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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.]

tasya tvēvaṅ prabhāvasya dharmajñasya mahātmana:.

sutārthaṅ tapyamānasya nāsīdvaṅśakarassuta:৷৷1.8.1৷৷


ēvaṅprabhāvasya of such majestic one, dharmajñasya of the knower of righteousness, mahātmana: of the greatful soul, sutārtham for begetting sons, tapyamānasya performing rigourous austerities, tasya for king Dasaratha, vaṅśakara: perpetuating the race, suta: son, nāsīt did not beget.

Such a majestic, righteous, and magnaninous king had no son to perpetuate the race even though he performed austerities for one.
cintayānasya tasyaivaṅ buddhirāsīnmahātmana: .

sutārthaṅ hayamēdhēna kimarthaṅ na yajāmyaham৷৷1.8.2৷৷


cintayānasya for him while reflectig over the matter, tasya for him, mahātmana: of that magnanimous king, ēvam in this way, buddhi:āsīt had a thought, sutārtham to obtain sons, hayamēdhēna with Horse-sacrifice, na kimartham why not, yajāmi(aham) I shall perform sacrifice.

While reflecting over the matter, a thought struck the magnanimous king: 'Why not invoke gods by performing a horse-sacrifice for a son'.
sa niścitāṅ matiṅ kṛtvā yaṣṭavyamiti buddhimān.

mantribhissaha dharmātmā sarvairēva kṛtātmabhi:৷৷1.8.3৷৷

tatō.bravīdidaṅ rājā sumantraṅ mantrisattamam.

śīghramānaya mē sarvāngurūṅstān sapurōhitān৷৷1.8.4৷৷


buddhimān sagacious, dharmātmā pious, sa: rājā that king, kṛtātmabhi: having control over themselves, sarvairēva all, mantribhi: by ministers, yaṣṭavyamiti sacrifice should be performed, niścitām firmly, matiṅ kṛtvā after making up his mind, tata: thereafter, mantrisattamam best of ministers, sumantram Sumantra, idam following command, abravīt spoke, sapurōhitān along with family priests, tān sarvān all those, mē gurūn my spiritual preceptors, ānaya 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."
tānpūjayitvā dharmātmā rājā daśarathastadā.

idaṅ dharmārthasahitaṅ ślakṣṇaṅvacanamabravīt৷৷1.8.7৷৷


dharmātmā virtuous, daśaratha: rājā king Dasaratha, tadā then, tān them, pūjayitvā after paying homage, dharmārthasahitam righteous and meaningful, ślakṣṇam gracious, idaṅ vacanam these words, abravīt uttered.

Virtuous king Dasaratha paid homage to them (the ministers) and uttered these gracious, righteous and meaningful words.
mama lālapyamānasya putrārthannāsti vai sukham.

tadarthaṅ hayamēdhēna yakṣyāmīti matirmama৷৷1.8.8৷৷


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 one who has no son. This is the cause of my intense suffering. Therefore, I have made up my mind to perform a horse-sacrifice.
tadahaṅ yaṣṭumicchāmi śāstradṛṣṭēna karmaṇā.

kathaṅ prāpsyāmyahaṅ kāmaṅ buddhiratravicāryatām৷৷1.8.9৷৷


tat therefore, aham I, śāstradṛṣṭēna according to Scriptures, karmaṇā by spiritual act, yaṣṭum to perform sacrifice, icchāmi I am desirous, kāmam my desire, katham how, aham I, prapsyāmi can fulfill, atra in this matter, buddhi: solution, vicāryatām may be deliberated.

Therefore, I intend to perform a horse-sacrifice in accordance with the scriptures. How can I fulfil my desire in this regard? You may deliberate and find a solution".
tatassādhviti tadvākyaṅ brāhmaṇā: pratyapūjayan.

vasiṣṭhapramukhāssarvē pārthivasya mukhāccyutam৷৷1.8.10৷৷


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

The brahmins along with Vasishta in the forefront extolled the king's decision,
exclaiming, 'Well, Well'.
ūcuśca paramaprītāssarvē daśarathaṅ vaca:.

sambhārāssambhriyantāṅ tē turagaśca vimucyatām৷৷1.8.11৷৷


sarvē all of them, paramaprītā: highly pleased, daśaratham addressing king Dasaratha, vaca: words, ūcuśca also spoke, sambhārā: requisite articles, sambhriyantām be collected, tē your, turagaśca horse also, vimucyatām be released.

Highly pleased, they all said to king Dasaratha, "Requisite articles be collected for the sacrifice and the horse be released."
sarvathā prāpsyasē putrānabhiprētāṅśca pārthiva.

yasya tē dhārmikī buddhiriyaṅ putrārthamāgatā৷৷1.8.12৷৷


pārthiva O! King, yasya tē since to you, putrārtham for sons, iyam this, dhārmikī just and right, buddhi: mind, āgatā arose, abhiprētān desired ones, sarvathā by all means, prāpsyasē 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.'
tata: prītō.bhavadrājā śrutvā tadvijabhāṣitam.

amātyāṅścābravīdrājā harṣaparyākulēkṣaṇa:৷৷1.8.13৷৷


tata: thereafter, rājā king, tat dvijabhāṣitam those brahmin's words, śrutvā having heard, prīta: abhavat was pleased, rājā king, harṣaparyākulēkṣaṇa: with eyes excited with delight, amātyān ministers, abravīt informed.

