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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 12: Aśvamedha yajña: Construction, invitations and hospitality

Summary. Vasiṣṭha organizes construction, food and lodging, Sumantra invites the guests and Daśaratha enters the enclosure to begin the rites

Sequence

  1. When spring returns after a full year, Daśaratha asks Vasiṣṭha to take charge of completing the sacrifice without obstruction (1.12.1–4)
  2. Vasiṣṭha calls the ritual specialists, builders, carpenters, diggers, accountants, craftspeople, and performers → he orders many thousands of bricks brought and comfortable lodgings built for Kings, brāhmaṇas, townspeople, and country visitors, with abundant food and drink (1.12.5–11)
  3. everyone must receive food respectfully, regardless of social order → workers and artisans must also be honored, and no one is to be treated with contempt or neglect. The workers agree (1.12.12–15)
  4. Vasiṣṭha directs Sumantra to invite Kings and people from every region (1.12.16–18)
  5. he particularly names Janaka of Mithilā, the King of Kāśi, Daśaratha's Kekaya father-in-law and his son, and Romapāda of Aṅga, along with rulers from the east, Sindhu, Sauvīra, Surasṭra, and the south (1.12.19–24)
  6. Sumantra sends trusted envoys and goes himself to fetch the designated Kings (1.12.25–26)
  7. the workers report their preparations, and Vasiṣṭha repeats the obligation to give without contempt (1.12.27–28)
  8. the Kings arrive bearing jewels → Vasiṣṭha reports that the guests have been honored and the arrangements completed (1.12.29–32)
  9. on an auspicious day Daśaratha enters the sacrificial enclosure → the ṛtvijs begin with Ṛṣyaśṛṅga at their head. (1.12.33–34)

Verses 1.12.1–34

1.12.1

punaḥ prāpte vasante tu pūrṇaḥ saṃvatsaro 'bhavat
abhivādya vasiṣṭhaṃ ca nyāyataḥ pratipūjya ca

When spring came round again, a full year had passed; and having saluted Vasiṣṭha and duly honoured him,

Words: punaḥ — again; prāpte — having arrived (loc.); vasante — spring; tu — and; pūrṇaḥ — full; saṃvatsaro — year; 'bhavat — had passed, elapsed; abhivādya — having saluted; vasiṣṭhaṃ — Vasiṣṭha; ca — and; nyāyataḥ — duly; pratipūjya — having honoured; ca — and

1.12.2

abravīt praśritaṃ vākyaṃ prasavārthaṃ dvijottamam
yajño me kriyatāṃ vipra yathoktaṃ munipuṃgava

he spoke a humble word to that best of brahmins, for the sake of progeny: “Let my sacrifice be performed, O brahmin, as was said, O bull among sages.

Words: abravīt — spoke; praśritaṃ — humble, modest; vākyaṃ — word; prasavārthaṃ — for the sake of progeny; dvijottamam — to the best of brahmins; yajño — sacrifice; me — my; kriyatāṃ — let it be performed; vipra — O brahmin; yathoktaṃ — as was said; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages

1.12.3

yathā na vighnaḥ kriyate yajñāṅgeṣu vidhīyatām
bhavān snigdhaḥ suhṛn mahyaṃ guruś ca paramo bhavān

Let it be so arranged that no obstacle arise in the parts of the sacrifice; you are my loving friend, and you are my supreme preceptor.

Words: yathā — so that; na — not; vighnaḥ — obstacle, hindrance; kriyate — arises, is made; yajñāṅgeṣu — in the parts of the sacrifice; vidhīyatām — let it be arranged; bhavān — you (honoured one); snigdhaḥ — loving, affectionate; suhṛn — friend; mahyaṃ — to me; guruś — preceptor; ca — and; paramo — supreme; bhavān — you

1.12.4

voḍhavyo bhavatā caiva bhāro yajñasya codyataḥ
tatheti ca sa rājānam abravīd dvijasattamaḥ

And the burden of the sacrifice, once undertaken, must be borne by you.” “So be it,” said that best of brahmins to the king.

