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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 11: Aśvamedha yajña: Release of the horse and preparations

Summary. Ṛṣyaśṛṅga orders the horse released, Daśaratha commissions the sacrificial ground on the Sarayū’s northern bank and warns that ritual errors endanger the patron

Sequence

  1. After some time, in spring, Daśaratha bows to Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and asks him to undertake the sacrifice for offspring → Ṛṣyaśṛṅga agrees and orders the supplies assembled and the horse released (1.11.1–3)
  2. Sumantra summons Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, Suyajña, Jābāli, Kāśyapa, and the other ṛtvijs (officiating priests) (1.11.4–6)
  3. Daśaratha explains his unhappiness at being childless and his resolve to perform the aśvamedha with Ṛṣyaśṛṅga's help (1.11.7–9)
  4. the priests approve, repeat the instructions, and promise four sons (1.11.10–12)
  5. Daśaratha orders capable attendants to oversee the horse and directs that the sacrificial ground be prepared on the Sarayū's northern bank (1.11.13–15)
  6. he warns that learned brahma-rākṣasas seek ritual faults and that a flawed sacrifice endangers its patron → the ministers agree to arrange everything correctly, and the assembly disperses. (1.11.16–21)

Verses 1.11.1–21

1.11.1

tataḥ kāle bahutithe kasmiṃś cit sumanohare
vasante samanuprāpte rājño yaṣṭuṃ mano 'bhavat

Then, after a good long while, when a certain lovely spring had come, the king's mind turned to sacrificing.

Words: tataḥ — then; kāle — in time; bahutithe — after much (time), a long while; kasmiṃś — a certain; cit — some; sumanohare — very lovely, charming; vasante — spring; samanuprāpte — having arrived (loc. abs.); rājño — of the king; yaṣṭuṃ — to sacrifice; mano — the mind; 'bhavat — turned, arose

1.11.2

tataḥ prasādya śirasā taṃ vipraṃ devavarṇinam
yajñāya varayām āsa saṃtānārthaṃ kulasya ca

Then, having propitiated with a bow of his head that brahmin of godlike hue, he requested him for the sacrifice, for the continuation of his line.

Words: tataḥ — then; prasādya — having propitiated, conciliated; śirasā — with his head; taṃ — that; vipraṃ — brahmin; devavarṇinam — of godlike hue, complexion; yajñāya — for the sacrifice; varayām āsa — requested, entreated, chose; saṃtānārthaṃ — for the sake of continuation; kulasya — of his line; ca — and

1.11.3

tatheti ca sa rājānam uvāca ca susatkṛtaḥ
saṃbhārāḥ saṃbhriyantāṃ te turagaś ca vimucyatām

“So be it,” said he, well honoured, to the king; “let the requisites be gathered for you, and let the horse be released.”

Words: tatheti — ‘so be it’; ca — and; sa — he; rājānam — to the king; uvāca — said; ca — and; susatkṛtaḥ — well honoured; saṃbhārāḥ — the requisites, materials; saṃbhriyantāṃ — let them be gathered; te — for you; turagaś — the horse; ca — and; vimucyatām — let it be released, set free

1.11.4

tato rājābravīd vākyaṃ sumantraṃ mantrisattamam
sumantrāvāhaya kṣipram ṛtvijo brahmavādinaḥ

Then the king spoke words to Sumantra, best of ministers: “Sumantra, quickly summon the officiating priests, the expounders of the Veda.”

Words: tato — then; rājābravīd — the king said; vākyaṃ — words; sumantraṃ — to Sumantra; mantrisattamam — best of ministers; sumantrāvāhaya — Sumantra, summon; kṣipram — quickly; ṛtvijo — the officiating priests; brahmavādinaḥ — the expounders of the Veda

1.11.5

tataḥ sumantras tvaritaṃ gatvā tvaritavikramaḥ
samānayat sa tān viprān samastān vedapāragān

Then Sumantra, of swift stride, going quickly, brought together all those brahmins, masters of the Vedas.

Words: tataḥ — then; sumantras — Sumantra; tvaritaṃ — quickly; gatvā — having gone; tvaritavikramaḥ — of swift stride; samānayat — brought together; sa — he; tān — those; viprān — brahmins; samastān — all; vedapāragān — masters of the Vedas

1.11.6

suyajñaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca jābālim atha kāśyapam
purohitaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca ye cānye dvijasattamāḥ

Suyajña and Vāmadeva, and Jābāli, and Kāśyapa, and the family priest Vasiṣṭha, and whatever other best of brahmins there were —

Words: suyajñaṃ — Suyajña; vāmadevaṃ — Vāmadeva; ca — and; jābālim — Jābāli; atha — and, then; kāśyapam — Kāśyapa; purohitaṃ — the family priest; vasiṣṭhaṃ — Vasiṣṭha; ca — and; ye — who; cānye — and other; dvijasattamāḥ — the best of brahmins

