King Dasharatha requests the Sages to conduct the Vedic ritual for which the sages indent paraphernalia, which the ministers are ordered to supply forthwith. This chapter is almost a replication of chapter 8, excepting the inclusion of references to Sage Rishyasringa who by now is available in Ayodhya.
ततः काले बहुतिथे कस्मिंस्चित्सुमनोहरे |
वसन्ते समनुप्राप्ते राज्ञो यष्टुम् मनोऽभवत् ||१-१२-१
1. tataH = later; bahutithe kaale = after lapse of kaale, some time; kasminchit vasante = on one, spring season; samanupraapte = on the arrival of that spring; raaj~naH = to the king; yaSTum = to perform ritual; manaH = mind; abhavat = happened, [desired].
After a lapse of some time when spring season has come the king Dasharatha desired to perform the Vedic ritual. [1-12-1]
Please refer to endnote for Indian seasons and months for vasanta / spring season.
ततः प्रसाद्य शिरसा तं विप्रं देववर्णिनम् |
यज्ञाय वरयामास सन्तानार्थं अर्थम् कुलस्य च || १-१२-२
2. tataH = then; devavarNinam = like deity in glow; tam vipram = at that Brahmana - Rishyasringa; shirasaa = [by suppliantly bowing his] head; prasaadya = having convinced; kulasya santaanaartham = for dynasty's, unending [progeny] to beget; yaj~naaya = to conduct ritual; varayaamaasa = [the king] beseeched.
Then bowing his head before that Brahmana sage Rishyasringa whose is glow is like that of a deity, King Dasharatha verily beseeched that sage to conduct Vedic ritual on his behalf as he wished to beget progeny to maintaining his family line. [1-12-2]
संभाराः संभ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम् || १-१२-३
तथोति च स राजामुवाच स सुसत्कृतः संभ्रिन्तां
|
3. susatkritaH = well honoured; saH = he, the Sage Rishyasringa; tatha iti cha = 'thus only'; raajaanam = to the king; uvaacha = said; sambhaaraaH = paraphernalia; sambhriyantaam = be garnered; vimuchyataam = be released; te turagaH cha = your, ritual horse, also.
Sage Rishyasringa who by now is well-honoured by the king said to the king, "So it shall be, let the paraphernalia for ritual be garnered and let your ritual horse be released as a prerogative." [1-12-3]
ततो राजाऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम् || १-१२-४
सुमन्त्रावहृय क्षिप्रमुत्विजो ब्रह्मवादिनः |
सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ कास्यपम् || १-१२-५
पुरोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये द्विज
सत्तमाः |
4, 5. tataH = then; raajaa = the king; mantrisattamam = to the best minister ; sumantram = to Sumantra; vaakyam = these words; abraviit = said; kshipram = swiftly; brahmavaadinaH = Vedic scholars; ritwijaH = Vedic ritual-conductors; suyaj~nam = Sage Suyajna; vaamadevam = Sage Vaamadeva; jaabaalim = Sage Jaabali; atha = and; kaashyapam = Sage Kaashyapa; purohitam = the priest; vashiSTham cha = Sage Vashishta, too; cha = further; ye cha = and those; anye = other; dwijasattamaaH = Brahmana, the scholars; aavaahaya = invite.
Then King Dasharatha said to his best minister Sumantra, "Let the Vedic scholars and ritual conductors like Sages Suyajna, Vaamadeva, Jaabaali, and Kaashyapa, along with the family priest Vashishta, as well as other Vedic Brahmans that are there, they all be invited swiftly..." [1-12-4, 5]
ततः सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रमः || १-१२-६
समानयत्स तान्सर्वान्समस्तान्वेदणारगान्
|
तान्पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा || १-१२-७
धर्मार्थसहितं युक्तं शलक्षणं वचनमब्रवीत् |
6, 7. tataH = then; sumantraH = Sumantra; tvaritam = quickly; gatvaa = went; tvaritavikramaH = a quickest person he is; taan samastaan vedapaaragaan = them, all of the, Vedic scholars; samaanayat = fetched; taan = them; puujayitvaa = having worshiped; dharmaatmaa raajaa dasharathaH = that virtuous king, Dasharatha; tadaa = then; dharmaarthasahitam = containing virtue and meaning; shlakSNam = soft, impressible; vachanam = sentence; abraviit = said.
Then Sumantra being a quickest person went quickly and fetched all those Vedic scholars and clerj~nmen. Then the virtuous king Dasharatha having offered due worships to all the sages and saints brought in by Sumantra, uttered these words which are with virtue and meaning, in an impressible manner. [1-12-6, 7]
मम लालप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थं नास्ति वै सुखम् || १-१२-८
पुत्रार्थं हयमेधेन यक्षामीति मतिर्मम |
तत् अहम् यष्टुम् इच्छामि हयमेधेन कर्मणा || १-१२-९
ऋषिपुत्र प्रभावेण कामान् प्राप्स्यामि च अपि अहम्
|
8, 9. mama = to my; laalasya = tumultuous; maanasya = mind; putra artham = for sons; na asti = not there; vai = verily; sukham = quietude; tat = hence; aham = I am; haya medhena = by Horse Ritual; yakshhyami = would like to worship; iti = thus; matiH mama = thinking, of mine; tat = therefore; shaastra dR^iSTena = scriptures, point of view; karmanaa = by strict observance; yashtum = to perform ritual; icChaami = I wish to; R^ishi putra = by Sage's son - through Rishyasringa's; prabhaaveNa = divine influence of; aham = I am; kaamam = my desire; praapyaami cha api aham = I get, even, I will.
