Introduction
Dasharatha decides to perform an elaborate Vedic ritual, called Aswamedha yajna, Horse Ritual, to beget children. He being a considerate king in taking conscience of the courtiers, he discusses this aspect with the Vedic scholars and ministers of his court, beforehand.
तस्य च एवम् प्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः |
सुतार्थम् तप्य मानस्य न असीत् वंशकरः सुतः || १-८-१
sutaartham tapya maanasya na asiit vaMshakaraH sutaH || 1-8-1
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.1
To him, to such an effectual and virtuously great-souled King Dasharatha, , a dynasty-enriching son is not begotten though his heart is burning to beget children. [1-8-1] .
चिन्तयानस्य तस्य एवम् बुद्धिः आसीन् महात्मनः |
सुतार्थम् वाजिमेधेन किम् अर्थम् न यजामि अहम् || १-८-२
sutaartham vaajimedhena kim artham na yajaami aham || 1-8-2
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.2
To that anguished great-soul, a thought occurred this way, “To beget sons, why should not I perform Horse ritual…[and thus appease the gods in order to beget worthy sons…”] [1-8-2] .
स निश्चिताम् मतिम् कृत्वा यष्टव्यम् इति बुद्धिमान् |
मंत्रिभिः सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैः अपि कृत आत्मभिः || १-८-३
ततोऽब्रवीत् महातेजाः सुमंत्रम् मंत्रि सत्तमम् |
शीघ्रम् आनय मे सर्वान् गुरून् तान् स पुरोहितान् || १-८-४
maMtribhiH saha dharmaatmaa sarvaiH api kR^ita aatmabhiH || 1-8-3
tato.abraviit mahaatejaaH sumaMtram maMtri sattamam |
shiighram aanaya me sarvaan guruun taan sa purohitaan || 1-8-4
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.3,1.8.4
That intellectual and a conscientious king having resolved with all of his sagacious ministers that such a Vedic ritual is performable, then addressed best ne among ministers, namely Sumantra, “fetch all my teachers and clerics, quickly..” [1-8-3,4] .
ततः सुमंत्रः त्वरितम् गत्वा त्वरित विक्रमः |
सम् आनयत् स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान् वेद पारगान् || १-८-५
सुयज्ञम् वामदेवम् च जाबालिम् अथ काश्यपम् |
पुरोहितम् वशिष्ठम् च ये च अपि अन्ये द्विजोत्तमाः || १-८-६
sam aanayat sa taan sarvaan samastaan veda paaragaan || 1-8-5
suyaj~nam vaamadevam cha jaabaalim atha kaashyapam |
purohitam vashishhTham cha ye cha api anye dwijottamaaH || 1-8-6
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.5,1.8.6
Then Sumantra gone quickly, for he in quickness is a dauntless one, and fetched all of the clerics like Suyajna, Vaama Deva, Jaabala, Kshyapa, and even Sage Vashishta, and also those other eminent Brahman that are Vedic scholars. [1-8-5,6] .
तान् पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथः तदा |
इदम् धर्म अर्थ सहितम् श्लक्ष्णम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् ||१-८-७
idam dharma artha sahitam shlakShNam vachanam abraviit ||1-8-7
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.7
Then on adoring them virtuous King Dasharatha spoke this impressible sentence that included justification and meaning. [1-8-7] .
मम लालस्य मानस्य सुतार्थम् नास्ति वै सुखम् |
तदर्थम् हयमेधेन यक्ष्ह्यामि इति मतिर् मम || १-८-८
tadartham hayamedhena yakshhyaami iti matir mama || 1-8-8
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.8
“My mind is tumultuous without quietude for I have no sons… for that reason, I wish perform Aswametha, Vedic Horse Ritual… this is my thinking… [1-8-8] .
तत् अहम् यष्टुम् इच्छमि शास्त्र दृष्टेन कर्मणा |
कथम् प्राप्स्यामि अहम् कामम् बुद्धिः अत्र विचिन्त्यताम् || १-८-९
katham praapsyaami aham kaamam buddhiH atra vichintyataam || 1-8-9
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.9
“Therefore, I contemplate to perform that ritual as enshrined in the scriptures and as a rite-oriented one as well… let this contemplation of mine be well thought of… and as to how my desire to beget sons will be fulfilled… [1-8-9] .