1.11.7

tān pūjayitvā dharmātmā rājā daśarathas tadā
idaṃ dharmārthasahitaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanam abravīt

Having honoured them, the righteous king Daśaratha then spoke these smooth words, in keeping with dharma and self-interest:

Words: tān — them; pūjayitvā — having honoured; dharmātmā — the righteous one; rājā — king; daśarathas — Daśaratha; tadā — then; idaṃ — this; dharmārthasahitaṃ — in keeping with dharma and artha; ślakṣṇaṃ — smooth, gentle; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke

1.11.8

mama lālapyamānasya putrārthaṃ nāsti vai sukham
tadarthaṃ hayamedhena yakṣyāmīti matir mama

“For me, lamenting for the sake of a son, there is truly no happiness; therefore my resolve is: ‘I shall sacrifice with a horse-sacrifice to that end.’

Words: mama — of me, for me; lālapyamānasya — of one lamenting, wailing; putrārthaṃ — for the sake of a son; nāsti — there is not; vai — truly; sukham — happiness; tadarthaṃ — to that end, for that purpose; hayamedhena — with a horse-sacrifice; yakṣyāmīti — ‘I shall sacrifice’; matir — the resolve, thought; mama — my

1.11.9

tad ahaṃ yaṣṭum icchāmi śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā
ṛṣiputraprabhāvena kāmān prāpsyāmi cāpy aham

So I wish to sacrifice with a rite as prescribed by the scriptures; and through the power of the seer's son I shall attain my desires.

Words: tad — so, therefore; ahaṃ — I; yaṣṭum — to sacrifice; icchāmi — I wish; śāstradṛṣṭena — as prescribed by scripture; karmaṇā — with a rite, act; ṛṣiputraprabhāvena — through the power of the seer's son; kāmān — my desires; prāpsyāmi — I shall attain; cāpy — and also; aham — I

1.11.10

tataḥ sādhv iti tad vākyaṃ brāhmaṇāḥ pratyapūjayan
vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ sarve pārthivasya mukhāc cyutam

Then all the brahmins, headed by Vasiṣṭha, applauded with “Excellent!” that speech which had fallen from the king's mouth.

Words: tataḥ — then; sādhv — ‘excellent, well done’; iti — thus; tad — that; vākyaṃ — speech; brāhmaṇāḥ — the brahmins; pratyapūjayan — applauded, approved; vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ — headed by Vasiṣṭha; sarve — all; pārthivasya — of the king; mukhāc — from the mouth; cyutam — fallen, issued

1.11.11

ṛṣyaśṛṅgapurogāś ca pratyūcur nṛpatiṃ tadā
saṃbhārāḥ saṃbhriyantāṃ te turagaś ca vimucyatām

And with Ṛṣyaśṛṅga at their head they then replied to the king: “Let the requisites be gathered for you, and let the horse be released.”

Words: ṛṣyaśṛṅgapurogāś — with Ṛṣyaśṛṅga at their head; ca — and; pratyūcur — replied; nṛpatiṃ — to the king; tadā — then; saṃbhārāḥ — the requisites; saṃbhriyantāṃ — let them be gathered; te — for you; turagaś — the horse; ca — and; vimucyatām — let it be released

1.11.12

sarvathā prāpyase putrāṃś caturo 'mitavikramān
yasya te dhārmikī buddhir iyaṃ putrārtham āgatāḥ

“By all means you will obtain four sons of measureless valour — you whose righteous resolve is this; sought for the sake of a son, they shall be attained.”

Words: sarvathā — by all means; prāpyase — you will obtain; putrāṃś — sons; caturo — four; 'mitavikramān — of measureless valour; yasya — of whom; te — your; dhārmikī — righteous; buddhir — resolve, intent; iyaṃ — this; putrārtham — for the sake of a son; āgatāḥ — come, attained (the sons)

1.11.13

tataḥ prīto 'bhavad rājā śrutvā tad dvijabhāṣitam
amātyāṃś cābravīd rājā harṣeṇedaṃ śubhākṣaram

Then the king was pleased on hearing that speech of the brahmins; and out of joy he spoke to his counsellors these auspicious words:

Words: tataḥ — then; prīto — pleased; 'bhavad — became; rājā — the king; śrutvā — having heard; tad — that; dvijabhāṣitam — the speech of the brahmins; amātyāṃś — the counsellors; cābravīd — and said; rājā — the king; harṣeṇedaṃ — out of joy this; śubhākṣaram — of auspicious words

1.11.14

gurūṇāṃ vacanāc chīghraṃ saṃbhārāḥ saṃbhriyantu me
samarthādhiṣṭhitaś cāśvaḥ sopādhyāyo vimucyatām

“By the word of my elders let the requisites be quickly gathered for me; and let the horse be released, overseen by capable men and attended by the teachers.

