Story of Sagara

A king of the solar dynasty, Sagara ruled Ayodhyā.

Genealogy.

Descended from Brahmā thus: Brahmā-Kaśyapa-Vivasvān-Vaivasvata Manu-Ikṣvāku-Vikukṣi-Saśāda-Purañjaya-Kākutstha-Anenas-Pṛthulāśva-Prasenajit-Yuvanāśva-Māndhātā-Purukutsa-Trasadasyu-Anaraṇya-Aryaśva-Vasumanas-Sudhanvā-Traiyāruṇa-Satyavrata (Triśaṅku)-Hariścandra-Rohitāśva-Harita-Cuñcu-Sudeva-Bharuka-Bāhuka-Sagara.

Birth.

Bāhuka, father of Sagara, was known as Subāhu also. Sagara was Bāhuka’s son by his wife, Yādavī. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 16). Though Sagara was a prince he was born at the āśrama of Aurva, and there was a reason for it.

Subāhu and Yādavī did not have a child for long. But, as a result of many yajñas conducted for the gift of a child, Yādavī conceived. While she was in the seventh month of her pregnancy her co-wife administered poison to her with the result that she did not further advance in pregnancy and deliver in due time. Thus she continued as a pregnant woman for seven years. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 16). The King became an old man. During this period Tālajaṅgha, king of Hehaya, attacked Ayodhyā with his army, and Subāhu, despite his old age, fought back. But the fighting grew fiercer. Subāhu found that he would not be able to defeat Tālajaṅgha and so he escaped into the forest with his wife Yādavī. They took shelter in the āśrama of sage Aurva. Subāhu expired there due to old age and Yādavī got ready to follow him in his pyre. The Muni prevented her from doing so by pointing out to her that the child in her womb was a very fortunate one and would become emperor of the seven islands when he grew up to manhood. Yādavī delivered shortly. As the poison (gara) given to her by the co-wife had immobilised her pregnancy for so long Aurva named her child Sagara. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapters 16 and 17).

To Ayodhyā.

Sage Aurva conducted the Upanayana ceremony of the boy and taught him the Vedas ete. Once Yādavī wept to hear the boy address the muni 'father', and when the son asked her the reason for it she told him that the muni was not his father, who was really greater than the muni. She also told him their previous history, and Sagara decided to return to Ayodhyā somehow.

The people of Ayodhyā lived scattered here and there in fear of Tālajaṅgha, and disgusted with such an existence, they came together and took refuge with Vasiṣṭha, who told them that king Subāhu had expired in Aurvāśrama, but that his son Sagara was there in the āśrama. He further advised them to bring Sagara back and reconquer Ayodhyā. Yādavī wept at the sight of the people from Ayodhyā and they insisted upon Sagara’s return to the state as their king. They waited in the āśrama for five days for Sagara. Then Sagara and his mother, with the blessings of the Sage, returned to Ayodhyā along with the people. Sagara fought Tālajaṅgha, reconquered Ayodhyā and crowned himself as king. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapters 20 to 23).

Family life.

Sagara had two wives called Sumati alias Vaidarbhī and Keśinī alias Śaibyā. Sumati was the daughter of Garuḍa.

As he had no issues for long, Sagara, with his wives, went to Himālayas and began doing tapas at Bhṛguprasravaṇa mountain. After hundred years Bhṛgu appeared and blessed Sagara that one of his wives would give birth to 60,000 sons and the other to one, who would add to the glory of the dynasty. Sumati chose 60,000 sons and Keśinī the one son.

The king and the queens returned to Ayodhyā and in due course Sumati delivered the son called Asamañjasa who was to bring prosperity to the dynasty. Sumati gave birth to a lump of flesh, which developed into 60,000 children. They were put in pots of ghee and they grew up to become young persons. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakānḍa, Canto 33).

Some Purāṇas contain stories somewhat different from the above about the birth of the 60,000 children. e.g. in the 9th Skandha of Devī Bhāgavata, the story is related as follows; "Keśinī delivered the son Asamañjasa and Sumati did not deliver at all. So she did tapas for Śiva for children and because of his blessing she conceived. Sumati delivered only hundred years after continuing to be pregnant, and even that was only a piece of flesh, and she began weeping addressing Śiva, who appeared before her and cut the mass of flesh into 60,000 parts. Each piece of flesh transformed itself into a very powerful and effulgent man.

Loss of children.

Kapila turned into ashes the 60,000 sons of Sagara. Bhagīratha revived them. (For details see under Bhagīratha).

Triumphal tour.

Sagara ruled the kingdom well and while living happily thus with his sons, he set out on a triumphal tour. After conquering the northern regions he moved towards the south, his object being Māhiṣmatī, Kingdom of the Hehayas. He destroyed the Hehayas completely in battle. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapters 89 and 90).

Evening of life.

Sagara ruled the kingdom for 300 years. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 91). His son, Asamañjasa was a tormentor of his subjects. In the evening of his life, Sagara transmitted the throne to his grandson Aṃśumān (son of Asamañjasa). The rest of his life he spent in Aurvāśrama with his wife engaged in meditation.

Other information.

(i) Sagara worships Yama in his court, (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 8, Verse 19).

(ii) Sagara ousted Asamañjasa from the palace, because he led an immoral life. (Vana Parva, Chapter 107, Verse 89).

(iii) Sagara went to heaven after handing over the throne to Aṃśumān. (Vana Parva, Chapter 107, Verse 64).

(iv) Sagara had gone, in the plane of Indra to Virāṭanagara to witness the fight between Arjuna and Kṛpa. (Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 56, Verse 10).

(v) Śrī Kṛṣṇa once described the yajña and dāna of Sagara. (Śānti Parva, Chapter 29 Verse 130).

(vi) Sagara never ate flesh in his life. Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 115, Verse 66).

(vii) He is considered to be one of the kings to be remembered both at dawn and dusk. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 165, Verse 49).