Shloka 19

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीन्नाव्रतो नाबहुश्रुत:।सदस्यास्तस्य वै राज्ञो नावादकुशला द्विजा:।।।।

Transliteration

nāṣaḍaṅgavid atrāsīn nāvrato nābahuśrutaḥ |

sadasyās tasya vai rājño nāvādakuśalā dvijāḥ ||

Translation

সেই রাজার যজ্ঞশালায় এমন কোনো সহকারী ঋত্বিক বা সদস্য ছিলেন না, যিনি বেদের ষড়ঙ্গবিদ্যায় অজ্ঞ, ব্রতভ্রষ্ট, অল্পশ্রুত বা শাস্ত্রার্থে অকুশল ব্রাহ্মণ।

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), niṣedha-particle (निषेध)

• ṣaḍ-aṅga-vit: one versed in the six Vedāṅgas
• ṣaḍ-aṅga-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ‘knower of the six aṅgas (vedāṅgas)’

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), deśavācaka adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• āsīt: was (present)
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, Imperfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), niṣedha (निषेध)

• avratāḥ: without vows/undisciplined
• avratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); adjective for implied ‘(dvijāḥ)’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), niṣedha (निषेध)

• abahuśrutaḥ: not much-learned (i.e., unlearned)
• abahuśrutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-bahuśruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); used generically ‘no one (was) unlearned’

• sadasyāḥ: assistants/priests (members of the sacrificial session)
• sadasyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphasis particle (निपात)

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), niṣedha (निषेध)

• vāda-kuśalāḥ: skilled in debate/disputation
• vāda-kuśalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāda (प्रातिपदिक) + kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); adjective for dvijāḥ

• dvijāḥ: Brahmins
• dvijāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

Context

The best of brahmins led by Rsyasringa performed the rituals of aswamedha organised by the exceedingly magnanimous king.

Characters & Entities

• Vedāṅgas (six auxiliaries)
• Brahmins (sadasyas)
• Daśaratha (the king, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires qualified stewardship: sacred acts must be conducted by those trained, vowed, truthful, and competent—integrity and learning guard righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes the high caliber of Daśaratha’s ritual assembly: every officiant is learned, disciplined, and capable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Institutional excellence under righteous patronage—selecting competent, vow-keeping experts rather than mere outward performance.