Sarga 14

अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे तस्मिन्प्राप्ते तुरङ्गमे। सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे राज्ञो यज्ञोऽभ्यवर्तत।।1.14.1।।

After completion of one year when the sacrificial horse had returned, the sacrifice by the king (Das...

ऋश्यशृङ्गं पुरस्कृत्य कर्म चक्रुर्द्विजर्षभा:। अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे राज्ञोऽस्य सुमहात्मन:।।1.14.2।।

The best of brahmins led by Rsyasringa performed the rituals of aswamedha organised by the exceeding...

कर्म कुर्वन्ति विधिवद्याजका वेदपारगा:। यथाविधि यथान्यायं परिक्रामन्ति शास्त्रत:।।1.14.3।।

The chief priests, masters of the Vedas, conducted the rituals in consonance with traditions and scr...

प्रवर्ग्यं शास्त्रत: कृत्वा तथैवोपसदं द्विजा: चक्रुश्च विधिवत्सर्वमधिकं कर्म शास्त्रत:।।1.14.4।।

Brahmins performed pravargya and upasada and other ceremonies as per the scriptures and traditions.

अभिपूज्य ततो हृष्टास्सर्वे चक्रुर्यथाविधि। प्रातस्सवनपूर्वाणि कर्माणि मुनिपुङ्गवा:।।1.14.5।।

Thereafter the eminent ascetics, rejoicing in their hearts performed the worship (of celestial being...

ऐन्द्रश्च विधिवद्दत्तो राजा चाभिषुतोऽनघ:। माध्यन्दिनं च सवनं प्रावर्तत यथाक्रमम्।।1.14.6।।

Havis was duly offered to Indra daily. The juice was extracted in the morning by pressing the soma p...

तृतीयसवनं चैव राज्ञोऽस्य सुमहात्मन:। चक्रुस्तेशास्त्रतो दृष्ट्वा तथा ब्राह्मणपुङ्गवा:।।1.14.7।।

Those exceedingly noble and eminent brahmins performed third pressing of the soma, in conformity wit...

न चाहुतमभूत्तत्र स्खलितं वापि किञ्चन । दृश्यते ब्रह्मवत्सर्वं क्षेमयुक्तं हि चक्रिरे।।1.14.8।।

There were no omissions in the offerings nor any lappes in the performance. Everything was done thro...

न तेष्वहस्सु श्रान्तो वा क्षुधितो वापि दृश्यते। नाविद्वान्ब्राह्मणस्तत्र नाशतानुचरस्तथा।।1.14.9।।

During the days (of sacrifice) none felt tired or hungry. There was no brahmin who was not learned o...

ब्राह्मणा भुञ्जते नित्यं नाथवन्तश्च भुञ्जते। तापसा भुञ्जते चापि श्रमणा भुञ्जतेतथा।।1.14.10।।

During that period brahmanas as well as those who have masters, (the sudras), ascetics and monks had...

वृद्धाश्च व्याधिताश्चैव स्त्रियो बालास्तथैव च । अनिशं भुञ्जमानानां न तृप्तिरुपलभ्यते।।1.14.11।।

The aged, the sick, women and also children ate there and knew no limit to their enjoyment.

दीयतां दीयतामन्नं वासांसि विविधानि च। इति सञ्चोदितास्तत्र तथा चक्रुरनेकश:।।1.14.12।।

"Give food, give, various kinds of clothes" echoed the organisers. And they (in charge of distributi...

अन्नकूटाश्च बहवो दृश्यन्ते पर्वतोपमा:। दिवसे दिवसे तत्र सिद्धस्य विधिवत्तदा।।1.14.13।।

There, could be seen day after day heaps of nicely cooked food, looking like mountains.

नानादेशादनुप्राप्ता: पुरुषास्स्त्रीगणास्तथा। अन्नपानैस्सुविहितास्तस्मिन्यज्ञे महात्मन:।।1.14.14।।

Men and women who had come from various countries to that sacrifice were entertained with food and d...