Words: voḍhavyo — to be borne; bhavatā — by you; caiva — and; bhāro — the burden; yajñasya — of the sacrifice; codyataḥ — and undertaken; tatheti — ‘so be it’; ca — and; sa — that; rājānam — to the king; abravīd — said; dvijasattamaḥ — the best of brahmins

1.12.5

kariṣye sarvam evaitad bhavatā yat samarthitam
tato 'bravīd dvijān vṛddhān yajñakarmasu niṣṭhitān

“I shall do all this that has been proposed by you.” Then he addressed the aged brahmins skilled in sacrificial rites,

Words: kariṣye — I shall do; sarvam — all; evaitad — this very; bhavatā — by you; yat — which; samarthitam — proposed, deemed fit; tato — then; 'bravīd — spoke to; dvijān — the brahmins; vṛddhān — aged, elder; yajñakarmasu — in sacrificial rites; niṣṭhitān — skilled, versed

1.12.6

sthāpatye niṣṭhitāṃś caiva vṛddhān paramadhārmikān
karmāntikāñ śilpakārān vardhakīn khanakān api

and those elders, most righteous, skilled in architecture — the labourers, the artisans, the carpenters and the diggers too,

Words: sthāpatye — in architecture, building; niṣṭhitāṃś — skilled; caiva — and; vṛddhān — elders; paramadhārmikān — most righteous; karmāntikāñ — the labourers, workmen; śilpakārān — the artisans; vardhakīn — the carpenters; khanakān — the diggers, excavators; api — also

1.12.7

gaṇakāñ śilpinaś caiva tathaiva naṭanartakān
tathā śucīñ śāstravidaḥ puruṣān subahuśrutān

the accountants and the craftsmen, and likewise the actors and dancers, and pure men who know the scriptures, very learned:

Words: gaṇakāñ — the accountants; śilpinaś — the craftsmen; caiva — and; tathaiva — and likewise; naṭanartakān — actors and dancers; tathā — so; śucīñ — pure; śāstravidaḥ — knowers of scripture; puruṣān — men; subahuśrutān — very learned

1.12.8

yajñakarma samīhantāṃ bhavanto rājaśāsanāt
iṣṭakā bahusāhasrī śīghram ānīyatām iti

“Let your honours set about the sacrificial work by the king's command; and let many thousands of bricks be quickly brought.”

Words: yajñakarma — the sacrificial work; samīhantāṃ — let them undertake, set about; bhavanto — your honours; rājaśāsanāt — by the king's command; iṣṭakā — bricks; bahusāhasrī — many thousands; śīghram — quickly; ānīyatām — let it be brought; iti — thus

1.12.9

aupakāryāḥ kriyantāṃ ca rājñāṃ bahuguṇānvitāḥ
brāhmaṇāvasathāś caiva kartavyāḥ śataśaḥ śubhāḥ

“And let pavilions for the kings be made, furnished with many comforts; and fine lodgings for the brahmins are to be built by the hundreds,

Words: aupakāryāḥ — pavilions, guest-quarters; kriyantāṃ — let them be made; ca — and; rājñāṃ — for the kings; bahuguṇānvitāḥ — furnished with many comforts; brāhmaṇāvasathāś — lodgings for the brahmins; caiva — and; kartavyāḥ — to be made; śataśaḥ — by the hundreds; śubhāḥ — fine, auspicious

1.12.10

bhakṣyānnapānair bahubhiḥ samupetāḥ suniṣṭhitāḥ
tathā paurajanasyāpi kartavyā bahuvistarāḥ

well provided with abundant viands, food and drink, and well appointed; and likewise for the townsfolk too (lodgings) are to be made, very spacious,

Words: bhakṣyānnapānair — with viands, food and drink; bahubhiḥ — abundant; samupetāḥ — provided, furnished with; suniṣṭhitāḥ — well appointed, well built; tathā — likewise; paurajanasyāpi — for the townsfolk too; kartavyā — to be made; bahuvistarāḥ — very spacious

1.12.11

āvāsā bahubhakṣyā vai sarvakāmair upasthitāḥ
tathā jānapadasyāpi janasya bahuśobhanam

dwellings well stocked with food and furnished with every desirable thing; and likewise plenty of fine provision for the country folk too.

Words: āvāsā — dwellings; bahubhakṣyā — well stocked with food; vai — indeed; sarvakāmair — with every desirable thing; upasthitāḥ — furnished, provided; tathā — likewise; jānapadasyāpi — for the country folk too; janasya — for the people; bahuśobhanam — much that is fine

1.12.12

dātavyam annaṃ vidhivat satkṛtya na tu līlayā
sarvavarṇā yathā pūjāṃ prāpnuvanti susatkṛtāḥ

Food is to be given duly and with respect, not carelessly, so that all the castes, well treated, receive due honour.

