Sloka & Translation

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[Dasaratha requests Rsyasringa to perform the sacrifice-the priests order him to procure necessary materials and to release the sacificial horse--Dasaratha orders his ministers to get the preparations done.]

tata: kālē bahutithē kasmiṅścitsumanōharē.

vasantē samanuprāptē rājñō yaṣṭuṅ manō.bhavat৷৷1.12.1৷৷


tata: afterwards, bahutithē kālē after a lapse of long time, sumanōharē charming, kasmiṅścit some time, vasantē spring season, samanuprāptē having arrived, rājña: for the king, yaṣṭum to perform sacrifice, mana: abhavat desire arose.

After a long time, at the advent of charming spring a desire arose in the mind of the king (Dasaratha) to perform the sacrifice.
tata: prasādya śirasā taṅ vipraṅ dēvavarṇinam.

yajñāya varayāmāsa santānārthaṅ kulasya vai৷৷1.12.2৷৷


tata: then, dēvavarṇinam effulgent like a celestial being, vipram that brahmin, śirasā bowing his head low in respect, prasādya having won his grace, kulasya of the dynasty, santānārtham for preserving uninterrupted continuity, yajñāya to perform sacrifice, varayāmāsa appointed him as official priest to preside over the ceremony.

Then bowing his head in respect to that brahmin who was effulgent like a celestial and having won his grace he chose him to conduct a sacrifice for a son for (the continuity of) his dynasty.
tathēti ca sa rājānamuvāca ca susatkṛta:.

sambhārā sambhriyantāṅ tē turagaśca vimucyatām৷৷1.12.3৷৷


susatkṛta: well-honoured, sa: that brahmin, tathēti be it so, rājānam king, uvāca said, sambhārā: requisite materials, sambhriyantām be procured, tē your, turaga: sacrificial horse, vimucyatām ca let it be released.

The well-honoured brahmin agreed, saying, "Be it so, let the requisite materials be procured and the sacificial horse, released".
tatō rājā.bravīdvākyaṅ sumantraṅ mantrisattamam.

sumantrāvāhaya kṣipraṅ ṛtvijō brahmavādina:৷৷1.12.4৷৷

suyajñaṅ vāmadēvaṅ ca jābālimatha kāśyapam.

purōhitaṅ vasiṣṭhaṅ ca yē cānyē dvijasattamā:৷৷1.12.5৷৷


tata: thereafter, rājā king, mantrisattamam best of ministers, sumantram Sumantra, vākyam words, abravīt spoke, sumantra: O! Sumantra, kṣipram immediately, brahmavādina: well-versed in vedas, ṛtvija: official priests, suyajñam Suyajna, vāmadēvam ca Vamadeva, jābālim Jabali, atha and, kāśyapam Kashyapa, purōhitaṅ vasiṣṭhaṅ ca family priest Vasistha, anyē other, dvijasattamā: foremost among brahmins, āvāhaya summon.

Thereafter the king said to Sumantra, "Summon immediately, Suyajna, Vamadeva, Jabali and Kasyapa, family priest Vasishta and other foremost and learned brahmins who are the official priests well-versed in the Vedas".
tatassumantrastvaritaṅ gatvā tvaritavikrama:.

samānayatsa tānviprān samastānvēdapāragān৷৷1.12.6৷৷


tata: thereupon, tvaritavikrama: a man with swift movements, sa: sumantra: that Sumantra, tvaritam immediately, gatvā had gone, vēdapāragān mastered fully vedas, samastān gathering together, tān viprān all of those brahmins, samānayat brought.

Then Sumantra, a man of smart movement went immediately and brought all those brahmins who were well-versed in the Vedas.
tānpūjayitvā dharmātmā rājā daśarathastadā.

dharmārthasahitaṅ yuktaṅ ślakṣṇaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷1.12.7৷৷


dharmātmā virtuous, daśaratha: rājā king Dasaratha, tadā then, tān them, pūjayitvā after paying respects, dharmārthasahitam full of truth and duty, ślakṣṇam gracious, (idaṅ) yuktaṅ vacanam these words, abravīt uttered.