अन्नं हि विधिवत्साधु प्रशंसन्ति द्विजर्षभा:। अहो तृप्ता: स्म भद्रं ते इति शुश्राव राघव:।।1.14.15।।

Brahmins having tasted the delicious food cooked in prescribed manner, praised saying "Ah We are ful...

स्वलङ्कृताश्च पुरुषा ब्राह्मणान्पर्यवेषयन्। उपासते च तानन्ये सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डला:।।1.14.16।।

While brahmins were being served with food by welldressed men, some others wearing pendents studded ...

कर्मान्तरे तदा विप्रा हेतुवादान्बहूनपि। प्राहुश्च वाग्मिनो धीरा: परस्परजिगीषया।।1.14.17।।

In the interval between ceremonies, eloquent and sagacious brahmins were engaged in various disputat...

दिवसे दिवसे तत्र संस्तरे कुशला द्विजा:। सर्वकर्माणि चक्रुस्ते यथाशास्त्रं प्रचोदिता:।।1.14.18।।

Every day in that sacrifice brahmins, skilful in rituals, persuaded (by sage Vasishta), performed al...

नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीन्नाव्रतो नाबहुश्रुत:। सदस्यास्तस्य वै राज्ञो नावादकुशला द्विजा:।।1.14.19।।

Here (in this sacrificial pavillion), there was none who was not versed in six Vedangas, not true to...

प्राप्ते यूपोच्छ्रये तस्मिन्षड्बैल्वा: खादिरास्तथा। तावन्तो बिल्वसहिता: पर्णिनश्च तथापरे।।1.14.20।। ...

When the time came to erect sacrificial posts, six posts, each made of bilva, khadira, parni, sleshm...

प्राप्ते यूपोच्छ्रये तस्मिन्षड्बैल्वा: खादिरास्तथा। तावन्तो बिल्वसहिता: पर्णिनश्च तथापरे।।1.14.20।। ...

When the time came to erect sacrificial posts, six posts each made of bilva and khadira wood and man...

कारितास्सर्व एवैते शास्त्रज्ञैर्यज्ञकोविदै:। शोभार्थं तस्य यज्ञस्य काञ्चनालङ्कृताऽभवन्।।1.14.22।।

All these posts were prepared by knowers of sastras and by those wellversed in the performance of sa...

एकविंशतियूपास्ते एकविंशत्यरत्नय:। वासोभिरेकविंशद्भिरेकैकं समलङ्कृता:।।1.14.23।।

These twentyone sacrificial posts, each measuring twentyone 'aratni' height, were welldecorated wrap...

विन्यस्ता विधिवत्सर्वे शिल्पिभिस्सुकृता दृढा:। अष्टाश्रयस्सर्व एव श्लक्ष्णरूपसमन्विता:।।1.14.24।।

All those posts, strong with eight sides and finely finished surfaces, wellcarved by sculptors were...

आच्छादितास्ते वासोभि: पुष्पैर्गन्धैश्च भूषिता:। सप्तर्षयो दीप्तिमन्तो विराजन्ते यथा दिवि।।1.14.25।।

Decorated with flowers and sandal paste and covered with cloths, stood the bright sacrificial posts...

इष्टकाश्च यथान्यायं कारिताश्च प्रमाणत:। चितोऽग्निर्ब्राह्मणैस्तत्र कुशलैश्शुल्बकर्मणि ।।1.14.26।।

The sacrificial fireplace was constructed with bricks with standard measurement by brahmins who were...

सचित्यो राजसिंहस्य सञ्चित: कुशलैर्द्विजै:। गरुडो रुक्मपक्षो वै त्रिगुणोऽष्टादशात्मक:।।1.14.27।।

That sacrificial altar of the lion among kings, (Dasaratha), erected by welltrained brahmins was in ...

नियुक्तास्तत्र पशवस्तत्तदुद्दिश्य दैवतम्। उरगा: पक्षिणश्चैव यथाशास्त्रं प्रचोदिता:।।1.14.28।।

Animals, serpents and birds were kept ready after the sastras intended (for sacrifice) for those res...

