Shloka 4

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

प्रवर्ग्यं शास्त्रत: कृत्वा तथैवोपसदं द्विजा:चक्रुश्च विधिवत्सर्वमधिकं कर्म शास्त्रत:।।।।

Transliteration

pravargyaṃ śāstrataḥ kṛtvā tathaivopasadaṃ dvijāḥ |

cakruś ca vidhivat sarvam adhikaṃ karma śāstrataḥ ||

Translation

দ্বিজ ব্রাহ্মণগণ শাস্ত্রানুসারে প্রবর্গ্য সম্পন্ন করে তদ্রূপ উপসদ্-ক্রিয়াও করলেন। পরে শাস্ত্রবিধি অনুযায়ী সকল অতিরিক্ত কর্মও যথাবিধি সম্পূর্ণ করলেন।।

Word by Word

• प्रवर्ग्यम्: the Pravargya rite
• प्रवर्ग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravargya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शास्त्रतः: according to scripture
• शास्त्रतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śāstratas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘शास्त्रानुसारतः’

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) ‘कृत्वा’

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘एवं’

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

• उपसदम्: the Upasad rite
• उपसदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upasad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्विजाः: brahmins
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चक्रुः: performed
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• विधिवत्: duly
• विधिवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (कर्म इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• अधिकम्: additional, further
• अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (कर्म इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• कर्म: rites, acts
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शास्त्रतः: as per scripture
• शास्त्रतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śāstratas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त

Context

Brahmins performed pravargya and upasada and other ceremonies as per the scriptures and traditions.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (dvijāḥ)
• Śāstra

FAQs

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

Dharma is thoroughness and fidelity to sacred instruction: even subsidiary rites matter, because righteousness includes completeness in one’s vowed responsibilities.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse summarizes the performance of Pravargya, Upasad, and other auxiliary procedures within the larger sacrificial program.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Meticulousness (sūkṣmatā) and obedience to rule (vidhi-niṣṭhā) among the officiants.