Rishi Agastya Drank an Entire Ocean – Stories from Aranyaka Parva

In The Destruction Caused by Kalakeyas, we read about gods approaching Rishi Agastya to dry up the ocean as the danavas were hiding in it. That was how he drank an entire ocean.

Rishi Agastya accepted their request and said he would drink the ocean water and expose the Kelayas as it would save the world from more destruction. The rishi walked to the ocean shore with gods, gandharvas, yakshas, nagas, etc. They all wanted to see the miracle occur. 

As he started to drink the ocean water, the gods chanted his praises and showered flowers on him. Soon, the ocean was dry. A massive empty hole stood in its place. The gods were ready with their weapons and quickly killed the Kelayas who had been causing so much trouble. A few danavas escaped and ran off to hide in dark corners and gaps between hills, far away from the site. 

Once no danava could be found, the gods asked Agastya to release the water back into the hole. However, the rishi replied that the water had already been digested by his body. There was no chance of giving it back. Thanked him, the gods, along with Narayana, went to Brahma Deva. They had to find a way to refill the ocean. 

Brahma replied that it would be done but not anytime soon. He said they had to wait for many generations until King Bhagiratha would be born in the Ikshvaku lineage and his relatives would play various roles in this process. 

Read how King Sagara’s Sons Dug up an Ocean and King Bhagiratha Brought Ganga to Earth.