Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1555

c9.1555

It was Bharata, who led the yājñic horse towards the north in connection with the Aśvamedha yajña performed by Śrī Rāma after he was crowned King. The horse, which started on its journey from Ayodhyā reached, after six months, Hemakūṭa on the limits of India. As soon as it got into a beautiful garden it was rendered stationary as though paralysed. All attempts to make the horse move failed. Śatrughna and some soldiers tried to lift the horse by its legs, to no purpose. Hanūmān bound its legs with his tail and pulled, again to no purpose, and surprised at this failure of his he spoke to Śatrughna and others thus. "It was only just now that I pulled out with my tail the Droṇa mountain so very easily; but this small horse does not stir at all. May be, it is all fate." Following Hanūmān's speech, Śatrughna asked Sumālī the explanation for this state of the matter, but the latter could not find one for it. Then it was decided to find out a maharṣi and ask him for the explanation. The soldiers accompanied by Bharata went in search of a maharṣi, reached Śaunaka's āśrama and submitted the case to him.