# Bāla Kāṇḍa 11 — Aśvamedha yajña: Release of the horse and preparations *Ṛṣyaśṛṅga orders the horse released, Daśaratha commissions the sacrificial ground on the Sarayū’s northern bank and warns that ritual errors endanger the patron* Portion: Aśvamedha yajña · Verses: 21 · Ref format: 1.11. ## Sequence - 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 (11.1–3) - Sumantra summons Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, Suyajña, Jābāli, Kāśyapa, and the other ṛtvijs (officiating priests) (11.4–6) - Daśaratha explains his unhappiness at being childless and his resolve to perform the aśvamedha with Ṛṣyaśṛṅga's help (11.7–9) - the priests approve, repeat the instructions, and promise four sons (11.10–12) - Daśaratha orders capable attendants to oversee the horse and directs that the sacrificial ground be prepared on the Sarayū's northern bank (11.13–15) - 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 (11.16–21). ## Verses **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. **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. **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.” **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.” **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. **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 — **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: **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.’ **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. **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. **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.” **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.” **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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. **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. **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.