On hearing the words of the brahmins, the king was pleased and said to his ministers with eyes excited with delight.
sambhārāssambhriyantāṅ mē gurūṇāṅ vacanādiha.

samarthādhiṣṭhitaścāśvassōpādhyāyō vimucyatām৷৷1.8.14৷৷


iha here, mē gurūṇām of my spiritual preceptors', vacanāt on words, sambhārā: articles required for performing the sacrifice, sambhriyantām be procured, samarthādhiṣṭhita: under the protection of able men, sōpādhyāya: with main priest, aśva: horse, vimucyatām 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.
sarayvāścōttarē tīrē yajñabhūmirvidhīyatām.

śāntayaścābhivardhantāṅ yathākalpaṅ yathāvidhi৷৷1.8.15৷৷


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 ordinance, śāntayaśca expiatory rites, abhivardhantām 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.
śakya: prāptumayaṅ yajñassarvēṇāpi mahīkṣitā.

nāparādhō bhavētkaṣṭō yadyasminkratusattamē৷৷1.8.16৷৷


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 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.
chidraṅ hi mṛgayantē.tra vidvāṅsō brahmarākṣasā: .

nihatasya ca yajñasya sadya: kartā vinaśyati ৷৷1.8.17৷৷


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 spoil it. If a flaw finds place, the doer of the sacrifice is immediately destroyed.
tadyathā vidhipūrvaṅ mē kraturēṣa samāpyatē .

tathā vidhānaṅ kriyatāṅ samarthā: karaṇēṣviha৷৷1.8.18৷৷


tat for that reason, mē my, ēṣa: kratu: his sacrifice, 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 this sacifice is completed in accordance with the scriptures. And in this, you are experts".
tathēti cābruvansarvē mantriṇa:pratyapūjayan.

pārthivēndrasya tadvākyaṅ yathājñaptaṅ niśamya tē৷৷1.8.19৷৷


tē mantriṇā: those ministers, sarvē all, pārthivēndrasya king Dasaratha's, tat vākyam those words niśamya having heard, pratyapūjayan honoured, yathā as, ājñaptam ordered, tathā iti may it be so, abruvan ca replied.

Having heard these words of this Indra on earth (king Dasaratha) all the ministers with due respect replied: "May it be as ordered".
tathā dvijāstē dharmajñā vardhayantō nṛpōttamam.

anujñātāstatassarvē punarjagmuryathāgatam৷৷1.8.20৷৷


dharmajñā: knowledgeable in prescibed conduct and duties, tē dvijā: those brahmins, tathā in that manner, nṛpōttamam Dasaratha, the best among kings, vardhayanta: while greeting him, anujñātā: obtaining permission to leave, tata: thereafter, sarvē all, yathāgatam as in the manner they came, puna:jagmu: returned.

Bowing to this best of kings (Dasaratha), all the brahmins who were experts in austerities left all the knowledgeable brahmins as they came-with his permission.
visarjayitvā tānviprānsacivānidamabravīt.

ṛtvigbhirupadiṣṭō.yaṅ yathāvatkraturāpyatām৷৷1.8.21৷৷


tān viprān those brahmins, visarjayitvā after sending, sacivān ministers, idam abravīt addressed saying, ṛtvigbhi: by priests officiating at sacrifice, upadiṣṭa: as directed, ayam this, kratu: sacrifice, yathāvat as enjoined by scriptures, āpyatām 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".
ityuktvā nṛpaśārdūlassacivānsamupasthitān.

visarjayitvā svaṅ vēśma pravivēśa mahādyuti:৷৷1.8.22৷৷


mahādyuti: highly brilliant, nṛpaśārdūla: pre-eminent among kings, samupasthitān sitting nearby, sacivān ministers, iti uktvā having thus ordered, visarjayitvā after sending them away, svam own, vēśma inner apartment, pravivēśa entered.

Having thus ordered his ministers sitting nearby, sent this highly brilliant, this
pre-eminent among kings them away and entered the inner apartment.
tatassa gatvā tā:patnīrnarēndrō hṛdayapriyā:.

uvāca dīkṣāṅ viśata yakṣyē.haṅ sutakāraṇāt৷৷1.8.23৷৷


tata: thereafter, sa:narēndra: that king, hṛdayapriyā: dearer to his heart, tā:patnī: his wives, gatvā reaching, aham I, sutakāraṇāt in order to obtain sons, yakṣyē I shall perform sacrifice, dīkṣām religious discipline, viśata you may enter, uvāca 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."
tāsāṅ tēnātikāntēna vacanēna suvarcasām.

mukhapadmānyaśōbhanta padmānīva himātyayē৷৷1.8.24৷৷


atikāntēna by the excessively charming, tēna vacanēna by these words, suvarcasām of those endowed with brightness, tāsām their, mukhapadmāni lotus-like countenances, himātyayē departure of winter season, padmānīva like lotuses, aśōbhanta were resplendent.

On listening to these exceedingly charming words, their bright countenances shone resplendent like lotuses after the departure of winter.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē aṣṭamassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the eighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.