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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 13: Aśvamedha yajña: The horse’s return and completion of the rites

Summary. The returning horse is sacrificed with prescribed posts, a Garuḍa-shaped altar and continual hospitality, Daśaratha rewards the priests and requests the rite for sons

Sequence

  1. The account resumes the sacrifice with the horse's return after its year abroad → on the northern Sarayū bank, the ṛtvijs led by Ṛṣyaśṛṅga conduct the pravargya and upasad rites, the prātaḥsavana (morning Soma pressing), and the prescribed offerings without omission (1.13.1–6)
  2. no one goes hungry: brāhmaṇas, householders with dependents, tapasvins, śramaṇas (wandering renunciants), the aged, the sick, women, and children are fed continually (1.13.7–9)
  3. calls go out to distribute food and clothing → mountain-like heaps of cooked food appear day after day, and Daśaratha hears satisfied guests praising the meal and offering blessings (1.13.10–12)
  4. well-adorned men serve the brāhmaṇas, while other attendants wearing brightly polished jeweled earrings wait on them (1.13.13)
  5. during pauses in the ritual, eloquent scholars debate, seeking to outdo one another → the officiants continue each day's rites, all versed in the six Vedāṅgas, their vows, and learned disputation. The sacrificial posts are prepared from prescribed woods, including six of bilva and six of khadira, further palāśa posts, and posts of śleṣmātaka and devadāru (1.13.14–18)
  6. ritual specialists have them adorned with gold → craftsmen erect the strong, smooth, eight-sided posts (1.13.19–20)
  7. draped in cloth and decorated with flowers and perfumes, they shine like the Saptarṣis in the sky (1.13.21)
  8. bricks are made to the prescribed measurements → brāhmaṇas skilled in śulba work—the measuring-cord geometry of altar construction—lay out and build the fire-altar (1.13.22)
  9. it has the form of Garuḍa with golden wings, three times the usual size and consisting of eighteen units: triguṇo 'ṣṭādaśātmakaḥ (1.13.23)
  10. the priests assign the sacrificial creatures to their respective devatās, including birds, serpents, aquatic creatures, and the horse → three hundred animals are bound to the posts along with Daśaratha's excellent horse. Kausalyā circles the horse and cuts it with three knives, with great joy (1.13.23–26)
  11. composed and intent on dharma, she spends one night beside the horse, called the “winged one,” patatrin (1.13.27)
  12. the hotṛ, adhvaryu and udgātṛ ṛtvijs ritually unite the horse with the three named Queenly roles: the chief Queen, the discarded Queen, and the favorite wife (1.13.28)
  13. an officiant removes and cooks the “winged” horse's omentum, the fatty membrane around the abdominal organs → Daśaratha inhales its smoke at the proper time and in the prescribed manner to remove sin (1.13.29–30)
  14. all sixteen ṛtvijs offer the horse's remaining parts into the fire (1.13.31)
  15. the account distinguishes the reed prescribed for the Aśvamedha from the plakṣa branches used in other sacrifices (1.13.32)
  16. it identifies the three-day sequence as Catuṣṭoma, Ukthya, and Atirātra, followed in its description by the associated Jyotiṣṭoma, Āyus, two Atirātras, Abhijit, Viśvajit, and Aptoryāma rites. Daśaratha grants the eastern quarter to the hotṛ, the west to the adhvaryu, the south to the brahman (supervising ṛtvij), and the north to the udgātṛ (1.13.33–38)
  17. they decline to govern, saying that study is their occupation and he is the proper protector of the land → they request wealth in exchange (1.13.39–40)
  18. he gives a million cows, ten crores of gold, and four times that amount of silver → the wealth passes to Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and Vasiṣṭha for distribution (1.13.41–43)
  19. with the Aśvamedha completed, Daśaratha asks Ṛṣyaśṛṅga to perform the putrīyā iṣṭi for offspring → Ṛṣyaśṛṅga agrees and again promises four sons. (1.13.44–46)

Verses 1.13.1–46

1.13.1

atha saṃvatsare pūrṇe tasmin prāpte turaṅgame
sarayvāś cottare tīre rājño yajño 'bhyavartata

Now, when a full year had passed and that horse had returned, on the northern bank of the Sarayū the king's sacrifice began.

