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[Dasaratha had no sons to continue the Ikshvaku race --sorrow grew with advancing age-- intends to perform aswamedha for a successor-- summons all ministers and counsellors--sages and family priests to approve his proposal.]

तस्य त्वेवं प्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मन:।

सुतार्थं तप्यमानस्य नासीद्वंशकरस्सुत:।।1.8.1।।


एवंप्रभावस्य of such majestic one, धर्मज्ञस्य of the knower of righteousness, महात्मन: of the greatful soul, सुतार्थम् for begetting sons, तप्यमानस्य performing rigourous austerities, तस्य for king Dasaratha, वंशकर: perpetuating the race, सुत: son, नासीत् did not beget.

Such a majestic, righteous, and magnaninous king had no son to perpetuate the race even though he performed austerities for one.
चिन्तयानस्य तस्यैवं बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मन: ।

सुतार्थं हयमेधेन किमर्थं न यजाम्यहम्।।1.8.2।।


चिन्तयानस्य for him while reflectig over the matter, तस्य for him, महात्मन: of that magnanimous king, एवम् in this way, बुद्धि:आसीत् had a thought, सुतार्थम् to obtain sons, हयमेधेन with Horsesacrifice, न किमर्थम् why not, यजामि(अहम्) I shall perform sacrifice.

While reflecting over the matter, a thought struck the magnanimous king: 'Why not invoke gods by performing a horsesacrifice for a son'.
स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान्।

मन्त्रिभिस्सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरेव कृतात्मभि:।।1.8.3।।

ततोऽब्रवीदिदं राजा सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्।

शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान्गुरूंस्तान् सपुरोहितान्।।1.8.4।।


बुद्धिमान् sagacious, धर्मात्मा pious, स: राजा that king, कृतात्मभि: having control over themselves, सर्वैरेव all, मन्त्रिभि: by ministers, यष्टव्यमिति sacrifice should be performed, निश्चिताम् firmly, मतिं कृत्वा after making up his mind, तत: thereafter, मन्त्रिसत्तमम् best of ministers, सुमन्त्रम् Sumantra, इदम् following command, अब्रवीत् spoke, सपुरोहितान् along with family priests, तान् सर्वान् all those, मे गुरून् my spiritual preceptors, आनय bring.

Having made up his mind to perform the sacrifice, that sagacious and pious king, in consultation with his wise ministers, issued the following command to Sumantra, the best of ministers "Bring all my spritual preceptors along with family priests."
ततस्सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रम:।

समानयत्स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान्वेदपारगान् ।।1.8.5।।

सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम् ।

परोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये व्दिजसत्तमा: ।। 1.8.6 ।।
 

तत: thereupon, त्वरितविक्रम: a man with swift movements, स: सुमन्त्र: that Sumantra, त्वरितम् immediately,गत्वा having gone, सुयज्ञम् Suyajna, वामदेवं च Vamadeva, अथ and जाबालिम् Jabali, काश्यपम् Kasyapa, पुरोहितम् priest, वसिष्ठं च Vasistha, अन्ये other, ये व्दिजसत्तमा: excellent brahmins, वेदपारगान् who had command of trhe Vedas, समस्तान् gathering together, तान् सर्वान् all of them, समानयत् brought.

Thereupon Sumantra of swift movement immediateiy brought together Suyajna, Vamadeva,Jabali, Kasyapa and priest Vasistha along with other brahmins who had mastery over the Vedas.
तान्पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा।

इदं धर्मार्थसहितं श्लक्ष्णंवचनमब्रवीत्।।1.8.7।।


धर्मात्मा virtuous, दशरथ: राजा king Dasaratha, तदा then, तान् them, पूजयित्वा after paying homage, धर्मार्थसहितम् righteous and meaningful, श्लक्ष्णम् gracious, इदं वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् uttered.

Virtuous king Dasaratha paid homage to them (the ministers) and uttered these gracious, righteous and meaningful words.
मम लालप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थन्नास्ति वै सुखम्।

तदर्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामीति मतिर्मम।।1.8.8।।


पुत्रार्थम् to have sons, लालप्यमानस्य suffering from intense sorrow, मम for me, सुखम् happiness, नास्ति वै not there, तदर्थं for that reason, (अहम् I), हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामि I shall perform Horsesacrifice, इति thus, मम my, मति: intention.

There is no happiness for one who has no son. This is the cause of my intense suffering. Therefore, I have made up my mind to perform a horsesacrifice.
तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा।

कथं प्राप्स्याम्यहं कामं बुद्धिरत्रविचार्यताम्।।1.8.9।।


तत् therefore, अहम् I, शास्त्रदृष्टेन according to Scriptures, कर्मणा by spiritual act, यष्टुम् to perform sacrifice, इच्छामि I am desirous, कामम् my desire, कथम् how, अहम् I, प्रप्स्यामि can fulfill, अत्र in this matter, बुद्धि: solution, विचार्यताम् may be deliberated.

