# Bāla Kāṇḍa 12 — Aśvamedha yajña: Construction, invitations and hospitality *Vasiṣṭha organizes construction, food and lodging, Sumantra invites the guests and Daśaratha enters the enclosure to begin the rites* Portion: Aśvamedha yajña · Verses: 34 · Ref format: 1.12. ## Sequence - When spring returns after a full year, Daśaratha asks Vasiṣṭha to take charge of completing the sacrifice without obstruction (12.1–4) - 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 (12.5–11) - 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 (12.12–15). The workers agree - Vasiṣṭha directs Sumantra to invite Kings and people from every region (12.16–18) - 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 (12.19–24) - Sumantra sends trusted envoys and goes himself to fetch the designated Kings (12.25–26) - the workers report their preparations, and Vasiṣṭha repeats the obligation to give without contempt (12.27–28) - the Kings arrive bearing jewels → Vasiṣṭha reports that the guests have been honored and the arrangements completed (12.29–32) - on an auspicious day Daśaratha enters the sacrificial enclosure → the ṛtvijs begin with Ṛṣyaśṛṅga at their head (12.33–34). ## Verses **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, **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. **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. **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. **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, **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, **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: **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.” **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, **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, **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. **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. **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 — **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. **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: **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: **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. **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, **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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. **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.