Words: atha — now; saṃvatsare — year (loc.); pūrṇe — full, complete (loc.); tasmin — that; prāpte — having returned (loc. abs.); turaṅgame — the horse (loc. abs.); sarayvāś — of the Sarayū; cottare — and on the northern; tīre — bank; rājño — of the king; yajño — sacrifice; 'bhyavartata — began, commenced

1.13.2

ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ puraskṛtya karma cakrur dvijarṣabhāḥ
aśvamedhe mahāyajñe rājño 'sya sumahātmanaḥ

Placing Ṛṣyaśṛṅga at the fore, the bulls among brahmins performed the rite in the great aśvamedha of that most great-souled king.

Words: ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; puraskṛtya — having placed at the fore; karma — the rite; cakrur — performed; dvijarṣabhāḥ — the bulls among brahmins; aśvamedhe — in the horse-sacrifice; mahāyajñe — the great sacrifice; rājño — of the king; 'sya — this; sumahātmanaḥ — most great-souled

1.13.3

karma kurvanti vidhivad yājakā vedapāragāḥ
yathāvidhi yathānyāyaṃ parikrāmanti śāstrataḥ

The officiating priests, masters of the Vedas, performed the rite duly; according to rule and propriety they moved about (in the ritual) as scripture directs.

Words: karma — the rite; kurvanti — perform; vidhivad — duly; yājakā — the officiating priests; vedapāragāḥ — masters of the Vedas; yathāvidhi — according to rule; yathānyāyaṃ — according to propriety; parikrāmanti — move about, circumambulate; śāstrataḥ — according to scripture

1.13.4

pravargyaṃ śāstrataḥ kṛtvā tathaivopasadaṃ dvijāḥ
cakruś ca vidhivat sarvam adhikaṃ karma śāstrataḥ

Having performed the pravargya rite according to scripture, and likewise the upasad, the brahmins duly performed all the additional rites as well, according to scripture.

Words: pravargyaṃ — the pravargya rite; śāstrataḥ — according to scripture; kṛtvā — having done; tathaivopasadaṃ — and likewise the upasad; dvijāḥ — the brahmins; cakruś — performed; ca — and; vidhivat — duly; sarvam — all; adhikaṃ — additional, further; karma — rite; śāstrataḥ — according to scripture

1.13.5

abhipūjya tato hṛṣṭāḥ sarve cakrur yathāvidhi
prātaḥsavanapūrvāṇi karmāṇi munipuṃgavāḥ

Then, having done worship, all those bulls among sages, delighted, performed according to rule the rites beginning with the morning pressing of soma.

Words: abhipūjya — having worshipped; tato — then; hṛṣṭāḥ — delighted; sarve — all; cakrur — performed; yathāvidhi — according to rule; prātaḥsavanapūrvāṇi — beginning with the morning pressing; karmāṇi — the rites; munipuṃgavāḥ — the bulls among sages

1.13.6

na cāhutam abhūt tatra skhalitaṃ vāpi kiṃ cana
dṛśyate brahmavat sarvaṃ kṣemayuktaṃ hi cakrire

Nothing there went un-offered, nor was there any slip whatsoever; everything appeared conformable to the Veda, for they performed it in a manner free of flaw.

Words: na — not; cāhutam — and un-offered; abhūt — was; tatra — there; skhalitaṃ — a slip, lapse; vāpi — or even; kiṃ cana — any whatsoever; dṛśyate — appeared, was seen; brahmavat — conformable to the Veda; sarvaṃ — all; kṣemayuktaṃ — free of flaw, secure; hi — for; cakrire — they performed

1.13.7

na teṣv ahaḥsu śrānto vā kṣudhito vāpi dṛśyate
nāvidvān brāhmaṇas tatra nāśatānucaras tathā

On those days no one weary or hungry was to be seen; nor was there any unlearned brahmin there, nor one attended by fewer than a hundred followers.

Words: na — not; teṣv — on those; ahaḥsu — days; śrānto — weary; vā — or; kṣudhito — hungry; vāpi — or even; dṛśyate — was seen; nāvidvān — nor one unlearned; brāhmaṇas — brahmin; tatra — there; nāśatānucaras — nor one attended by fewer than a hundred; tathā — likewise

1.13.8

brāhmaṇā bhuñjate nityaṃ nāthavantaś ca bhuñjate
tāpasā bhujate cāpi śramaṇā bhuñjate tathā

The brahmins ate continually, and those who had dependents ate; the ascetics too ate, and the wandering mendicants ate likewise.

