Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 37

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः — Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

ततो वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमा:।ऋश्यशृङ्गं पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञकर्मारभन् तदा।।1.13.37।।यज्ञवाटगतास्सर्वे यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि। 3

Transliteration

tato vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ sarva eva dvijottamāḥ |

ṛśyaśṛṅgaṃ puraskṛtya yajñakarmārabhan tadā || 1.13.37 ||

yajñavāṭagatāḥ sarve yathāśāstraṃ yathāvidhi |

Translation

Then all the foremost brahmins, with Vasiṣṭha at their head and placing Ṛśyaśṛṅga in front, entered the sacrificial enclosure and began the rites—exactly as the scriptures prescribe and as tradition requires.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-प्रभव (adverb) ‘अनन्तरम्/तदनन्तरम्’

• वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः: with Vasiṣṭha as foremost
• वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसिष्ठ-प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘वसिष्ठः प्रमुखः येषाम्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (द्विजोत्तमाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: best of the twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभावः) ‘द्विजेषु उत्तमाः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ऋश्यशृङ्गम्: Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• ऋश्यशृङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋश्यशृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• पुरस्कृत्य: having placed in front; led by
• पुरस्कृत्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस्-कृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः (gerund/absolutive); अर्थः—‘पुरतः कृत्वा/अग्रे कृत्वा’

• यज्ञकर्म: sacrificial rites
• यज्ञकर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘यज्ञस्य कर्म’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आरभन्: began
• आरभन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Context

In response to the words of Vasishta and Rsyasringa, the Lord of the earth (Dasaratha) entered the sacrificial pavilion on a favourable day presided over by an auspicious star.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• yajñavāṭa (sacrificial enclosure)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is upheld through fidelity to śāstra and vidhi—right action performed in the right way, under qualified leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

The officiating brahmins enter the yajña-enclosure and formally commence the sacrificial rites with Ṛśyaśṛṅga prominently leading.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ritual integrity and disciplined cooperation: the priests act in unified adherence to scriptural standards.