HomeRamayanaBala KandaSarga 14Shloka 42
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Shloka 42

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

प्राचीं होत्रे ददौ राजा दिशं स्वकुलवर्धन:।अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं तु ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम्।।1.14.41।।उद्गात्रे च तथोदीचीं दक्षिणैषा विनिर्मिता।हयमेधे महायज्ञे स्वयंभूविहिते पुरा।।1.14.42।।

udgātre ca tathodīcīṃ dakṣiṇaiṣā vinirmitā |

hayamedhe mahāyajñe svayaṃbhūvihite purā ||

এবং উদ্গাতৃকে উত্তরদিক প্রদান করা হল। এই দানবিধান প্রাচীনকালে স্বয়ম্ভূ (ব্রহ্মা) কর্তৃক মহাযজ্ঞ অশ্বমেধের জন্য নির্ধারিত ছিল।।

kratumthe sacrifice
kratum:
Karma (कर्म/Object of samāpya)
TypeNoun
Rootkratu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
samāpyahaving completed
samāpya:
Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-√āp (आप् धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable): ‘having completed’
tuthen/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)
tadāthen
tadā:
Kala (काल/Temporal)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
nyāyataḥaccording to law
nyāyataḥ:
Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnyāyataḥ (अव्यय)
Formतसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘according to rule/law’
puruṣarṣabhaḥbest of men
puruṣarṣabhaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Apposition to rājā)
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: puruṣāṇām ṛṣabhaḥ
ṛtvigbhyaḥto the priests
ṛtvigbhyaḥ:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
TypeNoun
Rootṛtvij (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन (Plural)
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formनिश्चय/कारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)
dadaugave
dadau:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√dā (दा धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
rājāthe king
rājā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
tāmthat
tām:
Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम
dharāmearth/land
dharām:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootdharā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
kulavardhanaḥupholder of the dynasty
kulavardhanaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Apposition to rājā)
TypeNoun
Rootkula + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: kulasya vardhanaḥ

In order to promote his dynasty, king Dasaratha gave away eastern region to Hotar, western region to Adhvaryu, southern region to Brahma and northern region to Udgata. These offerings were made in accordance with theprescriptions by Brahma long all.

A
Aśvamedha (Hayamedha)
B
Brahmā (Svayaṃbhū)
D
Dakṣiṇā

FAQs

Dharma is fidelity to śāstric tradition: gifts and ritual roles are not arbitrary but anchored in ancient ordinance, linking personal action to collective sacred order.

The narration explains the traditional allocation of quarters as dakṣiṇā in the Aśvamedha and attributes its authority to Brahmā’s primordial prescription.

Daśaratha’s respect for established sacred norms—he performs the rite without improvisation or deviation.