Words: brāhmaṇā — the brahmins; bhuñjate — eat, ate; nityaṃ — continually; nāthavantaś — those who have dependents/protectors; ca — and; bhuñjate — ate; tāpasā — the ascetics; bhujate — ate; cāpi — and also; śramaṇā — the wandering mendicants; bhuñjate — ate; tathā — likewise

1.13.9

vṛddhāś ca vyādhitāś caiva striyo bālās tathaiva ca
aniśaṃ bhuñjamānānāṃ na tṛptir upalabhyate

And the aged and the sick, and women and children likewise — of those eating day and night, no lack of plenty was found.

Words: vṛddhāś — the aged; ca — and; vyādhitāś — the sick; caiva — and; striyo — women; bālās — children; tathaiva — likewise; ca — and; aniśaṃ — day and night, incessantly; bhuñjamānānāṃ — of those eating; na — not; tṛptir — satiety, being filled to the full; upalabhyate — was found, obtained

1.13.10

dīyatāṃ dīyatām annaṃ vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca
iti saṃcoditās tatra tathā cakrur anekaśaḥ

“Give, give food, and garments of every kind!” — so urged, they did so there in manifold ways.

Words: dīyatāṃ — let it be given; dīyatām — let it be given; annaṃ — food; vāsāṃsi — garments; vividhāni — of various kinds; ca — and; iti — thus; saṃcoditās — urged, incited; tatra — there; tathā — so; cakrur — did; anekaśaḥ — in manifold ways, again and again

1.13.11

annakūṭāś ca bahavo dṛśyante parvatopamāḥ
divase divase tatra siddhasya vidhivat tadā

And many heaps of food, like mountains, were seen there day after day, of cooked fare duly prepared.

Words: annakūṭāś — heaps of food; ca — and; bahavo — many; dṛśyante — were seen; parvatopamāḥ — like mountains; divase divase — day after day; tatra — there; siddhasya — of cooked food, of what was prepared; vidhivat — duly; tadā — then

1.13.12

annaṃ hi vidhivat svādu praśaṃsanti dvijarṣabhāḥ
aho tṛptāḥ sma bhadraṃ te iti śuśrāva rāghavaḥ

The bulls among brahmins praised the food, duly prepared and delicious: “Ah, we are satisfied! Blessings on you!” — so the descendant of Raghu heard.

Words: annaṃ — the food; hi — indeed; vidhivat — duly prepared; svādu — delicious; praśaṃsanti — praised; dvijarṣabhāḥ — the bulls among brahmins; aho — ah!; tṛptāḥ — satisfied; sma — (marks past/emphatic); bhadraṃ — blessings, good; te — to you; iti — thus; śuśrāva — heard; rāghavaḥ — the descendant of Raghu

1.13.13

svalaṃkṛtāś ca puruṣā brāhmaṇān paryaveṣayan
upāsate ca tān anye sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalāḥ

And well-adorned men served the brahmins their food; and others, with brightly polished jewelled earrings, waited upon them.

Words: svalaṃkṛtāś — well-adorned; ca — and; puruṣā — men; brāhmaṇān — the brahmins; paryaveṣayan — served (with food); upāsate — waited upon, attended; ca — and; tān — them; anye — others; sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalāḥ — with brightly polished jewelled earrings

1.13.14

karmāntare tadā viprā hetuvādān bahūn api
prāhuḥ suvāgmino dhīrāḥ parasparajigīṣayā

Then, in the intervals of the rite, the eloquent and steadfast brahmins uttered many reasoned disputations, out of a wish to outdo one another.

Words: karmāntare — in the interval of the rite; tadā — then; viprā — the brahmins; hetuvādān — reasoned disputations; bahūn — many; api — even; prāhuḥ — uttered, spoke; suvāgmino — eloquent; dhīrāḥ — steadfast, wise; parasparajigīṣayā — out of a wish to outdo one another

1.13.15

divase divase tatra saṃstare kuśalā dvijāḥ
sarvakarmāṇi cakrus te yathāśāstraṃ pracoditāḥ

Day after day there the brahmins, skilled in the ritual arrangement, performed all the rites, as directed, according to scripture.