Words: dātavyam — to be given; annaṃ — food; vidhivat — duly, according to rule; satkṛtya — with respect, honouring; na — not; tu — but; līlayā — carelessly, casually; sarvavarṇā — all the castes; yathā — so that; pūjāṃ — honour, regard; prāpnuvanti — they obtain; susatkṛtāḥ — well treated

1.12.13

na cāvajñā prayoktavyā kāmakrodhavaśād api
yajñakarmasu ye 'vyagrāḥ puruṣāḥ śilpinas tathā

And no contempt is to be shown, even under the sway of desire or anger. And those men who are diligent in the sacrificial works, and the artisans likewise —

Words: na — not; cāvajñā — and contempt; prayoktavyā — to be shown, employed; kāmakrodhavaśād — through the sway of desire or anger; api — even; yajñakarmasu — in the sacrificial works; ye — who; 'vyagrāḥ — diligent, attentive; puruṣāḥ — men; śilpinas — the artisans; tathā — likewise

1.12.14

teṣām api viśeṣeṇa pūjā kāryā yathākramam
yathā sarvaṃ suvihitaṃ na kiṃ cit parihīyate

to them too honour is to be shown, especially, in due order, so that everything is well arranged and nothing falls short.

Words: teṣām — to them; api — too; viśeṣeṇa — especially; pūjā — honour; kāryā — to be done; yathākramam — in due order; yathā — so that; sarvaṃ — all; suvihitaṃ — well arranged; na — not; kiṃ cit — anything; parihīyate — falls short, is neglected

1.12.15

tathā bhavantaḥ kurvantu prītisnigdhena cetasā
tataḥ sarve samāgamya vasiṣṭham idam abruvan

So let your honours act, with a heart affectionate and glad.” Then all came together and said this to Vasiṣṭha:

Words: tathā — so; bhavantaḥ — your honours; kurvantu — let them act, do; prītisnigdhena — affectionate and glad; cetasā — with a heart, mind; tataḥ — then; sarve — all; samāgamya — having come together; vasiṣṭham — to Vasiṣṭha; idam — this; abruvan — said

1.12.16

yathoktaṃ tat kariṣyāmo na kiṃ cit parihāsyate
tataḥ sumantram āhūya vasiṣṭho vākyam abravīt

“We shall do that as directed; nothing will be neglected.” Then, summoning Sumantra, Vasiṣṭha spoke these words:

Words: yathoktaṃ — as directed; tat — that; kariṣyāmo — we shall do; na — not; kiṃ cit — anything; parihāsyate — will be neglected, omitted; tataḥ — then; sumantram — Sumantra; āhūya — having summoned; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke

1.12.17

nimantrayasya nṛpatīn pṛthivyāṃ ye ca dhārmikāḥ
brāhmaṇān kṣatriyān vaiśyāñ śūdrāṃś caiva sahasraśaḥ

“Invite the kings on earth who are righteous, and the brahmins, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras too, by the thousands.

Words: nimantrayasya — invite; nṛpatīn — the kings; pṛthivyāṃ — on earth; ye — who; ca — and; dhārmikāḥ — righteous; brāhmaṇān — brahmins; kṣatriyān — kṣatriyas (the warrior class); vaiśyāñ — vaiśyas (the merchant class); śūdrāṃś — śūdras (the servant class); caiva — and; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands

1.12.18

samānayasva satkṛtya sarvadeśeṣu mānavān
mithilādhipatiṃ śūraṃ janakaṃ satyavikramam

Gather with honour the people from every land; and the valiant lord of Mithilā, Janaka of true valour,

Words: samānayasva — gather, bring together; satkṛtya — with honour, honouring; sarvadeśeṣu — from every land; mānavān — the people, men; mithilādhipatiṃ — the lord of Mithilā; śūraṃ — valiant; janakaṃ — Janaka; satyavikramam — of true valour

1.12.19

niṣṭhitaṃ sarvaśāstreṣu tathā vedeṣu niṣṭhitam
tam ānaya mahābhāgaṃ svayam eva susatkṛtam
pūrvasaṃbandhinaṃ jñātvā tataḥ pūrvaṃ bravīmi te

accomplished in all the sciences and likewise versed in the Vedas — bring that greatly blessed one yourself, well honoured. Knowing him to be an old connection by marriage, I therefore name him to you first.

Words: niṣṭhitaṃ — accomplished, versed; sarvaśāstreṣu — in all the sciences; tathā — likewise; vedeṣu — in the Vedas; niṣṭhitam — versed; tam — him; ānaya — bring; mahābhāgaṃ — the greatly blessed; svayam — yourself; eva — indeed; susatkṛtam — well honoured; pūrvasaṃbandhinaṃ — an old connection by marriage; jñātvā — knowing; tataḥ — therefore; pūrvaṃ — first; bravīmi — I name, tell; te — to you

1.12.20

tathā kāśipatiṃ snigdhaṃ satataṃ priyavādinam
sadvṛttaṃ devasaṃkāśaṃ svayam evānayasva ha

Likewise the lord of Kāśi — affectionate, ever speaking kindly, of good conduct, resembling a god — fetch him yourself.

