[1] Saagar was born to Bāhuka, and his wife, Yadavi, at the ashrama of Sage Aurva, while seeking refuge in the hermitage from the attacks of Tālajaṅgha, the king of Hehaya.

When Bahuka died in the hermitage, Yadavi was ready to follow him in his funeral pyre, but was prevented by Aurva, who promised her that her child would grow up to become a great and fortunate emperor.

Once, Yadavi wept to hear the boy address the sage 'father', and when he enquired her of her sorrow, she told him about his real father and heritage.

The people of Ayodhya, who lived in fear of Tālajaṅgha, sought the counsel of Vasishtha, who advised them to bring Sagara back to reconquer the kingdom.

With the blessings of the sage, and accompanied by the people, Sagara fought Tālajaṅgha, reconquered his kingdom, and crowned himself as the king.

After a century of thus, the sage Bhrigu 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 gave birth to a lump of flesh, which developed into 60,000 children after being cut into thousands of effulgent pieces by Shiva.

Indra, the king of the devas, grew fearful over the results of the yajna, and so he decided to steal the sacrificial horse near a mountain.