Words: divase divase — day after day; tatra — there; saṃstare — in the (ritual) arrangement; kuśalā — skilled; dvijāḥ — the brahmins; sarvakarmāṇi — all the rites; cakrus — performed; te — they; yathāśāstraṃ — according to scripture; pracoditāḥ — directed, prompted

1.13.16

nāṣaḍaṅgavid atrāsīn nāvrato nābahuśrutaḥ
sadasyas tasya vai rājño nāvādakuśalo dvijaḥ

Here there was none ignorant of the six Vedāṅgas, none without vows, none not deeply learned; no member of that king's assembly was a brahmin unskilled in disputation.

Words: nāṣaḍaṅgavid — not one ignorant of the six Vedāṅgas; atrāsīn — there was here; nāvrato — nor one without vows; nābahuśrutaḥ — nor one not deeply learned; sadasyas — member of the assembly; tasya — of that; vai — indeed; rājño — king; nāvādakuśalo — nor one unskilled in disputation; dvijaḥ — brahmin

1.13.17

prāpte yūpocchraye tasmin ṣaḍ bailvāḥ khādirās tathā
tāvanto bilvasahitāḥ parṇinaś ca tathāpare

When the time came for raising the sacrificial posts, there were six of bilva wood and likewise (six) of khadira; as many again together with bilva, and others of palāśa wood as well,

Words: prāpte — having come (loc.); yūpocchraye — at the raising of the sacrificial post; tasmin — that; ṣaḍ — six; bailvāḥ — (posts) of bilva wood; khādirās — of khadira wood; tathā — likewise; tāvanto — as many; bilvasahitāḥ — together with bilva; parṇinaś — of palāśa (parṇin) wood; ca — and; tathāpare — and others likewise

1.13.18

śleṣmātakamayo diṣṭo devadārumayas tathā
dvāv eva tatra vihitau bāhuvyastaparigrahau

one made of śleṣmātaka wood was prescribed, and likewise one of devadāru (deodar); just two were fixed there, of an arm-span's girth to embrace.

Words: śleṣmātakamayo — made of śleṣmātaka wood; diṣṭo — prescribed, appointed; devadārumayas — made of devadāru (deodar); tathā — likewise; dvāv — two; eva — only, just; tatra — there; vihitau — fixed, set up (two); bāhuvyastaparigrahau — of an arm-span's girth to embrace

1.13.19

kāritāḥ sarva evaite śāstrajñair yajñakovidaiḥ
śobhārthaṃ tasya yajñasya kāñcanālaṃkṛtā bhavan

All these were made by men learned in scripture and skilled in sacrifice; for the beauty of that sacrifice they were adorned with gold.

Words: kāritāḥ — caused to be made; sarva — all; evaite — these very; śāstrajñair — by those learned in scripture; yajñakovidaiḥ — skilled in sacrifice; śobhārthaṃ — for the sake of beauty; tasya — of that; yajñasya — sacrifice; kāñcanālaṃkṛtā — adorned with gold; bhavan — they were

1.13.20

vinyastā vidhivat sarve śilpibhiḥ sukṛtā dṛḍhāḥ
aṣṭāśrayaḥ sarva eva ślakṣṇarūpasamanvitāḥ

All the posts, well made and firm, were duly set up by the artisans; every one was eight-cornered and endowed with a smooth form.

Words: vinyastā — set up, placed; vidhivat — duly; sarve — all; śilpibhiḥ — by the artisans; sukṛtā — well-made; dṛḍhāḥ — firm; aṣṭāśrayaḥ — eight-cornered; sarva — all; eva — indeed; ślakṣṇarūpasamanvitāḥ — endowed with a smooth form

1.13.21

ācchāditās te vāsobhiḥ puṣpair gandhaiś ca bhūṣitāḥ
saptarṣayo dīptimanto virājante yathā divi

They were draped with cloths and decked with flowers and perfumes; they shone like the radiant Seven Seers (the Great Bear) in the sky.

