the dim light, he spotted the horse, tied and standing tall. But his breath caught in his throat as he laid his eyes on Kapil Bhagavan, lost in meditation. 

Then Anshuman's gaze fell upon something ominous – a heap of ashes. His mind raced, wondering, "What could this be?".

This was the exact scene his uncles had encountered. However, Anshuman, being a wise individual, chose a different path from his uncles. He didn't jump to conclusions. Instead, in a deep act of devotion, he prostrated himself at the feet of Kapil Bhagavan.

With trembling lips, Anshuman began to extol the virtues of Kapil Bhagavan, his praise filling the sacred space. Tears streamed down his face, a mix of love and gratitude, falling like precious offerings at Kapil Bhagavan's feet. Finally, the divine personality opened his eyes, revealing a gaze shimmering with compassion and understanding

The Revelation

Kapil Bhagavan spoke, " Son, this magnificent horse belongs to your grandfather. Take it, for it was brought here by the proud King Indra, while I was deep in my yoganidra. As for your uncles, they have been reduced to nothing but ashes, consumed by their own arrogance. Only the sacred waters of the Ganga, flowing from the heavens, hold the power to cleanse their tormented souls and guide them to the serene realms of pitriloka."

What a powerful lesson lies here for us to reflect upon. The very same scene led to destruction for some and revelation for others, based purely on their approach and internal state. It highlights the importance of refraining from jumping to conclusions and choosing to show respect, allowing the truth to unfold naturally. Before taking action, it is essential to grasp the full context

A Monumental Task

Anshuman bowed deeply before the magnificent figure of Kapil Bhagavan, He hurried back to the kingdom. Once within the walls of the palace, he stood before his grandfather, King Sagar, and recounted the harrowing tale that would forever change their destiny.

The grief-stricken King Sagar felt the unbearable ache of loss as Anshuman spoke of his sixty thousand valiant sons, who were burned to ashes. King Sagar put the thoughts of his sons' death behind him and completed the sacred yagya.

King Sagar made a monumental decision: he crowned Anshuman as the new king, recognising his bravery and wisdom. Then the old king ventured into the dense forest, seeking solitude to perform tapasa and commune with the Divine. 

The Generational Pursuit

Anshuman was driven by an unwavering desire to bring the divine mother Ganga into the mortal realm, hoping to bestow peace upon his ancestors.

He surrendered himself to the most grueling austerities imaginable, with days turning into weeks and weeks into months and months into years as he pushed his body and mind to the brink, praying fervently for Ganga’s descent. Despite his relentless efforts, he found no success.

As old age crept upon him like a relentless shadow, Anshuman succumbed to his fate, leaving behind an unfinished task.

Inspired by his father’s indomitable spirit, Anshuman's courageous son, Dilip, vowed to take up the sacred mantle. He also embarked on a perilous journey, determined to bring the divine mother Ganga to earth. However, like his father before him, Dilip also failed to fulfil this profound desire, leaving the sacred work incomplete as he too succumbed to his fate of death.

Then, the monumental task of bringing the divine Ganga down to Earth fell into the hands of Bhagirath, son of Dilip.

Will Bhagirath be able to fulfil his forefathers' unaccomplished wish of bringing the river Ganga to Earth?

To be continued...

Summary

This narrative excerpt details the story of King Sagar and his Ashvamedha yaga, which is disrupted by the mysterious disappearance of the sacrificial horse. Sagar's sixty thousand sons are sent to find it, but vanish, leading to his grandson Anshuman undertaking the search. Anshuman discovers the horse and learns from Kapil Bhagavan that his uncles were burned to ashes due to their arrogance; only the Ganga's waters can cleanse their souls. Anshuman returns with the horse to the kingdom, Sagar completes the yagya, and crowns Anshuman before retiring. Anshuman and, later, his son Dilip, attempt to bring the divine Ganga to earth to purify their ancestors, but both fail, leaving the monumental task to Dilip's son, Bhagirath.

Let's Reflect

If you were standing in the shoes of Anshuman, how would you approach Kapil Bhagavan? Would you untie the horse and run away, or would you accuse Kapil Bhagavan of stealing the horse without knowing his true identity?