Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 5

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

अभिपूज्य ततो हृष्टास्सर्वे चक्रुर्यथाविधि।प्रातस्सवनपूर्वाणि कर्माणि मुनिपुङ्गवा:।।।।

Transliteration

abhipūjya tato hṛṣṭāḥ sarve cakrur yathāvidhi |

prātaḥsavana-pūrvāṇi karmāṇi munipuṅgavāḥ ||

Translation

Nachdem sie die gebührende Verehrung dargebracht hatten, vollzogen die erhabenen Weisen, von Freude erfüllt, vorschriftsgemäß die Riten, beginnend mit den morgendlichen Handlungen (prātaḥ-savana und verwandtes).

Word by Word

• अभिपूज्य: having worshipped
• अभिपूज्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि-पूज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund) ‘अभिपूज्य’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• हृष्टाः: delighted
• हृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally) ‘प्रहृष्ट’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (सर्वे/मुनिपुङ्गवाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• यथाविधि: as prescribed
• यथाविधि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvidhi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषण

• प्रातस्सवनपूर्वाणि: beginning with the morning pressing/rite
• प्रातस्सवनपूर्वाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रातःसवन-पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘प्रातःसवनं पूर्वं येषाम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (कर्माणि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

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

• मुनिपुङ्गवाः: foremost sages
• मुनिपुङ्गवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयसमासः ‘मुनिषु पुङ्गवाः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

All the priests collectively offered that wealth to sage Rsyasringa and Vasishta endowed with prudence.

Characters & Entities

• Munis (sages)

FAQs

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

Dharma as disciplined correctness: sacred acts gain meaning through careful adherence to prescribed procedure, reflecting truthfulness to tradition rather than personal whim.

What is the narrative situation?

Early in the Aśvamedha proceedings, the sages carry out the sequence of daily ritual actions starting from the morning rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ritual diligence and steadiness—munis exemplify consistent practice and accurate execution.