Words: ācchāditās — draped, covered; te — they; vāsobhiḥ — with cloths; puṣpair — with flowers; gandhaiś — with perfumes; ca — and; bhūṣitāḥ — decked, adorned; saptarṣayo — the Seven Seers (Great Bear); dīptimanto — radiant; virājante — shine; yathā — as, like; divi — in the sky

1.13.22

iṣṭakāś ca yathānyāyaṃ kāritāś ca pramāṇataḥ
cito 'gnir brāhmaṇais tatra kuśalaiḥ śulbakarmaṇi
sa cityo rājasiṃhasya saṃcitaḥ kuśalair dvijaiḥ

And the bricks were made according to propriety and to measure; the fire-altar was piled up there by brahmins skilled in the measuring work; that fire-altar of the lion among kings was heaped up by skilled brahmins.

Words: iṣṭakāś — bricks; ca — and; yathānyāyaṃ — according to propriety; kāritāś — caused to be made; ca — and; pramāṇataḥ — according to measure; cito — piled up; 'gnir — the fire (altar); brāhmaṇais — by the brahmins; tatra — there; kuśalaiḥ — skilled; śulbakarmaṇi — in the measuring (śulba) work; sa — that; cityo — the fire-altar, pile; rājasiṃhasya — of the lion among kings; saṃcitaḥ — heaped up, piled; kuśalair — by the skilled; dvijaiḥ — brahmins

1.13.23

garuḍo rukmapakṣo vai triguṇo 'ṣṭādaśātmakaḥ
niyuktās tatra paśavas tat tad uddiśya daivatam

(The altar was in the form of) Garuḍa with golden wings, three times (the usual size), consisting of eighteen (units); and there the sacrificial animals were assigned, each dedicated to its respective deity.

Words: garuḍo — (in the shape of) Garuḍa; rukmapakṣo — with golden wings; vai — indeed; triguṇo — three times (the size); 'ṣṭādaśātmakaḥ — consisting of eighteen; niyuktās — assigned, appointed; tatra — there; paśavas — the sacrificial animals; tat tad — each respective; uddiśya — aiming at, dedicating to; daivatam — deity

1.13.24

uragāḥ pakṣiṇaś caiva yathāśāstraṃ pracoditāḥ
śāmitre tu hayas tatra tathā jala carāś ca ye

Serpents and birds too were assigned according to scripture; at the slaughtering-place the horse (was assigned) there, and likewise those creatures that move in water.

Words: uragāḥ — serpents; pakṣiṇaś — birds; caiva — and; yathāśāstraṃ — according to scripture; pracoditāḥ — assigned, directed; śāmitre — at the slaughtering-place; tu — and; hayas — the horse; tatra — there; tathā — likewise; jala — water; carāś — moving (in); ca — and; ye — which, those

1.13.25

ṛtvigbhiḥ sarvam evaitan niyuktaṃ śāstratas tadā
paśūnāṃ triśataṃ tatra yūpeṣu niyataṃ tadā
aśvaratnottamaṃ tasya rājño daśarathasya ha

All this was then assigned by the officiating priests according to scripture; three hundred animals were then bound there to the posts, along with the excellent jewel of a horse of that king Daśaratha.

Words: ṛtvigbhiḥ — by the officiating priests; sarvam — all; evaitan — this very; niyuktaṃ — assigned; śāstratas — according to scripture; tadā — then; paśūnāṃ — of animals; triśataṃ — three hundred; tatra — there; yūpeṣu — to the sacrificial posts; niyataṃ — bound, fastened; tadā — then; aśvaratnottamaṃ — the excellent jewel of a horse; tasya — of that; rājño — king; daśarathasya — Daśaratha; ha — indeed

1.13.26

kausalyā taṃ hayaṃ tatra paricarya samantataḥ
kṛpāṇair viśaśāsainaṃ tribhiḥ paramayā mudā

Kausalyā, having circled that horse on every side there, cut it with three knives, with the greatest joy.

Words: kausalyā — Kausalyā; taṃ — that; hayaṃ — horse; tatra — there; paricarya — having gone around, tended; samantataḥ — on every side; kṛpāṇair — with knives; viśaśāsainaṃ — cut it; tribhiḥ — with three; paramayā — with the greatest; mudā — joy

1.13.27

patatriṇā tadā sārdhaṃ susthitena ca cetasā
avasad rajanīm ekāṃ kausalyā dharmakāmyayā

Then, with a well-composed mind, Kausalyā spent one night beside the winged one (the horse), out of desire for dharma.