Words: gurūṇāṃ — of my elders, gurus; vacanāc — by the word; chīghraṃ — quickly; saṃbhārāḥ — the requisites; saṃbhriyantu — let them be gathered; me — for me; samarthādhiṣṭhitaś — overseen by capable men; cāśvaḥ — and the horse; sopādhyāyo — attended by the teachers; vimucyatām — let it be released

1.11.15

sarayvāś cottare tīre yajñabhūmir vidhīyatām
śāntayaś cābhivardhantāṃ yathākalpaṃ yathāvidhi

And on the northern bank of the Sarayū let the sacrificial ground be laid out; and let the propitiatory rites be augmented according to prescription and rule.

Words: sarayvāś — of the Sarayū; cottare — and on the northern; tīre — bank; yajñabhūmir — the sacrificial ground; vidhīyatām — let it be laid out, arranged; śāntayaś — the propitiatory rites; cābhivardhantāṃ — and let them be augmented; yathākalpaṃ — according to prescription; yathāvidhi — according to rule

1.11.16

śakyaḥ kartum ayaṃ yajñaḥ sarveṇāpi mahīkṣitā
nāparādho bhavet kaṣṭo yady asmin kratusattame

This sacrifice can be performed by any king at all, provided no grievous fault occur in this best of sacrifices.

Words: śakyaḥ — possible, able to be; kartum — to be performed; ayaṃ — this; yajñaḥ — sacrifice; sarveṇāpi — by any at all; mahīkṣitā — by a king; nāparādho — no fault; bhavet — should occur; kaṣṭo — grievous, serious; yady — if; asmin — in this; kratusattame — best of sacrifices

1.11.17

chidraṃ hi mṛgayante 'tra vidvāṃso brahmarākṣasāḥ
vidhihīnasya yajñasya sadyaḥ kartā vinaśyati

For learned brahma-rākṣasas seek out a flaw at such a rite; and the performer of a sacrifice lacking proper rule perishes at once.

Words: chidraṃ — a flaw, chink; hi — for; mṛgayante — they seek out, hunt for; 'tra — here, at (such a rite); vidvāṃso — learned; brahmarākṣasāḥ — brahma-rākṣasas (a class of demon); vidhihīnasya — of one lacking proper rule; yajñasya — of the sacrifice; sadyaḥ — at once, immediately; kartā — the performer; vinaśyati — perishes

1.11.18

tad yathāvidhi pūrvaṃ me kratur eṣa samāpyate
tathāvidhānaṃ kriyatāṃ samarthāḥ karaṇeṣv iha

So let arrangement be made in such a way that this sacrifice of mine is completed according to rule from the outset — you who are capable in these operations here.”

Words: tad — so, therefore; yathāvidhi — according to rule; pūrvaṃ — from the outset, beforehand; me — my; kratur — sacrifice; eṣa — this; samāpyate — is completed; tathāvidhānaṃ — arrangement to that effect; kriyatāṃ — let it be made; samarthāḥ — (you) capable ones; karaṇeṣv — in the operations, tasks; iha — here

1.11.19

tatheti ca tataḥ sarve mantriṇaḥ pratyapūjayan
pārthivendrasya tad vākyaṃ yathājñaptam akurvata

“So be it,” said all the ministers then, and, approving that speech of the lord of kings, they did as they had been commanded.

Words: tatheti — ‘so be it’; ca — and; tataḥ — then; sarve — all; mantriṇaḥ — the ministers; pratyapūjayan — applauded, approved; pārthivendrasya — of the lord of kings; tad — that; vākyaṃ — speech; yathājñaptam — as commanded; akurvata — they did

1.11.20

tato dvijās te dharmajñam astuvan pārthivarṣabham
anujñātās tataḥ sarve punar jagmur yathāgatam

Then those brahmins praised that dharma-knowing bull among kings; and, given leave, they all went back the way they had come.

Words: tato — then; dvijās — the brahmins; te — those; dharmajñam — the knower of dharma; astuvan — praised; pārthivarṣabham — the bull among kings; anujñātās — given leave; tataḥ — then; sarve — all; punar — again, back; jagmur — went; yathāgatam — the way they had come

1.11.21

gatānāṃ tu dvijātīnāṃ mantriṇas tān narādhipaḥ
visarjayitvā svaṃ veśma praviveśa mahā dyutiḥ

When the brahmins had gone, the king of great splendour dismissed those ministers and entered his own dwelling.

Words: gatānāṃ — having gone; tu — and; dvijātīnāṃ — of the brahmins; mantriṇas — the ministers; tān — those; narādhipaḥ — the king; visarjayitvā — having dismissed; svaṃ — his own; veśma — dwelling, house; praviveśa — entered; mahā — great; dyutiḥ — of splendour

← 1.10 Daśaratha brings Ṛṣyaśṛṅga to Ayodhyā · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.12 Aśvamedha yajña: Construction, invitations and hospitality →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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