Therefore, I intend to perform a horsesacrifice in accordance with the scriptures. How can I fulfil my desire in this regard? You may deliberate and find a solution".
ततस्साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणा: प्रत्यपूजयन्।

वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखाच्च्युतम्।।1.8.10।।


तत: then, वसिष्ठप्रमुखा: vasishta etc, ब्राह्मणा: brahmins, सर्वे all, पार्थिवस्य king's, मुखात् from the mouth, च्युतम् delivered, तत् वाक्यम् those words, साधु इति well said, प्रत्यपूजयन् extolled.

The brahmins along with Vasishta in the forefront extolled the king's decision,
exclaiming, 'Well, Well'.
ऊचुश्च परमप्रीतास्सर्वे दशरथं वच:।

सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्।।1.8.11।।


सर्वे all of them, परमप्रीता: highly pleased, दशरथम् addressing king Dasaratha, वच: words, ऊचुश्च also spoke, सम्भारा: requisite articles, सम्भ्रियन्ताम् be collected, ते your, तुरगश्च horse also, विमुच्यताम् be released.

Highly pleased, they all said to king Dasaratha, "Requisite articles be collected for the sacrifice and the horse be released."
सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रानभिप्रेतांश्च पार्थिव।

यस्य ते धार्मिकी बुद्धिरियं पुत्रार्थमागता।।1.8.12।।


पार्थिव O King, यस्य ते since to you, पुत्रार्थम् for sons, इयम् this, धार्मिकी just and right, बुद्धि: mind, आगता arose, अभिप्रेतान् desired ones, सर्वथा by all means, प्राप्स्यसे you will obtain.

'O king, the wish that arose in your mind is just and right. You will definitely obtain sons as desired by you.'
तत: प्रीतोऽभवद्राजा श्रुत्वा तद्विजभाषितम्।

अमात्यांश्चाब्रवीद्राजा हर्षपर्याकुलेक्षण:।।1.8.13।।


तत: thereafter, राजा king, तत् द्विजभाषितम् those brahmin's words, श्रुत्वा having heard, प्रीत: अभवत् was pleased, राजा king, हर्षपर्याकुलेक्षण: with eyes excited with delight, अमात्यान् ministers, अब्रवीत् informed.

On hearing the words of the brahmins, the king was pleased and said to his ministers with eyes excited with delight.
सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां मे गुरूणां वचनादिह।

समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वस्सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम्।।1.8.14।।


इह here, मे गुरूणाम् of my spiritual preceptors', वचनात् on words, सम्भारा: articles required for performing the sacrifice, सम्भ्रियन्ताम् be procured, समर्थाधिष्ठित: under the protection of able men, सोपाध्याय: with main priest, अश्व: horse, विमुच्यताम् be released.

"Let the articles required (for performing the sacrifice) be procured in accordance with the words of my spiritual preceptors and the horse be released under the protection of able men.
सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम्।

शान्तयश्चाभिवर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि।।1.8.15।।


सरय्वा: of river Sarayu, उत्तरे तीरे on the northern bank, यज्ञभूमि: sacrificial pavillion, विधीयताम् be constructed, यथाकल्पम् according to prescribed ritual code, यथाविधि according to the ordinance, शान्तयश्च expiatory rites, अभिवर्धन्ताम् may be wished.

On the northern bank of Sarayu, a sacrificial pavillion be prepared according to the methods ordained in the 'Kalpa'. Auspicious rites be performed in accordance with the ordinance for its uninterrupted completion.
शक्य: प्राप्तुमयं यज्ञस्सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता।

नापराधो भवेत्कष्टो यद्यस्मिन्क्रतुसत्तमे।।1.8.16।।


अस्मिन् in this, क्रतुसत्तमे best of sacifices, कष्ट: difficulties, अपराध: omissions, न भवेत् यदि does not happen, अयं यज्ञ: this sacrifice, सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता indeed by every king, प्राप्तुम् to obtain, शक्य: possible.

If obstructions and omissions do not occur in the conduct of this best of sacrifices, it will be possible for every king to get the results.
छिद्रं हि मृगयन्तेऽत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसा: ।

निहतस्य च यज्ञस्य सद्य: कर्ता विनश्यति ।।1.8.17।।


अत्र in this sacrifice, विद्वांस: learned men, ब्रह्मराक्षसा: Brahmarakshasas (celestial beings turned into demons), छिद्रम् flaw, मृगयन्ते हि will be looking out for, निहतस्य struck down यज्ञस्य of sacrifice, कर्ता च the doer, सद्य: immediately, विनश्यति will be destroyed.