Words: patatriṇā — with the winged one (the horse); tadā — then; sārdhaṃ — together with; susthitena — well-composed; ca — and; cetasā — with mind; avasad — spent, dwelt; rajanīm — the night; ekāṃ — one; kausalyā — Kausalyā; dharmakāmyayā — out of desire for dharma

1.13.28

hotādhvaryus tathodgātā hayena samayojayan
mahiṣyā parivṛtthyātha vāvātām aparāṃ tathā

The hotṛ, the adhvaryu, and the udgātṛ united (the queens) with the horse — the chief queen, the discarded queen, and likewise the other, the favourite wife.

Words: hotādhvaryus — the hotṛ and the adhvaryu; tathodgātā — and likewise the udgātṛ; hayena — with the horse; samayojayan — united, joined (the queens); mahiṣyā — the chief queen (mahiṣī); parivṛtthyātha — and the discarded queen (parivṛktī), then; vāvātām — the favourite wife (vāvātā); aparāṃ — the other; tathā — likewise

1.13.29

patatriṇas tasya vapām uddhṛtya niyatendriyaḥ
ṛtvik parama saṃpannaḥ śrapayām āsa śāstrataḥ

Drawing out the omentum of that winged one, the officiating priest, his senses controlled and supremely accomplished, cooked it according to scripture.

Words: patatriṇas — of the winged one (the horse); tasya — that; vapām — the omentum (fatty membrane); uddhṛtya — having drawn out; niyatendriyaḥ — with senses controlled; ṛtvik — the officiating priest; parama — supremely; saṃpannaḥ — accomplished, perfect; śrapayām āsa — cooked; śāstrataḥ — according to scripture

1.13.30

dhūmagandhaṃ vapāyās tu jighrati sma narādhipaḥ
yathākālaṃ yathānyāyaṃ nirṇudan pāpam ātmanaḥ

The king inhaled the smoke-scent of the omentum, at the proper time and in the proper manner, driving away the sin from himself.

Words: dhūmagandhaṃ — the smoke-scent; vapāyās — of the omentum; tu — and; jighrati — inhales, smells; sma — (marks past sense); narādhipaḥ — the king; yathākālaṃ — at the proper time; yathānyāyaṃ — in the proper manner; nirṇudan — driving away, dispelling; pāpam — sin; ātmanaḥ — from himself

1.13.31

hayasya yāni cāṅgāni tāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇāḥ
agnau prāsyanti vidhivat samastāḥ ṣoḍaśartvijaḥ

And whatever limbs there were of the horse, all those the brahmins — all sixteen officiating priests together — cast duly into the fire.

Words: hayasya — of the horse; yāni — which; cāṅgāni — and the limbs; tāni — those; sarvāṇi — all; brāhmaṇāḥ — the brahmins; agnau — into the fire; prāsyanti — cast, throw; vidhivat — duly; samastāḥ — all together; ṣoḍaśartvijaḥ — the sixteen officiating priests

1.13.32

plakṣaśākhāsu yajñānām anyeṣāṃ kriyate haviḥ
aśvamedhasya caikasya vaitaso bhāga iṣyate

In other sacrifices the oblation is made on branches of the plakṣa tree; but for the aśvamedha alone a portion of reed is prescribed.

Words: plakṣaśākhāsu — on branches of the plakṣa tree; yajñānām — of the sacrifices; anyeṣāṃ — of others; kriyate — is made; haviḥ — the oblation; aśvamedhasya — of the horse-sacrifice; caikasya — and of the one alone; vaitaso — made of reed; bhāga — portion; iṣyate — is prescribed, desired

1.13.33

tryaho 'śvamedhaḥ saṃkhyātaḥ kalpasūtreṇa brāhmaṇaiḥ
catuṣṭomam ahas tasya prathamaṃ parikalpitam

The aśvamedha is reckoned a three-day rite by the brahmins according to the ritual manual; its first day is arranged as the Catuṣṭoma.

Words: tryaho — a three-day (rite); 'śvamedhaḥ — the aśvamedha; saṃkhyātaḥ — reckoned, counted; kalpasūtreṇa — by the ritual manual (Kalpasūtra); brāhmaṇaiḥ — by the brahmins; catuṣṭomam — the Catuṣṭoma (a soma rite); ahas — day; tasya — of it; prathamaṃ — first; parikalpitam — arranged, appointed

1.13.34

ukthyaṃ dvitīyaṃ saṃkhyātam atirātraṃ tathottaram
kāritās tatra bahavo vihitāḥ śāstradarśanāt

The second is reckoned the Ukthya, and the last the Atirātra; many (rites) prescribed by the precept of scripture were performed there.