ततः साधु इति तद्वाक्यम् ब्राह्मणाः प्रत्यपूजयन् |
वशिष्ठ प्रमुखाः सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखेरितम् || १-८-१०
vashishhTha pramukhaaH sarve paarthivasya mukheritam || 1-8-10
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.10
Then the Brahman scholars along with Sage Vashishta and all other important personalities in their turn have blessed and honoured him, saying that “splendid is this idea…” thus, for that which is voiced by the king. [1-8-10] .
ऊचुः च परम प्रीताः सर्वे दशरथम् वचः |
संभाराः संभ्रियंताम् ते तुरगः च विमुच्यताम् || १-८-११
saMbhaaraaH saMbhriyaMtaam te turagaH cha vimuchyataam || 1-8-11
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.11
All of them becoming happy have also said to King Dasharatha, “let the paraphernalia be provided, and your ritual-horse be released… [1-8-11] .
सरय्वाः च उत्तरे तीरे यज्ञ भूमिर् विधीयताम् |
सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रान् अभिप्रेतान् च पार्थिव || १-८-१२
यस्य ते धर्मिकी बुद्धिः इयम् पुत्रार्थम् आगता |
sarvathaa praapsyase putraan abhipretaan cha paarthiva || 1-8-12
yasya te dharmikii buddhiH iyam putraartham aagataa |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.12,1.8.13a
“Oh, king, by all means you will beget sons as you desired, since you, to whom an upright thinking has suggested itself… let the ritual ground be arranged on the northern banks of River Sarayu…” So said the scholars. [1-8-12, 13a] .
ततः तुष्टोऽभवत् राजा श्रुत्वा तद् द्विज भाषितम् || १-८-१३
अमात्यान् अब्रवीत् राजा हर्ष पर्याकुल लोचन |
संभाराः संभ्रियंताम् मे गुरूणाम् वचनात् इह || १-८-१४
amaatyaan abraviit raajaa harshha paryaakula lochana |
saMbhaaraaH saMbhriyaMtaam me guruuNaam vachanaat iha || 1-8-14
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.13b,1.8.14
” Then King Dasharatha is gladdened on hearing the sayings of those Brahmans. And with happiness lurching on his eyes the king spoke to the ministers, “As advised by my Vedic teachers let the paraphernalia be procured… [1-8-13b, 14] .
समर्थ अधिष्ठितः च अश्वः सः उपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम् |
सरय्वाः च उत्तरे तीरे यज्ञ भूमिर् विधीयताम् || १-८-१५
sarayvaaH cha uttare tiire yaj~na bhUmir vidhiiyataam || 1-8-15
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.15
“On the northern banks of River Sarayu the ritual ground be arranged… and the Ritual-Horse be released monitored by capable warriors, along with the religious teachers…” So said the king. [1-8-15] .
शान्तयः च अपि वर्धन्ताम् यथा कल्पम् यथा विधि |
शक्यः प्राप्तुम् अयम् यज्ञः सर्वेण अपि महीक्षिता |
न अपराधो भवेत् कष्टो यदि अस्मिन् क्रतु सत्तमे | १-८-१६|
shakyaH praaptum ayam yaj~naH sarveNa api mahiikshitaa |
na aparaadho bhavet kaShTo yadi asmin kratu sattame | 1-8-16|
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.16,1.8.17a
“Let peace invocations be prevailing and prospering, as ordained in the scriptures and tradition…if it is possible for the correct performance to obtain results of this ritual, and if it is possible to conduct this ritual without any difficult faults during its performance, then all the kings on earth would have performed it… [1-8-16, 17a] .
छिद्रम् हि मृगयन्ते स्म विद्वांसो ब्रह्म राक्षसाः |
विधि हीनस्य यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति || १-८-१७
vidhi hiinasya yaj~nasya sadyaH kartaa vinashyati || 1-8-17
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.17b,1.8.18a
“Scholarly Brahma-demons will be hunting for the faults alone in the course of this ritual… should the procedure of this ritual be depraved of its set rules, the performer gets ruined… [1-8-17b, 18a] .
