Dasharatha decides to perform an elaborate Vedic ritual, called Ashwamedha 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 चैवं प्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः |
सुतार्थं तप्यमानस्य नासीद्वंशकरः सुतः || १-८-१
१. एवं प्रभावस्य = this kind of, effectual king; धर्मज्ञस्य = virtue knower; महात्मनः = great soul; सुतार्थं तप्यमानस्य = to beget children, burning, at heart; तस्य च = to him, also; वंशकरः सुतः = dynasty, enriching, son; नासीत् = is not, there.
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 तस्यैवं बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनः |
सुतार्थं वाजिमेधेन किमर्थं न यजाम्यहम् || १-८-२
२. चिन्तयानस्य = while thinking; तस्य = to him; महात्मनः = to that great soul; एवम् = this way; बुद्धिः आसीत् = thought, occurred; सुतार्थम् = for the purpose of sons; वाजिमेधेन = by Horse Ritual; किम् अर्थम् = why, not; न यजामि अहम् = not, perform, I shall.
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 निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टुव्यमिति बुद्धिमान् |
मन्त्रिभिः सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरप् कृतात्मभिः || १-८-३
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजाः सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम् |
शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान् गुरूंस्तान्सपुरोहिन् || १-८-४
३, ४. बुद्धिमान् = intellectual one; धर्मात्मा = conscientious souled; कृतात्मभिः = with decent souled [sagacious ministers]; सर्वैः अपि = with all, even; मन्त्रिसत्तमं = with ministers; यष्टव्यम् इति = performable, thus; निश्चिताम् मतिम् कृत्वा = resolved, mind, on making; ततः = then; मन्त्रि सत्तमम् सुमन्त्रम् = best of ministers, to Sumantra; अब्रवीत् = addressed; सपुरोहितान् = with clerics; तान् सर्वान् = them, all; मे गुरून् = my teachers; शीघ्रम् आनय = quickly, fetch.
That intellectual and a conscientious king having resolved with all of his sagacious ministers that such a Vedic ritual is performable, then addressed best among ministers, namely Sumantra, "fetch all my teachers and clerics, quickly.." [1-8-3,4]
ततः सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरिताविक्रमः |
समानयत्स तान्सर्वान्समस्तान्वेदपारगान् || १-८-५
सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमत काश्याम् |
पुरोहितं वशिष्ठं च ये चाप्यन्ये द्विजोत्तमाः || १-८-६
५. ततः = then; वर्तविक्रमः = in quickness dauntless; सुमन्त्रः = Sumantra; त्वरितं गत्वा = quickly, gone; सुयज्ञम् = Suyajna; वामदेवम् = Vaama Deva; च = also; अथ = then; जाबालिम् = Jaabaali; काश्यपम् = Kaashyapa; पुरोहितम् = the clerics; वशिष्ठं च = Vashishta, also; ये अन्ये द्विहोत्तमाः = those, other, eminent Brahman-s; वेद पारगान् = Vedic scholars; समानयत् = fetched; तान् सर्वान् = them, all.
Then Sumantra gone quickly, for he in quickness is a dauntless one, and fetched all of the clerics like Suyajna, Vaamadeva, Jaabala, Kshyapa, and even Sage Vashishta, and also those other eminent Brahman that are Vedic scholars. [1-8-5,6]
तान्पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तद |
इदं धर्मार्थसहितं श्नक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत् ||१-८-७
७. धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथः = virtuous king, Dasharatha; तदा = then; तान् पूजयित्वा = them, on adoring; इदम् = this; धर्मार्थसहितम् = having justification and meaning; श्लक्ष्णं वचनम् अब्रवीत् = impressible, sentence, spoke to.
Then on adoring them virtuous King Dasharatha spoke this impressible sentence that included justification and meaning. [1-8-7]
मम लालप्यमास्य सुतार्थं नास्ति वै सुखम् |
तदर्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामिति मतिर्मम || १-८-८
८. सुतार्थम् = for sons; लालस्यमानस्य = tumultuous mind; मम = my; सुखम् = quietude; न अस्ति = not there; वै = verily; तत् अर्थम् = for that, reason; हयमेधेन = by Horse Ritual; यक्ष्यामि = Vedic worship; इति = thus; मतिः मम = thinking, of mine.