Words: ukthyaṃ — the Ukthya (a soma rite); dvitīyaṃ — second; saṃkhyātam — reckoned; atirātraṃ — the Atirātra (an overnight soma rite); tathottaram — and the last; kāritās — caused to be performed; tatra — there; bahavo — many; vihitāḥ — prescribed, ordained; śāstradarśanāt — by the precept of scripture

1.13.35

jyotiṣṭomāyuṣī caiva atirātrau ca nirmitau
abhijid viśvajic caiva aptoryāmo mahākratuḥ

And the Jyotiṣṭoma and the Āyus, and two Atirātras, were performed; and the Abhijit and the Viśvajit, and the Aptoryāma, that great rite.

Words: jyotiṣṭomāyuṣī — the Jyotiṣṭoma and the Āyus (two rites); caiva — and; atirātrau — two Atirātras; ca — and; nirmitau — performed, made (two); abhijid — the Abhijit; viśvajic — the Viśvajit; caiva — and; aptoryāmo — the Aptoryāma; mahākratuḥ — the great rite

1.13.36

prācīṃ hotre dadau rājā diśaṃ svakulavardhanaḥ
adhvaryave pratīcīṃ tu brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṃ diśam

The king, augmenter of his line, gave the eastern quarter to the hotṛ, the western to the adhvaryu, and the southern quarter to the brahman-priest,

Words: prācīṃ — the eastern; hotre — to the hotṛ; dadau — gave; rājā — the king; diśaṃ — quarter, direction; svakulavardhanaḥ — augmenter of his own line; adhvaryave — to the adhvaryu; pratīcīṃ — the western; tu — and; brahmaṇe — to the brahman-priest; dakṣiṇāṃ — the southern; diśam — quarter

1.13.37

udgātre tu tathodīcīṃ dakṣiṇaiṣā vinirmitā
aśvamedhe mahāyajñe svayambhuvihite purā

and to the udgātṛ likewise the northern; this sacrificial fee was so ordained of old in the great aśvamedha instituted by the Self-existent.

Words: udgātre — to the udgātṛ; tu — and; tathodīcīṃ — likewise the northern; dakṣiṇaiṣā — this sacrificial fee; vinirmitā — ordained, made; aśvamedhe — in the horse-sacrifice; mahāyajñe — the great sacrifice; svayambhuvihite — instituted by the Self-existent (Brahmā); purā — of old

1.13.38

kratuṃ samāpya tu tadā nyāyataḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
ṛtvigbhyo hi dadau rājā dharāṃ tāṃ kratuvardhanaḥ

Having duly completed the rite, that bull among men, the king, augmenter of the sacrifice, then gave that earth (his realm) to the officiating priests.

Words: kratuṃ — the rite; samāpya — having completed; tu — and; tadā — then; nyāyataḥ — duly; puruṣarṣabhaḥ — the bull among men; ṛtvigbhyo — to the officiating priests; hi — indeed; dadau — gave; rājā — the king; dharāṃ — the earth; tāṃ — that; kratuvardhanaḥ — augmenter of the sacrifice

1.13.39

ṛtvijas tv abruvan sarve rājānaṃ gatakalmaṣam
bhavān eva mahīṃ kṛtsnām eko rakṣitum arhati

But all the officiating priests said to the king, now cleansed of sin: “You alone are fit to protect the whole earth.

Words: ṛtvijas — the officiating priests; tv — but; abruvan — said; sarve — all; rājānaṃ — to the king; gatakalmaṣam — cleansed of sin; bhavān — you (honoured one); eva — alone; mahīṃ — the earth; kṛtsnām — whole, entire; eko — alone; rakṣitum — to protect; arhati — are fit, deserve

1.13.40

na bhūmyā kāryam asmākaṃ na hi śaktāḥ sma pālane
ratāḥ svādhyāyakaraṇe vayaṃ nityaṃ hi bhūmipa
niṣkrayaṃ kiṃ cid eveha prayacchatu bhavān iti

We have no use for land, for we are not capable of governing; we are ever devoted to the practice of Vedic study, O lord of the earth. Let your honour give instead some redemption-fee here.”