शामित्रे तु हयस्तत्र तथा जलचराश्च ये। ऋत्विग्भिस्सर्वमेवैतन्नियुक्तं शास्त्रतस्तदा।।1.14.29।।

When the time came to sacrifice the animals, the chief priests, in accordance with tradition, tied u...

पशूनां त्रिशतं तत्र यूपेषु नियतं तदा। अश्वरत्नोत्तमं तस्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य च ।।1.14.30।।

Three hundred animals and the jewel of the horses (from the stables) belonging to king Dasaratha wer...

कौसल्या तं हयं तत्र परिचर्य समन्तत:। कृपाणैर्विशशासैनं त्रिभि: परमया मुदा ।।1.14.31।।

Kausalya, with immense glee having gone round and worshipped that horse, severed it with three strok...

पतत्रिणा तदा सार्धं सुस्थितेन च चेतसा। अवसद्रजनीमेकां कौशल्या धर्मकाम्यया।।1.14.32।।

Kausalya, in her devotion to duty and with a happy state of mind, passed one night near that horse.

होताऽध्वर्युस्तथोद्गाता हस्तेन समयोजयन्। महिष्या परिवृत्त्या च वावातां च तथापराम्।।1.14.33।।

Hota, Adhvaryu and Udgata arranged Mahishi, Parivritti, Vavaata and another woman known as Palakali ...

पतत्रिणस्तस्य वपा मुद्धृत्य नियतेन्द्रिय:। ऋत्विक्परमसम्पन्न: श्रपयामास शास्त्रत:।।1.14.34।।

The official priest, highly knowledgeable in scriptures and having restrained senses, removed the ma...

धूमगन्धं वपायास्तु जिघ्रति स्म नराधिप:। यथाकालं यथान्यायं निर्णुदन्पापमात्मन:।।1.14.35।।

The king at appropriate time and in agreement with the scriptures inhaled the odour of the smoke (fr...

हयस्य यानि चाङ्गानि तानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणा:। अग्नौ प्रास्यन्ति विधिवत्समन्त्राष्षोडशर्त्विज:।।1.14.3...

The sixteen officiating priests (brahmins) offered all the horse's limbs with prayers as per the cus...

प्लक्षशाखासु यज्ञानामन्येषां क्रियते हवि:। अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य वैतसो भाग इष्यते।।1.14.37।।

In other sacrifices oblations are offered with branches of a plaksha tree but in Aswamedha a branch ...

त्र्यहोऽश्वमेधस्सङ्ख्यात: कल्पसूत्रेण ब्राह्मणै:। 37 चतुष्टोममहस्तस्य प्रथमं परिकल्पितम्।।1.14.38।।

According to Kalpa sutra, aswamedha in conducted for three days. In the first day, chatushtoma is ar...

उक्थ्यं द्वितीयं संख्यातमतिरात्रं तथोत्तरम्। कारितास्तत्र बहवो विहिताश्शास्त्रदर्शनात्।।1.14.39।।

On the second day Ukthya and on the third day Atiraatra were performed. Many sacrifices fixed accord...

ज्योतिष्टोमायुषी चैवमतिरात्रौ विनिर्मितौ। अभिजिद्विश्वजिच्चैवमप्तोर्यामो महाक्रतु:।।1.14.40।।

Jyotishtoma and Ayuryaga in Atiratra, Abhijit, Viswajit and Aptoryama ceremonies constituting the gr...

प्राचीं होत्रे ददौ राजा दिशं स्वकुलवर्धन:। अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं तु ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम्।।1.14.41।। ...

In order to promote his dynasty, king Dasaratha gave away eastern region to Hotar, western region to...

प्राचीं होत्रे ददौ राजा दिशं स्वकुलवर्धन:। अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं तु ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम्।।1.14.41।। ...

In order to promote his dynasty, king Dasaratha gave away eastern region to Hotar, western region to...

क्रतुं समाप्य तु तदा न्यायत: पुरुषर्षभ: । ऋत्विग्भ्यो हि ददौ राजा तां धरां कुलवर्धन:।।1.14.43।।

The king best among men and upholder of his dynasty, having concluded the sacrifice according to law...

