Shloka 17

राजपूजाविधानम् / Royal Reception Protocols during Āśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः स तु तेजस्वी व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना । दीक्षां विवेश धर्मात्मा वाजिमेधाप्तये तत:

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ sa tu tejasvī vyāsenāmitabuddhinā | dīkṣāṃ viveśa dharmātmā vājimedhāptaye tataḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dijo: Así interpelado por Vyāsa, de sabiduría inconmensurable, el rey, justo y resplandeciente, entró en la dīkṣā, el voto de consagración, para consumar el sacrificio Aśvamedha.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तेजस्वी: splendid, radiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• व्यासेन: by Vyasa
• व्यासेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अमितबुद्धिना: of immeasurable intellect
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमितबुद्धि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दीक्षाम्: initiation (vow/rite)
• दीक्षाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विवेश: entered/undertook
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाजिमेधाप्तये: for the attainment/accomplishment of the horse-sacrifice
• वाजिमेधाप्तये: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिमेधाप्ति
• Form: Feminine, Dative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Vyāsa
• Dīkṣā (ritual initiation)
• Vājimedha/Aśvamedha (horse sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A righteous ruler acts under the counsel of true wisdom and undertakes solemn rites with disciplined commitment; dharma is upheld not merely by power, but by guided, conscientious action.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being instructed by the sage Vyāsa, the king formally begins the dīkṣā (consecratory initiation) required to perform the Aśvamedha, marking the start of the sacrificial undertaking.