Words: na — not; bhūmyā — with land; kāryam — use, business; asmākaṃ — for us; na — not; hi — for; śaktāḥ — capable; sma — (are); pālane — in governing, protecting; ratāḥ — devoted, engaged; svādhyāyakaraṇe — in the practice of Vedic study; vayaṃ — we; nityaṃ — ever, always; hi — indeed; bhūmipa — O lord of the earth; niṣkrayaṃ — a redemption-fee, ransom; kiṃ cid — some; eveha — indeed here; prayacchatu — let (him) give; bhavān — your honour; iti — thus

1.13.41

gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi daśa tebhyo dadau nṛpaḥ
daśakoṭiṃ suvarṇasya rajatasya caturguṇam

The king gave them ten hundred-thousands of cows, ten crores of gold, and four times that of silver.

Words: gavāṃ — of cows; śatasahasrāṇi — hundred-thousands; daśa — ten; tebhyo — to them; dadau — gave; nṛpaḥ — the king; daśakoṭiṃ — ten crores; suvarṇasya — of gold; rajatasya — of silver; caturguṇam — four times, fourfold

1.13.42

ṛtvijas tu tataḥ sarve pradaduḥ sahitā vasu
ṛṣyaśṛṅgāya munaye vasiṣṭhāya ca dhīmate

Then all the officiating priests together gave that wealth to the sage Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and to the wise Vasiṣṭha.

Words: ṛtvijas — the officiating priests; tu — and; tataḥ — then; sarve — all; pradaduḥ — gave; sahitā — together; vasu — wealth; ṛṣyaśṛṅgāya — to Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; munaye — to the sage; vasiṣṭhāya — to Vasiṣṭha; ca — and; dhīmate — to the wise one

1.13.43

tatas te nyāyataḥ kṛtvā pravibhāgaṃ dvijottamāḥ
suprītamanasaḥ sarve pratyūcur muditā bhṛśam

Then those best of brahmins, having duly made the division, all glad at heart and greatly delighted, replied:

Words: tatas — then; te — they; nyāyataḥ — duly; kṛtvā — having made; pravibhāgaṃ — the division, distribution; dvijottamāḥ — the best of brahmins; suprītamanasaḥ — glad at heart; sarve — all; pratyūcur — replied; muditā — glad, joyful; bhṛśam — greatly, exceedingly

1.13.44

tataḥ prītamanā rājā prāpya yajñam anuttamam
pāpāpahaṃ svarnayanaṃ dustaraṃ pārthivarṣabhaiḥ

Then the king, glad at heart, having accomplished that peerless sacrifice — remover of sin, leading to heaven, hard to achieve even by the bulls among kings —

Words: tataḥ — then; prītamanā — glad at heart; rājā — the king; prāpya — having attained, accomplished; yajñam — the sacrifice; anuttamam — peerless; pāpāpahaṃ — remover of sin; svarnayanaṃ — leading to heaven; dustaraṃ — hard to achieve, hard to cross; pārthivarṣabhaiḥ — by the bulls among kings

1.13.45

tato 'bravīd ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ rājā daśarathas tadā
kulasya vardhanaṃ tat tu kartum arhasi suvrata

then king Daśaratha said to Ṛṣyaśṛṅga: “Now you should perform that (rite) for the increase of my line, O you of good vows.”

Words: tato — then; 'bravīd — said; ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ — to Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; rājā — the king; daśarathas — Daśaratha; tadā — then; kulasya — of the line; vardhanaṃ — the increase, augmenting; tat — that; tu — indeed, now; kartum — to perform; arhasi — you should, are able; suvrata — O you of good vows

1.13.46

tatheti ca sa rājānam uvāca dvijasattamaḥ
bhaviṣyanti sutā rājaṃś catvāras te kulodvahāḥ

“So be it,” said that best of brahmins to the king; “four sons will be yours, O king, carriers-on of your line.”

Words: tatheti — ‘so be it’; ca — and; sa — he; rājānam — to the king; uvāca — said; dvijasattamaḥ — the best of brahmins; bhaviṣyanti — will be; sutā — sons; rājaṃś — O king; catvāras — four; te — your; kulodvahāḥ — carriers-on of the line

← 1.12 Aśvamedha yajña: Construction, invitations and hospitality · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.14 Putrakāmeṣṭi and Viṣṇu’s promised human birth →

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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