"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 अदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि शास्त्र दृष्टेन कर्मणा |
कथं प्राप्स्याम्यहं कामं ब्रुद्धित्र विच्त्यताम् || १-८-९
९. तत् अहम् = therefore, I; शास्त्रदृष्टेन = scriptures point of view [as enshrined in]; कर्मणा = rite-oriented; यष्टुम् इच्छमि = to perform ritual, I contemplate to; कथम् = how; प्राप्यामि = I get; कामम् = my desire; बुद्धिः अत्र विचिन्त्यताम् = contemplation, for that, be thought of.
"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 साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणाः प्रत्यपूजयन् |
वशिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखेरितम् || १-८-१०
१०. ततः = then; वशिष्ठः = Sage VashiSta; ब्राह्मणाः = Brahman-s; वशिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे = Sage VashiSta along with other important personalities, all of them; पार्थिवस्य मुखेरितम् = voiced from king's, mouth, ; तत् वाक्यम् = that, sentence [idea]; साधु इति = splendid, it is; प्रत्यपूजयन् = in turn honoured him
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]
उचुश्च परमप्रीताः सर्वे दशरथं वचः |
संभ्रियन्तां संभ्रियंताम् ते नुरगश्च च विमुच्यताम् || १-८-११
११. सर्वे = all of them; परमप्रीताः = very happy; दशरथम् = to Dasharatha; वचः = these words; उचुः च = they said, also; सम्भाराः = paraphernalia; संभ्रियन्ताम् = be provided; ते तुरगः च विमुच्यताम् = your, horse, also, be released.
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]
सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रानभ्प्रेतांश्च पार्थिव |
यस्य ते धार्मिकि बुद्दिरियं पुत्रार्थमागता ||१-८-१२
१२, १३अ. पार्थिव = oh king; सर्वथा = by all means; प्राप्यसे = you will beget; अभिप्रेतान् च = as you desired; पुत्रान् = sons; yasya te = to whom, like you; धार्मिकी बुद्धिः इयम् = virtuous, thought, like this; पुत्र अर्थम् आगता = to beget sons, suggested itself to.
"Oh, king, by all means you will beget sons as you desired, since you, to whom an upright thinking has suggested itself. [1-8-12, 13a]
ततस्तुष्टोऽभवद्राजा न्श्रुत्वा तद्विजभषितम् |
अमात्यानब्रवीदजा हृर्षपर्याकुलेक्षणाः |
ससंभाराः संभ्रयन्तां मे ग्रुणां वचनादिहृ || १-८-१३
१३ब्, १४. ततः = then; राजा = king; तत् द्विजभाषितं श्रुत्वा = that, Brahmans' saying, on hearing; तुष्टः अभवत् = glad, he became; राजा = king; हृर्षर्याकुलेक्षणः = happiness lurching on eyes; अमात्यान् अब्रवीत् = to ministers, spoke to; इह मे गुरूणाम् वचनात् = now, on my, teacher's, advise; सम्भाराः संभ्रियन्ताम् = paraphernalia, be procured.
" 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]
समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वः सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम् || १-८-१४
सरखाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधियताम्।
१५. सरयव्याः च उत्तरे तीरे = of River Sarayu, on northern banks; यज्ञभूमिः विधीयताम् = ritual ground, be arranged; समर्थाधीष्ठितः = capable ones [warriors,] monitored by; सह उपाध्यायः = with, religious teachers [following]; अश्वः विमुच्यताम् = Ritual Horse, be released.
"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]
शान्तयश्चापि वर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि |
शक्यः प्राप्तुमयं यज्ञः सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता |
नापराघो भवेत्कष्टो यधस्मिन्क्रतुसत्तमे १-८-२६
१६, १७अ. शान्तयाः च अपि = peace invocations, also, even; वर्धन्ताम् = be prevailing; यथाकल्पम् = as ordained [by tradition]; यथाविधि = as per scriptures; अयं यज्ञः = this, ritual; कष्टुः अपराधः = difficult, fault; यदि = if; न भवेत् = not occurs; अस्मिन् = in that; क्रतुसत्तमे = the great ritual; सर्वेण अपि महीक्षिता = by all, even, kings on earth; शक्यः प्राप्तुम् = possible, to obtain [to perform and obtain results.]
