Shloka 1.14.31

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः — Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

कौसल्या तं हयं तत्र परिचर्य समन्तत:।कृपाणैर्विशशासैनं त्रिभि: परमया मुदा ।।।।

Transliteration

kausalyā taṃ hayaṃ tatra paricarya samantataḥ | kṛpāṇair viśaśāsa enaṃ tribhiḥ paramayā mudā ||

Translation

There, Kauśalyā, having attended upon and circumambulated that horse, severed it with three strokes of a sword, with the greatest ceremonial joy.

Context

Kausalya, with immense glee having gone round and worshipped that horse, severed it with three strokes of scimitar.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• horse (haya)
• sword/scimitar (kṛpāṇa)
• circumambulation (samantataḥ/paricaryā)

FAQs

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

Dharma is the performance of one’s appointed role within a sanctioned rite: Kausalyā acts as prescribed in the sacrificial framework, emphasizing duty carried out with sincerity (satya of intention) and ritual correctness.

What is the narrative situation?

At the climactic sacrificial moment, Kausalyā performs the queen’s ritual role in relation to the Aśvamedha horse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in duty—fulfilling a difficult, socially and ritually defined responsibility without wavering.