"My mind is tumultuous without quietude for I have no sons... hence I am thinking of performing the Vedic Horse Ritual for progeny... I wish to perform the ritual as enshrined in the scriptures and by strict observances... I wish to get my desires fulfilled through the divine influence of the Sage's son, Rishyasringa... [1-12-8, 9]
ततः साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणाः प्रत्यपूजयन् || १-१२-१०
वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखाच्च्युतम्
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ऋष्यश्रुङ्गपुरोगाश्च प्रत्युचुर्नृपतिं तदा || १-१२-११
10, 11. tataH = then; saadhu iti = splendid, thus; tat vaakyam = this, sentence, idea; braahmaNaaH = Brahmanas; pratipuujayan = blessed the king; vashiSTaHpramukhaaH = Sage Vashishta and other important sages; sarve = all of them; paarthivasya = the king's; mukhaat = from mouth, voice; chyutam = came out; RishyashringapurogaaH cha = keeping at helm of affairs; tadaa = then; pratyuuchuH = in return said; nR^ipatim = to peoples' lord [the king].
Then "Splendid, splendid is this idea," said the Brahmana scholars blessing the king. Then Sage Vashishta along with all other important personalities have applauded the idea that has come out of the king's voice, and all those Vedic scholars and clerj~nmen keeping Rishyasringa at helm of affairs said this to the king, in appreciation of that idea. [1-12-10, 11]
संभाराः संभ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च च विमुच्यताम् |
सर्वथा प्राप्यसे पुत्रांश्चतुरोऽम्विक्रमान् |
यस्य ते धर्मिकी बुद्धिः इयम् पुत्रार्थम् आगता ||
१-१२-१३
12, 13. yasya te = to whom, [such as] you; putraartham = for begetting sons; iyam dhaarmikii buddhiH aagataa = this kind of, virtuous, thinking, has come; amitavikramaan = boundless valiant ones; chatwaaraH = four of them; putraan = sons; sarvathaa = by all means; prapsyase = you will beget; sambhaaraaH = paraphernalia; sambhriyantaam = be garnered; te = your; turagaH cha = ritual horse, also; vimuchyataam = be released.
"Because a virtuous thinking of begetting sons through Vedic ritual has come to you, you will by all means get four sons with boundless valour... let ritual paraphernalia be garnered and let your ritual-horse be released..." The Vedic seers thus blessed Dasharatha. [1-12-12, 13]
ततः प्रीतोऽभवरजा श्रुत्वा तु द्विजभाषितम् |
अमात्यानब्रावीद्राजा हृषैणोदं शुभाक्षरम्
|| १-१२-१४
14. tataH = then; priitaH abhavat raajaa = glad, became, the king; shrutvaa = having heard; tat dvijabhaSitam = those, that is said by Brahmanas; [then] raajaa = the king; amaatyaan = to the ministers; cha = also; harsheNa = with happiness; idam = these; shubhaakSaram = good words; abraviit = spoke to.
