Shloka 18

राजपूजाविधानम् / Royal Reception Protocols during Āśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

ततो यज्ञ महाबाहुवजिमेध॑ महाक्रतुम्‌ । बद्धन्नदक्षिणं राजा सर्वकामगुणान्वितम्‌

Transliteration

tato yajñaṃ mahābāhur aśvamedhaṃ mahākratum | baddhvā na dakṣiṇaṃ rājā sarvakāmagunānvitam ||

Translation

Entonces el rey de poderosos brazos comenzó el gran sacrificio llamado Aśvamedha, un rito vasto, tras disponer abundantes dakṣiṇās, y lo hizo pleno de todos los fines deseados y de todas las excelencias auspiciosas.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• यज्ञम्: sacrifice, ritual
• यज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अश्वमेधम्: the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
• अश्वमेधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महाक्रतुम्: the great rite
• महाक्रतुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाक्रतु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बद्ध्वा: having arranged / having bound (i.e., having set up)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• दक्षिणम्: priestly fee, sacrificial gift (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वकामगुणान्वितम्: endowed with all desired things and virtues
• सर्वकामगुणान्वितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वकामगुणान्वित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaishampayana (speaker)
• the king (rājā)
• Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
• yajña (sacrifice)
• dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic kingship: a ruler should pursue sovereignty and prosperity through lawful rites and, crucially, through generosity (dakṣiṇā). The ethical emphasis is that public power is legitimized by adherence to sacred order and by giving that sustains religious and social institutions.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaishampayana narrates that the king begins the grand Aśvamedha sacrifice. He has already arranged ample ritual gifts (dakṣiṇā), and the rite is described as complete in desired aims and virtues—signaling a formally proper, well-endowed imperial ceremony.