"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]
छिद्रं हि मृगयन्ते स्म विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसाः |
विधिहीनस्य यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति || १-८-१७
अत्र = therein the ritual; विद्वांसः ब्रह्मराक्षसाः = scholarly, Brahmans [who became] Brahma-demons; छिद्रं हि मृगयन्ते = faults, alone, they hunt for; विधि ीनस्य = procedure depraved; यज्ञस्य = ritual's; कर्ता = performer; विनश्यति = gets ruined.
"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...
तद्यथा विधिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते |
तथा विधानं क्रियतां समर्थाः सधनेष्विति || १-८-१८
तत् = therefore; मे एषः क्रतुः = my, this, ritual; विधिपूर्वम् = procedurally; यथा समाप्यते = as to how, it will be concluded; तथा विधानं क्रियताम् = in that way, it shall be done; समर्थाः साधनेषु = experts, [you all] in [such] performances; इति = thus [the king said to his teachers.]
"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!
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.
तथेति चाब्रुवन्सर्वे मन्त्रिणः प्रतिपूजिता |
पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद्वाक्यं यथा पूर्वं निशम्य || १-८-१९
ते सर्वे मन्त्रिणः = those, all, ministers; पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तत् वाक्यम् = king's the best one's, that, word; निशम्य = on listening; प्रतिपूजिता = adored him; यथा पूर्वम् = as, earlier [ as has been conducted]; तथा = that way [this will also be conducted]; इति = thus; च अब्रुवन् = also, said [assured.]
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...'
तथा द्विजास्ते धर्मज्ञा वर्धयन्तो नृपोत्तमम् |
अनुज्ञातास्ततस्सर्वे पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम् || १-८-२०
धर्मज्ञा = virtue knowers; ते द्विजाः = those, Brahmans; तथा वर्धयन्तः नृपोत्तमम् = enhancing [his royal stature,] of that king; ततः अनुज्ञाताः = then, permitted; सर्वे यथा आगतम् = all, as they have come; पुनः जग्मुः = again, went away.
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 went away as they have come. [1-8-20b, 21a]
विसर्जयित्वा तान्विप्रान्सचिवानिदमब्रवीत् |
ऋत्विम्भिरुपसन्दिष्टो यथावत्क्रतुराप्यतम् || १-८-२१
ततः = then; विसर्जयित्वा = sending off; सर्वे = all; तान् = them; विप्रान् = Brahmans; सचिवान् इदम् अब्रवीत् = to ministers, this, said; ऋत्विग्भिः = by the Vedic scholars; उपसंदिष्टः = as advised; यथावत् क्रतुः आप्यताम् = procedurally, ritual, be conducted
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..."
इत्युक्त्वा नृपशार्दूलं सचिवान्सुपस्थितान् |
विसर्जयित्वा स्वं वेश्म प्रविवेश महामतिः || १-८-२२
महामतिः नृपशार्दूलः = highly intelligent, kingly tiger Dasharatha; समुपस्थितान् = who are in audience; सचिवान् = to misters; इति उक्त्वा = thus, on saying; विसर्जयित्वा = sent them off; स्वंवेश्म प्रविवेश = his, palace, entered.
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.
ततः स गत्वा ताः पत्नीर्नरेन्द्रो हृदयङ्गमाः |
उवाच दीक्षां विशत यक्षोऽहं सुतकारणात् || १-८-२३
ततः = then; सः = he; नरेन्द्रः = the king, the best; हृदयंगमा = heartily dear ones; ताः पत्नीः = to them his wives; गत्वा = on approaching; उवाच = spoke; अहम् = I am; सुतकारणात् = for the reason of sons; यक्ष्ये = performing ritual; दिक्षां विशत = vow, you enter;
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..."
तासां तेनातिकान्तेन वचनेन सुवर्चसाम् |
मुखपद्मान्यशोभन्त पद्मानीव हिमात्यये || १-८-२४
अतिकान्तेन = most pleasing; वचनेन = by words [of king]; सुवर्चसाम् = already lustrous; तासाम् = their [the queens]; मुखपद्मानि = countenances lotuses; पद्मानि इव = lotuses, like; तेन = by those [words of king]; हिमात्यये = dew-fall, clearance of; अशोभन्त = became more gleaming.
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.
इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकावे अष्टमः सर्गः
© 1999, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : March, 04]