Words: tathā — likewise; kāśipatiṃ — the lord of Kāśi; snigdhaṃ — affectionate; satataṃ — ever, always; priyavādinam — speaking kindly; sadvṛttaṃ — of good conduct; devasaṃkāśaṃ — resembling a god; svayam — yourself; evānayasva — indeed fetch; ha — indeed

1.12.21

tathā kekayarājānaṃ vṛddhaṃ paramadhārmikam
śvaśuraṃ rājasiṃhasya saputraṃ tam ihānaya

Likewise the king of the Kekayas, aged and most righteous, the father-in-law of the lion among kings — bring him here with his son.

Words: tathā — likewise; kekayarājānaṃ — the king of the Kekayas; vṛddhaṃ — aged; paramadhārmikam — most righteous; śvaśuraṃ — the father-in-law; rājasiṃhasya — of the lion among kings; saputraṃ — with his son; tam — him; ihānaya — bring here

1.12.22

aṅgeśvaraṃ mahābhāgaṃ romapādaṃ susatkṛtam
vayasyaṃ rājasiṃhasya tam ānaya yaśasvinam

The lord of the Aṅgas, the greatly blessed Romapāda, well honoured, the comrade of the lion among kings — bring that illustrious one.

Words: aṅgeśvaraṃ — the lord of the Aṅgas; mahābhāgaṃ — greatly blessed; romapādaṃ — Romapāda; susatkṛtam — well honoured; vayasyaṃ — the comrade, friend of like age; rājasiṃhasya — of the lion among kings; tam — him; ānaya — bring; yaśasvinam — illustrious

1.12.23

prācīnān sindhusauvīrān saurāṣṭhreyāṃś ca pārthivān
dākṣiṇātyān narendrāṃś ca samastān ānayasva ha

The eastern kings, the Sindhus and Sauvīras, and the princes of Surāṣṭra, and the southern lords of men — bring them all.

Words: prācīnān — the eastern (kings); sindhusauvīrān — the Sindhus and Sauvīras; saurāṣṭhreyāṃś — the princes of Surāṣṭra; ca — and; pārthivān — kings; dākṣiṇātyān — the southern (kings); narendrāṃś — lords of men; ca — and; samastān — all; ānayasva — bring; ha — indeed

1.12.24

santi snigdhāś ca ye cānye rājānaḥ pṛthivītale
tān ānaya yathākṣipraṃ sānugān sahabāndhavān

And whatever other friendly kings there are on the face of the earth, bring them as quickly as may be, with their retinues and kinsmen.”

Words: santi — there are; snigdhāś — friendly, affectionate; ca — and; ye — who; cānye — and other; rājānaḥ — kings; pṛthivītale — on the face of the earth; tān — them; ānaya — bring; yathākṣipraṃ — as quickly as may be; sānugān — with their retinues; sahabāndhavān — with their kinsmen

1.12.25

vasiṣṭhavākyaṃ tac chrutvā sumantras tvaritas tadā
vyādiśat puruṣāṃs tatra rājñām ānayane śubhān

Hearing that speech of Vasiṣṭha, Sumantra then, in haste, dispatched trusty men there for the fetching of the kings.

Words: vasiṣṭhavākyaṃ — the speech of Vasiṣṭha; tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; sumantras — Sumantra; tvaritas — in haste; tadā — then; vyādiśat — dispatched, directed; puruṣāṃs — men; tatra — there; rājñām — of the kings; ānayane — for the fetching; śubhān — trusty, good

1.12.26

svayam eva hi dharmātmā prayayau muniśāsanāt
sumantras tvarito bhūtvā samānetuṃ mahīkṣitaḥ

And the righteous Sumantra himself, in haste, set out at the sage's command to bring the kings.

Words: svayam — himself; eva — indeed; hi — for; dharmātmā — the righteous one; prayayau — set out; muniśāsanāt — at the sage's command; sumantras — Sumantra; tvarito — in haste; bhūtvā — having become; samānetuṃ — to bring together; mahīkṣitaḥ — the kings

1.12.27

te ca karmāntikāḥ sarve vasiṣṭhāya ca dhīmate
sarvaṃ nivedayanti sma yajñe yad upakalpitam

And all those workmen reported to the wise Vasiṣṭha everything that had been made ready for the sacrifice.