ऋत्विजस्त्वब्रुवन्सर्वे राजानं गतकल्मषम्। भवानेव महीं कृत्स्नामेको रक्षितुमर्हति।।1.14.44।।

But all the priests said to the king purged of his sins, "O Lord of men you alone are capable of pro...

न भूम्या कार्यमस्माकं न हि शक्तास्स्म पालने। रतास्स्वाध्यायकरणे वयं नित्यं हि भूमिप।।1.14.45।। निष्क...

"O ruler of the earth We are constantly engaged in the study of the Vedas. We are not capable of rul...

मणिरत्नं सुवर्णं वा गावो यद्वा समुद्यतम्। तत्प्रयच्छ नरश्रेष्ठ धरण्या न प्रयोजनम्।।1.14.46।।

O best of men give us gems or gold or cows or whichever is readily available. We have no use with th...

एवमुक्तो नरपतिर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगै:।।1.14.47।। गवां शतसहस्राणि दश तेभ्यो ददौ नृप:। 4 शतकोटीस्सुवर्ण...

Lord of men, the king having been thus addressed by brahmins who were wellversed in the Vedas, besto...

एवमुक्तो नरपतिर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगै:।।1.14.47।। गवां शतसहस्राणि दश तेभ्यो ददौ नृप:। 4 शतकोटीस्सुवर्ण...

Lord of men, the king having been thus addressed by brahmins who were wellversed in the Vedas, besto...

ऋत्विजश्च ततस्सर्वे प्रददुस्सहिता वसु। ऋश्यशृङ्गाय मुनये वसिष्ठाय च धीमते।।1.14.49।।

All the priests collectively offered that wealth to sage Rsyasringa and Vasishta endowed with pruden...

ततस्ते न्यायत: कृत्वा प्रविभागं द्विजोत्तमा:। सुप्रीतमनसस्सर्वे प्रत्यूचुर्मुदिता भृशम्।।1.14.50।।

Then those highly pleased brahmins, having distributed that wealth with equity, again said to the ki...

तत: प्रसर्पकैभ्यस्तु हिरण्यं सुसमाहित:। जाम्बूनदं कोटिसंख्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ तदा।।1.14.51।।

Thereafter, with earnestness king Dasaratha bestowed a crore of gold coins to brahmins who had come ...

दरिद्राय द्विजायाथ हस्ताभरणमुत्तमम्। कस्मैचिद्याचमानाय ददौ राघवनन्दन:।।1.14.52।।

Dasaratha then gave his excellent bracelet to a poor brahmin who solicited alms.

तत: प्रीतेषु नृपतिर्द्विजेषु द्विजवत्सल:। प्रणाममकरोत्तेषां हर्षपर्याकुलेक्षण:।।1.14.53।।

When the brahmins were pleased, king Dasaratha who was fond of brahmins bowed to them with his eyes ...

तस्याशिषोऽथ विधिवद्ब्राह्मणैस्समुदीरिता:। उदारस्य नृवीरस्य धरण्यां प्रणतस्य च ।।1.14.54।।

Brahmins uttered blessings upon the generous king when he prostrated before them according to proced...

तत: प्रीतमना राजा प्राप्य यज्ञमनुत्तमम्। पापापहं स्वर्नयनं दुष्करं पार्थिवर्षभै:।।1.14.55।।

Sacrifice destroys sins. It leads to heaven. It is incapable of being done by other monarchs. King D...

ततोऽब्रवीदृश्यशृङ्गं राजा दशरथस्तदा। कुलस्य वर्धनं त्वं तु कर्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत।।1.14.56।।

King Dasaratha then addressing Rsyasringa said "O Adherent of vows you can help the continuity of my...

तथेति च स राजानमुवाच द्विजसत्तम:। भविष्यन्ति सुता राजंश्चत्वारस्ते कुलोद्वहा:।।1.14.57।।

Rsyasringa, the best of brahmins, addressing the king said, "O King Let it be. Four sons perpetuatin...