The learned brahmarakshasas always look out for flaws in the sacrifice so that they can spoil it. If a flaw finds place, the doer of the sacrifice is immediately destroyed.
तद्यथा विधिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते ।

तथा विधानं क्रियतां समर्था: करणेष्विह।।1.8.18।।


तत् for that reason, मे my, एष: क्रतु: his sacrifice, विधिपूर्वम् in accordance with scriptures, यथा समाप्यते as it could be completed, तथा in that manner, विधानम् arrangement, क्रियताम् may be done, इह (you) here, करणेषु in actions, समर्था: experts.

Therefore let the arrangements be made in a manner this sacifice is completed in accordance with the scriptures. And in this, you are experts".
तथेति चाब्रुवन्सर्वे मन्त्रिण:प्रत्यपूजयन्।

पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद्वाक्यं यथाज्ञप्तं निशम्य ते।।1.8.19।।


ते मन्त्रिणा: those ministers, सर्वे all, पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य king Dasaratha's, तत् वाक्यम् those words निशम्य having heard, प्रत्यपूजयन् honoured, यथा as, आज्ञप्तम् ordered, तथा इति may it be so, अब्रुवन् च replied.

Having heard these words of this Indra on earth (king Dasaratha) all the ministers with due respect replied: "May it be as ordered".
तथा द्विजास्ते धर्मज्ञा वर्धयन्तो नृपोत्तमम्।

अनुज्ञातास्ततस्सर्वे पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम्।।1.8.20।।


धर्मज्ञा: knowledgeable in prescibed conduct and duties, ते द्विजा: those brahmins, तथा in that manner, नृपोत्तमम् Dasaratha, the best among kings, वर्धयन्त: while greeting him, अनुज्ञाता: obtaining permission to leave, तत: thereafter, सर्वे all, यथागतम् as in the manner they came, पुन:जग्मु: returned.

Bowing to this best of kings (Dasaratha), all the brahmins who were experts in austerities left all the knowledgeable brahmins as they camewith his permission.
विसर्जयित्वा तान्विप्रान्सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्।

ऋत्विग्भिरुपदिष्टोऽयं यथावत्क्रतुराप्यताम्।।1.8.21।।


तान् विप्रान् those brahmins, विसर्जयित्वा after sending, सचिवान् ministers, इदम् अब्रवीत् addressed saying, ऋत्विग्भि: by priests officiating at sacrifice, उपदिष्ट: as directed, अयम् this, क्रतु: sacrifice, यथावत् as enjoined by scriptures, आप्यताम् may be obtained .

After sending away the brahmins, the king said to his ministers: "Let this sacrifice be performed as enjoined by scriptures and as directed by the officiating priests".
इत्युक्त्वा नृपशार्दूलस्सचिवान्समुपस्थितान्।

विसर्जयित्वा स्वं वेश्म प्रविवेश महाद्युति:।।1.8.22।।


महाद्युति: highly brilliant, नृपशार्दूल: preeminent among kings, समुपस्थितान् sitting nearby, सचिवान् ministers, इति उक्त्वा having thus ordered, विसर्जयित्वा after sending them away, स्वम् own, वेश्म inner apartment, प्रविवेश entered.

Having thus ordered his ministers sitting nearby, sent this highly brilliant, this
preeminent among kings them away and entered the inner apartment.
ततस्स गत्वा ता:पत्नीर्नरेन्द्रो हृदयप्रिया:।

उवाच दीक्षां विशत यक्ष्येऽहं सुतकारणात्।।1.8.23।।


तत: thereafter, स:नरेन्द्र: that king, हृदयप्रिया: dearer to his heart, ता:पत्नी: his wives, गत्वा reaching, अहम् I, सुतकारणात् in order to obtain sons, यक्ष्ये I shall perform sacrifice, दीक्षाम् religious discipline, विशत you may enter, उवाच said.

Thereafter the king said to his dearest wives: "I intend to perform a sacrifice in order to obtain sons. Therefore, you, too, commence religious discipline."
तासां तेनातिकान्तेन वचनेन सुवर्चसाम्।

मुखपद्मान्यशोभन्त पद्मानीव हिमात्यये।।1.8.24।।


अतिकान्तेन by the excessively charming, तेन वचनेन by these words, सुवर्चसाम् of those endowed with brightness, तासाम् their, मुखपद्मानि lotuslike countenances, हिमात्यये departure of winter season, पद्मानीव like lotuses, अशोभन्त were resplendent.

On listening to these exceedingly charming words, their bright countenances shone resplendent like lotuses after the departure of winter.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे अष्टमस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the eighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.