Words: te — those; ca — and; karmāntikāḥ — the workmen, labourers; sarve — all; vasiṣṭhāya — to Vasiṣṭha; ca — and; dhīmate — to the wise one; sarvaṃ — everything; nivedayanti — reported; sma — (marks past sense); yajñe — for the sacrifice; yad — which; upakalpitam — made ready, prepared

1.12.28

tataḥ prīto dvijaśreṣṭhas tān sarvān punar abravīt
avajñayā na dātavyaṃ kasya cil līlayāpi vā
avajñayā kṛtaṃ hanyād dātāraṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ

Then, pleased, the best of brahmins spoke to them all again: “Nothing is to be given to anyone with contempt, or even carelessly; a thing done with contempt would destroy the giver — of this there is no doubt.”

Words: tataḥ — then; prīto — pleased; dvijaśreṣṭhas — the best of brahmins; tān — them; sarvān — all; punar — again; abravīt — spoke; avajñayā — with contempt; na — not; dātavyaṃ — to be given; kasya cil — to anyone; līlayāpi — or even carelessly; vā — or; avajñayā — with contempt; kṛtaṃ — a thing done; hanyād — would destroy; dātāraṃ — the giver; nātra — not in this; saṃśayaḥ — doubt

1.12.29

tataḥ kaiś cid ahorātrair upayātā mahīkṣitaḥ
bahūni ratnāny ādāya rājño daśarathasya ha

Then, after some days and nights, the kings arrived, bringing many jewels for king Daśaratha.

Words: tataḥ — then; kaiś cid — after some; ahorātrair — days and nights; upayātā — arrived; mahīkṣitaḥ — the kings; bahūni — many; ratnāny — jewels; ādāya — having brought; rājño — for king; daśarathasya — Daśaratha; ha — indeed

1.12.30

tato vasiṣṭhaḥ suprīto rājānam idam abravīt
upayātā naravyāghra rājānas tava śāsanāt

Then Vasiṣṭha, well pleased, said this to the king: “The kings have arrived, O tiger among men, at your command.

Words: tato — then; vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha; suprīto — well pleased; rājānam — to the king; idam — this; abravīt — said; upayātā — have arrived; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; rājānas — the kings; tava — your; śāsanāt — at the command

1.12.31

mayāpi satkṛtāḥ sarve yathārhaṃ rājasattamāḥ
yajñiyaṃ ca kṛtaṃ rājan puruṣaiḥ susamāhitaiḥ

And I too have honoured all those best of kings as befits them; and the sacrificial work has been done, O king, by well-attentive men.

Words: mayāpi — by me too; satkṛtāḥ — honoured; sarve — all; yathārhaṃ — as befits; rājasattamāḥ — the best of kings; yajñiyaṃ — the sacrificial (work); ca — and; kṛtaṃ — done; rājan — O king; puruṣaiḥ — by the men; susamāhitaiḥ — well-attentive, diligent

1.12.32

niryātu ca bhavān yaṣṭuṃ yajñāyatanam antikāt
sarvakāmair upahṛtair upetaṃ vai samantataḥ

And let your honour go forth to sacrifice, to the sacrificial enclosure close at hand, furnished on all sides with every offered requisite.”

Words: niryātu — let (him) go forth; ca — and; bhavān — your honour; yaṣṭuṃ — to sacrifice; yajñāyatanam — the sacrificial enclosure; antikāt — close at hand, nearby; sarvakāmair — with every desirable requisite; upahṛtair — brought, offered; upetaṃ — furnished, provided; vai — indeed; samantataḥ — on all sides

1.12.33

tathā vasiṣṭhavacanād ṛṣyaśṛṅgasya cobhayoḥ
śubhe divasa nakṣatre niryāto jagatīpatiḥ

So, at the word of both Vasiṣṭha and Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, on an auspicious day and under a favourable constellation, the lord of the earth went forth.

Words: tathā — so; vasiṣṭhavacanād — at the word of Vasiṣṭha; ṛṣyaśṛṅgasya — of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; cobhayoḥ — and of both; śubhe — auspicious; divasa — day; nakṣatre — (under a) constellation; niryāto — went forth; jagatīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth

1.12.34

tato vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ sarva eva dvijottamāḥ
ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ puraskṛtya yajñakarmārabhaṃs tadā

Then all those best of brahmins, headed by Vasiṣṭha, placing Ṛṣyaśṛṅga at the fore, began the sacrificial rite.

Words: tato — then; vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ — headed by Vasiṣṭha; sarva — all; eva — indeed; dvijottamāḥ — the best of brahmins; ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; puraskṛtya — having placed at the fore; yajñakarmārabhaṃs — began the sacrificial work; tadā — then

← 1.11 Aśvamedha yajña: Release of the horse and preparations · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.13 Aśvamedha yajña: The horse’s return and completion of the rites →

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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