Shloka 2.76.17

दशरथस्य अन्त्येष्टि-विधानम् — Dasaratha’s Funeral Rites and Ayodhya’s Mourning

Devanagari script

चन्दनागरुनिर्यासान् सरलं पद्मकं तथा।देवदारूणि चाहृत्य क्षेपयन्ति तथापरे।।2.76.16।।गन्धानुच्चावचांश्चान्यां स्तत्र गत्वाथ भूमिपम्।तत्र संवेशयामासुश्चितामध्ये तमृत्विजः।।2.76.17।।

Transliteration

tadā hutāśanaṁ hutvā jepus tasya tad-ṛtvijaḥ | jaguś ca te yathā-śāstra tatra sāmāni sāma-gāḥ || 2.76.18 ||

Translation

Then, having offered oblations into the sacred fire, his priests recited the prescribed formulas; and there the chanters of the Sāma Veda sang the hymns according to scripture.

Context

In this way others brought sandal, agaru and fragrant gum gugul, the resin of balsa tree and woods of sarala, padmaka and devadaru and built a pyre and strew many kinds of fragrant substances on it. Thereafter the priests laid the mortal remains of the king in the centre of the pyre.

Characters & Entities

• Sacred fire (hutāśana/agni)
• Ṛtvij (priests)
• Sāmagāḥ (Sāma Veda chanters)
• Sāman hymns (sāmāni)
• Śāstra (scriptural rule)
• Daśaratha (implied as the one for whom rites are done)

FAQs

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

Dharma is truthful adherence to śāstra in sacred acts; right performance and right recitation preserve moral and ritual order during life’s most vulnerable transitions.

What is the narrative situation?

With the body placed on the pyre, priests offer oblations and chant; Sāma Veda singers perform hymns as prescribed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sacred professionalism and devotion—ritualists uphold tradition through accurate offerings and scriptural chanting.