After paying respect to them (learned brahmins), virtuous king Dasaratha graciously uttered these words charged with dharma and artha.
mama lālapyamānasya putrārthaṅ nāsti vai sukham.

tadarthaṅ hayamēdhēna yakṣyāmīti matirmama৷৷1.12.8৷৷


putrārtham to have sons, lālapyamānasya suffering from intense sorrow, mama for me, sukham happiness, nāsti vai not there, tadarthaṅ for that reason, (aham I), hayamēdhēna yakṣyāmi I shall perform Horse-Sacrifice, iti thus, mama my, mati: intention.

"There is no happiness for me. I am overwhelmed with grief as I have no son. Therefore, I intend to perform a horse-sacrifice.
tadahaṅ yaṣṭumicchāmi śāstradṛṣṭēna karmaṇā.

ṛṣiputraprabhāvēna kāmānprāpsyāmi cāpyaham৷৷1.12.9৷৷


tat for that reason, śāstradṛṣṭēna karmaṇā according to scriptural procedures, yaṣṭuṅ icchāmi desirous of performing sacrifice, ṛṣiputraprabhāvēna by the grace of sage Rishyashringa, aham I, kāmān desires, prāpsyāmi ca will obtain.

I wish to perform the yaga acording to scriptural procedures. And I will have my desire fulfilled by the grace of the sage (Rsyasringa)".
tatassādhviti tadvākyaṅ brāhmaṇā: pratyapūjayan.

vasiṣṭhapramukhāssarvē pārthivasya mukhāccyutam৷৷1.12.10৷৷


tata: then, vasiṣṭhapramukhā: Vasishta and others, brāhmaṇā: brahmins, sarvē all, pārthivasya king's, mukhāt from the mouth, cyutam delivered, tat vākyama those words, sādhu iti well said, pratyapūjayan extolled.

When they heard these words from the king's month, those brahmins heades by Vasishta extolled the king's decision exclaiming, "well-said":
ṛṣyaśṛṅgapurōgāśca pratyūcurnṛpatiṅ tadā.

sambhārāssambhriyantāṅ tē turagaśca vimucyatām৷৷1.12.11৷৷


ṛṣyaśṛṅgapurōgā: priests led by Rsyashringa, tadā then, nṛpatim addressing king, pratyūcu: replied, sambhārā: sacrificial articles, sambhriyantām be procured, tē your, turaga: sacrificial horse, vimucyatāṅ ca be released.

The priests led by Rsyasringa replied to the king, saying, "Let the sacrificial articles be procured and your sacrificial horse released."
sarvathā prāpsyasē putrāṅścatvārō.mitavikramān.

yasya tē dhārmikī buddhiriyaṅ putrārthamāgatā ৷৷1.12.12৷৷


yasya tē for you whose, putrārtham for begetting children, iyam this, dhārmikī buddhi: righteous thought, āgatā having come to your mind, sarvathā surely, amitavikramān men of immense prowess, catvāra: four, putrān sons, prāpsyasē shall you get.

"Since this righteous thought for begetting children has entered your mind, you shall surely get four sons of immense prowess".
tata: prītō.bhavadrājā śrutvā tadvijabhāṣitam.

amātyāṅścābravīdrājā harṣēṇēdaṅ śubhākṣaram৷৷1.12.13৷৷


tata: thereafter, rājā king, dvijabhāṣitam brahmin's words, śrutvā having heard, prīta: abhavat felt happy, rājā king, harṣēṇa with delight, śubhākṣaram containing auspicious letters, idaṅ this, abravīt spoke.

Pleased to hear the brahmins' words, the king happily addressed his ministers with auspicious words:
gurūṇāṅ vacanācchīghraṅ sambhārāssambhriyantu mē.

samarthādhiṣṭhitaścāśvassōpādhyāyō vimucyatām৷৷1.12.14৷৷


(iha now), mē gurūṇām my spiritual preceptors', vacanāt words, sambhārā: articles required for performing the sacrifice, sambhriyantu be procured, samarthādhiṣṭhita: under the protection of warriors, sōpādhyāya: along with main priest, aśva: horse, vimucyatām be released.

"In accordance with the instructions by my spiritual preceptors let the articles (required for performing the sacrifice) be procured and the horse released under the protection of warriors accompanied by the chief priest".
sarayvāścōttarē tīrē yajñabhūmirvidhīyatām.

