In the depths of the netherworld, the sons of King Sagara at last discovered the sacrificial horse wandering freely. Not far from it, they beheld a radiant figure—Lord Kapila, shining with the brilliance of the autumn sun, his head bowed, yet his splendor illuminating all directions. They saw in him the one they believed had stolen the horse, and, filled with anger and evil intent, they raised their weapons and declared, “This enemy has wronged us and obstructed our sacrifice—let the horse thief be slain!” With these words, they rushed furiously toward him. But Lord Kapila, with a mere sidelong glance, unleashed a fire from his own body, and in an instant, the sons of Sagara were reduced to ashes. When King Sagara learned that his sons had perished by the great sage Kapila’s power during their pursuit of the horse, he turned to his grandson, Amshuman, entrusting him with the task of retrieving the horse. Amshuman followed the path his uncles had carved through the earth and, approaching the sage with deep reverence and humility, stood before him. Lord Kapila spoke kindly to Amshuman, saying, “Go, take the horse to your grandfather, and ask for a boon. In time, your descendants will bring the sacred Ganga from heaven down to earth.” Amshuman bowed and requested, “Grant us a boon so that my ancestors, who have perished by Brahma’s curse, may attain heaven.” The Lord replied, “What you have asked has already been spoken. Your grandson will bring the Ganga from heaven to earth. When the bones and ashes of your ancestors are touched by her waters, they will ascend to heaven. Such is the greatness of this water, which sprang from the toe of Lord Vishnu. Not only does intentional bathing or enjoyment in these waters bring benefit—even unintentional contact by the bones, skin, sinews, hair, or any part of the deceased’s body leads the soul immediately to heaven.” Having received the sage’s blessing, Amshuman bowed, took the horse, and returned to his grandfather’s sacrifice. With the horse recovered, Sagara completed the great ritual. Out of affection for his lost son, Sagara envisioned the ocean as his own child. From Amshuman was born Dilipa, and from Dilipa, Bhagiratha, who would one day bring the Ganga down from heaven to earth and thus she became known as Bhagirathi. Bhagiratha’s line continued with Suhotra, followed by Shruta, then Nabhaga, and from him, Ambarisha. Ambarisha’s son was Sindhudvipa, whose son was Ayutayu. Ayutayu’s son was Rituparna, famed as the companion of Nala and renowned for his mastery of the horse sacrifice. Rituparna’s son was Sarvakama, followed by Sudasa, and then Saudasa, also known as Mitrasaha. Once, while hunting in the forest, Saudasa encountered two tigers. Believing they had emptied the forest of other creatures, he shot one with an arrow. As the animal lay dying, it revealed itself in a terrifying form—a Rakshasa, a demon of dreadful visage. The second tiger, also a Rakshasa, declared, “I will take revenge on you,” and disappeared. In the course of time, Saudasa performed a great sacrifice. After the ritual, when the priest Vasishta had departed, the vengeful Rakshasa, disguised as Vasishta, appeared and requested human flesh to eat, then departed, promising to return. Again, assuming the form of a cook, the Rakshasa, by the king’s order, prepared human flesh and presented it to Saudasa, who placed it in a golden vessel, awaiting Vasishta’s return. When Vasishta arrived, Saudasa informed him of the offering. The sage, shocked and grieved, wondered, “Alas, what wickedness is this of the king, that he offers us this meat? What is this substance?” He entered into meditation and, perceiving the truth, saw that it was indeed human flesh. Overcome with anger, Vasishta pronounced a curse: “Even knowing this is unfit for ascetics, you have offered it to me. Therefore, you alone shall be afflicted with an insatiable hunger for this.” The king protested, “It was the Lord himself who told me to do this.” Vasishta, uncertain, entered meditation once more and, realizing the truth, granted a reprieve: “This restriction will not last forever; it will afflict you for only twelve years.” Saudasa, now filled with wrath, was about to curse the sage in return, but his wife, Madayanti, intervened, seeking to protect Vasishta, their family preceptor and revered deity. For the sake of preserving the raincloud, Saudasa did not cast the water meant for the curse upon the earth or into the sky, but instead poured it onto his own feet. Because the water had no place to go, it scorched his feet, turning them dark, and from that day he was known as Kalmashapada, “the one with dark feet.” Due to Vasishta’s curse, at the end of every sixth period, Saudasa took on the nature of a demon and, wandering in the forest, devoured many humans. On one such occasion, he came upon a sage united with his wife at the time of her season.