Shloka 33

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

होताऽध्वर्युस्तथोद्गाता हस्तेन समयोजयन्।महिष्या परिवृत्त्या च वावातां च तथापराम्।।।।

Transliteration

hotā ’dhvaryus tathodgātā hastena samayojayan |

mahiṣyā parivṛttyā ca vāvātāṃ ca tathāparām ||

Translation

তখন হোতা, অধ্বর্যু ও উদ্গাতা শাস্ত্রবিধি অনুযায়ী হস্ত-সংযোগ দ্বারা মহিষী, পরিবৃত্তি, বাভাতা এবং আর এক নারীকে যজ্ঞাশ্বের স্পর্শ ও পরিচর্যায় নিয়োজিত করিলেন।।

Word by Word

होताthe Hotṛ priest

अध्वर्युःthe Adhvaryu priest

तथाand also

उद्गाताthe Udgātṛ priest

हस्तेनwith the hand

समयोजयन्joined/touched

महिष्याwith the Mahīṣī (chief queen)

परिवृत्त्याwith Parivṛttī

चand

वावाताम्Vāvātā (a woman)

चand

तथाalso

अपराम्another (woman)

Context

Hota, Adhvaryu and Udgata arranged Mahishi, Parivritti, Vavaata and another woman known as Palakali to touch (keep the company of) the sacrificial horse.

Characters & Entities

Aśvamedha horse

FAQs

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

Dharma here is procedural righteousness: actions are performed through authorized officiants and in the correct ritual order, emphasizing disciplined conformity to sacred injunction.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Aśvamedha sequence, the chief priests arrange the ritually specified women to make the prescribed contact with the sacrificial horse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The priests’ śāstra-niṣṭhā (fidelity to injunction) and meticulous ritual responsibility.