Shloka 1.12.4

द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa (Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice)

Devanagari script

ततो राजाऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्।सुमन्त्रावाहय क्षिप्रं ऋत्विजो ब्रह्मवादिन:।।।।सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम्।पुरोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमा:।।।।

Transliteration

tato rājā 'bravīd vākyaṃ sumantraṃ mantrisattamam | sumantrāvāhaya kṣipraṃ ṛtvijo brahmavādinaḥ || suyajñaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca jābālim atha kāśyapam | purohitaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca ye cānye dvijasattamāḥ ||

Translation

Then the king said to Sumantra, best among ministers: “Sumantra, summon at once the officiating priests, the Veda-knowers—Suyajña, Vāmadeva, Jābāli, and Kāśyapa, along with the family priest Vasiṣṭha and other foremost brahmins.”

Context

Thereafter the king said to Sumantra, "Summon immediately, Suyajna, Vamadeva, Jabali and Kasyapa, family priest Vasishta and other foremost and learned brahmins who are the official priests well-versed in the Vedas".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Suyajña
• Vāmadeva
• Jābāli
• Kāśyapa
• Vasiṣṭha
• ṛtvij (officiating priests)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma: a ruler acts through qualified advisers and learned authorities, ensuring public acts (especially sacred rites) are grounded in knowledge and legitimacy.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha orders Sumantra to quickly bring the principal priests and eminent brahmins required to conduct the Aśvamedha properly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s humility before sacred expertise and his administrative decisiveness in organizing a dharmic undertaking.