Then the king is gladdened to hear the blessing advises of the Vedic scholars, and he spoke to the other ministers of his court, with happiness derived from those good words. [1-12-14]
गुरुणां वचनाच्छीघ्रं संभाराः संभ्रियन्तु मे |
समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वः सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम्
|| १-१२-१५
सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तिरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधियताम् |
शान्तयश्चाभिवर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि || १-१२-१६
शक्यः कर्तुमयं यज्ञः सर्वेणापि अपि महीक्षिता |
नापराधो भवेत्कष्टो यध्यस्मिन् क्रतुसत्तमे || १-१२-१७
छिद्रं हि मृगयन्तेऽत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसाः |
निहृतस्य च यज्ञस्य
सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति || १-१२-१८
तद्यत विधिपर्वं क्रतुरेष समाप्यते |
तथा वविधानं क्रियतां समर्थाः करणेष्विहृ
|| १-१२-१९
15,16,17,18, 19. guruuNaam = of teachers; vachanaat = by advise; shiighram = quickly; sambhaaraaH = paraphernalia; sambhriyantu = be procured; samarthaadhiSThitaH = well guarded by gallant men; sopaadhyaayaH = also followed by teachers; me = my; asvah = Ritual Horse; vimuchyataam = be released; sarayvyaa = of Sarayu river; uttare tiire = on northern banks; yaj~nabhoomiH = ritual place; vidhiiyataam = be decided; shaantayaH cha = peace invocations; abhivardhantaam = be prevailing and prospering; yathaakalpam = as per tradition; yathaavidhi = as ordained in scriptures; shakyaH = if possible; praaptum = to perform; ayam yaj~naH = this, ritual; sarveNa api = by all, even; mahiikSitaa = kings [would have been performed]; na = no; aparaadhaH = fault; bhavet = is made; kaSTaH = a difficult one; yadi = if; asmin = in that; kratusattame = the great ritual; Chidram = faults; hi = only; mrigayante = hunted; atra = there; vidvaamsaH = scholarly; brahmaraakSasaaH = by the Brahma demons; nihatasya = killing the; cha = also; yaj~nasya = ritual's; kartaa = performer; vinasyati = ruins; tat = that is; yathaa = why; vidhipuurvam = in adherence to texts; kratuH = ritual; eSa = this one; samaapyate = be concludes; tathaa = like that; vidhaanam = procedure; kriyataam = be done; samarthaaH = efficient ones; karaNeshu iha = in affairs, here; [so said the king to Vedic scholars]
The king said to his executives, "As advised by my Vedic teachers, let the paraphernalia for my ritual be procured... let the ritual-horse be released, guarded well by gallant men in its journey... and let religious teachers follow that horse as per tradition... let the ritual place be decided on the northern banks of Sarayu River... let the peace invocations be prevailing and prospering throughout as ordained in the scriptures and tradition... all the kings on this earth would have performed this Horse Ritual, if only they can perform this without a mistake... thus, this is a great and difficult ritual... the Brahma-demons will be hunting for the faults performed in the rituals whereat they can inteject themselves in to the proceedings of the ritual in order to ruin it... further, the performer of the ritual also gets ruined if there were be to be faults... that is why this ritual shall be conducted faultlessly till its conclusion, and with absolute adherence to the scriptures... since all of you assembled here are efficient ones in conducting such rituals without faults, I hope you all will organise carefully.... [1-12-15,16,17,18, 19]
तथेति च ततः सर्वे मन्त्रिणः प्रत्यपूजयन् |
पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद्वाक्यं यथाज्ञप्तमकुर्वत
|| १-१२-२०
20. tathaa iti = like that, only; mantriNaH = by ministers; sarve = all; cha abruvan = also, said - expressed theior consent; paarthivendrasya = the best king's, ; tat vaakyam = those words; pratyapuujayan = in turn, appreciation; yathaa = as; aaj~naptam = ordered; akurvata = they have done.
In appreciation of his orders all the ministers replied the king saying "it will be done accordingly..." and indeed they have faultlessly carried out works as ordered. [1-12-20]
ततो द्विजारत्ते धर्मज्ञमस्तुवन्पार्थिवर्षभम् |
अनुज्ञातास्ततः सर्वे पुनर्जम्मुर्यथागतम् || १-१२-२१
21. tataH = then; dwijaaH te = Brahmans, all of them; dharmaj~nam = the virtuous knower, the king; astuvan = applauded; paarthivarSabham = among kings, the sacred bull; anuj~naataaH = with his permission; tataH = from there; sarve = all of them; punaH jagmuH = again, returned; yathaa aagatam = as they have come.
Then all the Brahmans applauded the virtuous king and who is like a Sacred Bull among the kings for his virtuous endeavour of undertaking the Vedic ritual, and with his permission all of them returned from there as they have come. [1-12-21]
गतेष्वथ द्विजाग्य्रेषु मन्त्रिणस्तान्तराधिपः |
विसर्जयित्वा स्वं वेश्म प्रविवेश महाध्युतिः ||१-१२-२२
22. dwijaagreSu = Brahmans prominent ones; gateSu = on departing of; mahaa dyuti = great, resplendent one; naraadhipaH = people's, chief [king]; taan = those; mantriNaH = the ministers too were; visarjayitwaa = on leaving them; swam = his; veshma = palace; pravivesha = entered.
On the departure of the prominent Brahmans, King Dasharatha sent off those ministers who are still available there for further orders from the king, and then he the great resplendent king has entered his own palace. [1-12-22]
.
Indian seasons
The Indian yearly time-cycle is two-kind, one on northern solstice and the other southern solstice. And seasons are twelve and every two months is a season, and they are calculated by almanacs basing on the stars position every year. They roughly compare with the following Gregorian months as below:
| No. | R^itu | Season | Hindu months | Gregorian months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | hemantha | Winter | margashiirSa to pouSa | December to February |
| 2 | shishira | Cold | maagha to phaalguna | February to April |
| 3 | vasantha | Spring | chaitra to vaishaakha | April to June |
| 4 | griiSma | Hot | jyeSTha to aashaaDha | June to August |
| 5 | varSa | Rainy | shraavaNa to bhaadrapada | August to October |
| 6 | sharat | post-rainy | aashviiiyuja to kaartiika | October to December |
...
इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः
©1999, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised: August '08]