śāntayaścābhivardhantāṅ yathākalpaṅ yathāvidhi৷৷1.12.15৷৷


sarayvā: of river Sarayu, uttarē tīrē on the northern bank, yajñabhūmi: sacrificial pavillion, vidhīyatām be constructed, yathākalpam according to prescribed ritual code, yathāvidhi according to the scriptural stipulation, śāntayaśca expiatory rites, abhivardhantām may be wished.

Let a sacrificial pavillion be constructed on the northern bank of Sarayu according to prescribed methods ordained in the 'kalpa' and other scriptures for the uninterrupted completion of the sacrifice.
śakya: prāptumayaṅ yajñassarvēṇāpi mahīkṣitā.

nāparādhō bhavētkaṣṭō yadyasminkratusattamē৷৷1.12.16৷৷


asmin In this, kratusattamē best of sacifices, kaṣṭa: difficulties, aparādha: omissions, na bhavēt yadi does not happen, ayaṅ yajña: this sacrifice, sarvēṇāpi mahīkṣitā indeed by every king, prāptum to obtain, śakya: possible.

If in this best of sacrifices aswamedha, obstructions and omissions do not occur it will be possible for the king to get the results.
chidraṅ hi mṛgayantē.tra vidvāṅsō brahmarākṣasā:.

nihatasya ca yajñasya sadya: kartā vinaśyati৷৷1.12.17৷৷


atra in this sacrifice, vidvāṅsa: learned men, brahmarākṣasā: brahma rakshasas(celestial beings turned into demons), chidram flaw, mṛgayantē hi will be looking out for, nihatasya struck down, yajñasya of sacrifice, kartā ca the doer, sadya: immediately, vinaśyati will be destroyed.

The learned brahmarakshasas always look out for flaws in the sacrifice so that they can strike into it. If the sacrifice is damaged, the doer of the sacrifice will be immediately destroyed.
tadyathā vidhipūrvaṅ mē kraturēṣa samāpyatē.

tathā vidhānaṅ kriyatāṅ samarthā: karaṇēṣviha৷৷1.12.18৷৷


tat for that reason, mē my, ēṣa: kratu: this sacifice, vidhipūrvam in accordance with scriptures, yathā samāpyatē as it could be completed, tathā in that manner, vidhānam arrangement, kriyatām may be done, iha(You) here, karaṇēṣu in actions, samarthā: experts.

Therefore let the arrangements be made in a manner by which this sacifice is completed in accordance with the prescriptions in scriptures and you are experts in doing so".
tathēti ca tatassarvē mantriṇa: pratyapūjayan.

pārthivēndrasya tadvākyaṅ yathājñaptamakurvata৷৷1.12.19৷৷


tata: then, mantriṇa: ministers, sarvē all, pārthivēndrasya of that king's, tathēti let it be so, pratyapūjayan honoured, yathājñaptam as ordered, akurvata performed.

Honouring the words of the king, all the ministers did as ordered.
tatō dvijāstē dharmajñamastuvanpārthivarṣabham.

anujñātāstatassarvē punarjagmuryathāgatam৷৷1.12.20৷৷


tata: after that, tē dvijā: those brahmins, dharmajñam knower of righteousness, pārthivarṣabham great king, astuvan praised, anujñātā: having been permitted, tata: from there, puna: again, yathāgatam in the manner as they came, jagmu: returned.

Admiring the great king, the knower of righteousness, the brahmins permitted by him returned to their places as they had some.
gatēṣvatha dvijāgyrēṣu mantriṇastānnarādhipa:.

visarjayitvā svaṅ vēśma pravivēśa mahādyuti:৷৷1.12.21৷৷


atha thereafter, dvijāgyrēṣu when great brahmins, gatēṣu (satsu) had departed, mahādyuti: great and glorious, narādhipa: king, mantriṇa: those ministers, visarjayitvā having sent them, svaṅ vēśma his palace, pravivēśa entered.

When the great brahmins departed, the glorious king (Dasaratha) sent away his ministers and entered his palace.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē dvādaśassarga:৷৷2
Thus ends the twelfth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.