Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 27

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

सचित्यो राजसिंहस्य सञ्चित: कुशलैर्द्विजै:।गरुडो रुक्मपक्षो वै त्रिगुणोऽष्टादशात्मक:।।।।

Transliteration

sa-cityo rāja-siṃhasya sañcitaḥ kuśalair dvijaiḥ | garuḍo rukma-pakṣo vai triguṇo 'ṣṭādaśātmakaḥ ||

Translation

ومِذْبَحُ ذلك الأسدِ بين الملوك شُيِّدَ وجُمِعَ على يد دِوِجَةٍ مهرة؛ على هيئة غارودا ذي الأجنحة الذهبية، مُرَتَّبًا في ثلاث طبقات، مؤلَّفًا من ثمانيةَ عشرَ جزءًا.

Word by Word

• sarva-kāmaiḥ: with all desired articles
• sarva-kāmaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘with all desired items’

• upahṛtaiḥ: brought/provided
• upahṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa+√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); agrees with sarvakāmaiḥ

• upetam: endowed/attended
• upetam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa+√i (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object qualifier

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• samantataḥ: on all sides/everywhere
• samantataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (सर्वतोभावे अव्यय)

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-anta infinitive (तुमुनन्त)

• arhasi: you should/are worthy to
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Puruṣa: Madhyama (मध्यम), Vachana: Eka (एकवचन)

• rājendra: O king of kings
• rājendra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• manasā: by the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमावाचक-अव्यय)

• vinirmitam: constructed
• vinirmitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi+nir+√mā (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies implicit object (e.g., maṇḍapa/vedi)

Context

That sacrificial altar of the lion among kings, (Dasaratha), erected by well-trained brahmins was in the shape of the golden winged 'Garuda' it had three ranges and thrice as many fire-places i.e; eighteen in number.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• dvija (priests)
• Garuḍa

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as ordered kingship and sacred responsibility: the king’s rite is executed by qualified experts, preserving truth to tradition and correct form.

What is the narrative situation?

The main altar (citya) for Daśaratha’s sacrifice is described—its form, symbolism, and structured arrangement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Legitimate authority supported by learned counsel—royal action grounded in śāstric expertise.