Shloka 10

अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha

Completion of the Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

सुप्रतीतैस्तथा विप्रैः स्वागमै: सुस्वरैर्न॒प । अश्रान्तैश्ञापि लघुभिरवथ्वर्युवृषभैस्तथा

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | supratītaiḥ tathā vipraiḥ svāgamaiḥ susvarair nṛpa | aśrāntaiś ca api laghubhir adhvaryu-vṛṣabhaiḥ tathā ||

Translation

বৈশম্পায়ন বললেন—হে নৃপ, সুপ্রতিষ্ঠিত ও বেদজ্ঞ ব্রাহ্মণগণ নিজ নিজ শাস্ত্রানুসারে স্পষ্ট ও সুমধুর স্বরে মন্ত্রপাঠ করছিলেন; আর অশ্রান্ত, দ্রুতকর্মা শ্রেষ্ঠ অধ্বর্যুরাও ক্লান্তিহীনভাবে কর্তব্য পালন করছিলেন।

Word by Word

• सुप्रतीतैः: by well-known/renowned
• सुप्रतीतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रतीत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: and likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• विप्रैः: by brahmins
• विप्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• स्वागमैः: with their own traditions/scriptural learning
• स्वागमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सुस्वरैः: with excellent intonation
• सुस्वरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुस्वर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नृप: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अश्रान्तैः: by untiring (ones)
• अश्रान्तैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रान्त
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• लघुभिः: by quick/efficient (ones)
• लघुभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अथ: then/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अध्वर्युवृषभैः: by the best of the adhvaryu-priests
• अध्वर्युवृषभैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर्युवृषभ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nṛpa (the king, i.e., Janamejaya as listener)
• Vipra (brāhmaṇa priests)
• Adhvaryu (a class of Vedic priests)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as disciplined performance of sacred duty: correct mantra-recitation (sound, tradition, and clarity) and tireless, efficient execution of ritual responsibilities by qualified priests.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a grand sacrifice in progress: learned brāhmaṇas chant Vedic mantras with proper intonation while the leading Adhvaryu priests carry out the ritual actions swiftly and without fatigue, setting the scene for the next ritual stage.