तद्यथा विधि पूर्वम् मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते |
तथा विधानम् क्रियताम् समर्थाः साधनेषु इति || १-८-१८
tathaa vidhaanam kriyataam samarthaaH saadhaneShu iti || 1-8-18
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.
“Therefore, you all shall see as to how this ritual of mine be conducted and concluded procedurally, and all of you are evidently experts in conducting such rituals… isn’t it! [1-8-18b, 19a]
Vedic Brahmans are to be very cautious and vigilant while performing the ritual in the order of ritual acts, faultless rendering of the Vedic hymns and other observant items of the Vedic canon. Should they by overconfidence or by negligence commit any mistake or fault, they take rebirth as Brahma-demons. After taking rebirth as such demons they, with their inherent jealousy and ire will always be hunting for such mistakes in other’s ritual performances. If they cannot find one, they cause certain hindrances in that performance, so that the performer may commit mistakes and get ruined in the present life span and then take rebirth as Brahma-demon. Hence, every Vedic-ritual performer shall be vigilant. .
तथा इति च अब्रुवन् सर्वे मंत्रिणः प्रतिपूजिता |
पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद् वाक्यम् यथा पूर्वम् निशंय ते || १-८-१९
paarthivendrasya tad vaakyam yathaa puurvam nishaMya te || 1-8-19
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.19b,1.8.20a
On listening the words of the king all the ministers adored and assured him saying, ‘It will be conducted faultlessly as has been conducted earlier…’ [1-8-19b, 20a] .
तथा द्विजाः ते धर्मज्ञा वर्थयतो नृपोत्तमम् |
अनुज्ञाताः ततः सर्वे पुनर् जग्मुर् यथा आगतम् || १-८-२०
anuj~naataaH tataH sarve punar jagmur yathaa aagatam || 1-8-20
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.20b,1.8.21a
On hearing those words of that best king, and what that is spoken earlier, then the virtue knowing Brahman scholars hailing that best king took leave of him and wentaway as they have come. [1-8-20b, 21a] .
विसर्जयित्वा तान् विप्रान् सचिवान् इदम् अब्रवीत् |
ऋत्विग्भिः उपसंदिष्टो यथावत् क्रतुर् आप्यताम् || १-८-२१
R^itvigbhiH upasaMdiShTo yathaavat kratur aapyataam || 1-8-21
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.21b,1.8.22a
Then on sending off those Brahman scholars, the king spoke this way to the ministers… “As advised by the Vedic scholars this ritual shall be conducted, procedurally…” [1-8-21b, 22A] .
इति उक्त्वा नृप शार्दूलः सचिवान् समुपस्थितान् |
विसर्जयित्वा स्वम् वेश्म प्रविवेश महामतिः || १-८-२२
visarjayitvaa svam veshma pravivesha mahaamatiH || 1-8-22
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 22b,1.8.23a
Tha tigerly-king and highly intellectual Dasharatha, on saying thus to his ministers who are still in his audience, sent away those ministers also, and he entered his palace. [1-8-22b, 23a] .
ततः स गत्वा ताः पत्नीर् नरेन्द्रो हृदयंगमाः |
उवाच दीक्षाम् विशत यक्षेऽहम् सुत कारणात् || १-८-२३
uvaacha diikshaam vishata yaxe.aham suta kaaraNaat || 1-8-23
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.23,1.8.24a
And on approaching his wives, that best king’s heartily dear ones, he said to them, ” I am performing a Vedic ritual for the reason of begetting sons, and you all shall enter a vow…” [1-8-23b, 24a] .
तासाम् तेन अति कान्तेन वचनेन सुवर्चसाम् |
मुख पद्मान् अशोभन्त पद्मानीव हिमात्यये || १-८-२४
mukha padmaan ashobhanta padmaaniiva himaatyaye || 1-8-24
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 1.8.24b,c
On hearing those words of the king, the lustrous countenances of the queens have become more gleaming, like the blooming lotuses after the clearance of dew-fall. [1-8-24b, c] .
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