Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 11

द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa

Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ऋष्यशृङ्गपुरोगाश्च प्रत्यूचुर्नृपतिं तदा।सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्।।।।

Transliteration

ṛśyaśṛṅgapurogāś ca pratyūcur nṛpatiṃ tadā, sambhārāḥ sambhriyantāṃ te turagaś ca vimucyatām.

Translation

Alors les prêtres, conduits par Ṛśyaśṛṅga, répondirent au roi : «Que l’on rassemble les requis du sacrifice, et que l’on relâche le cheval rituel».

Word by Word

• ṛṣyaśṛṅgapurogāḥ: those led by Ṛṣyaśṛṅga
• ṛṣyaśṛṅgapurogāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣyaśṛṅga + puroga (ऋष्यशृङ्ग + पुरोग, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'having Ṛṣyaśṛṅga in front/leader'; Masculine, Nominative Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• pratyūcuḥ: replied
• pratyūcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa Plural; with prefix prati- (प्रति)

• nṛpatim: to the king
• nṛpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (नृपति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (तदा अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• sambhārāḥ: materials/implements
• sambhārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sambhāra (सम्भार प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural

• sambhriyantām: let (them) be procured/collected
• sambhriyantām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (भृ धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, Imperative), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa Plural; with prefix sam- (सम्); passive/impersonal sense: 'let them be collected'

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular (enclitic)

• turagaḥ: the horse
• turagaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turaga (तुरग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vimucyatām: let (it) be released
• vimucyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa Singular; with prefix vi- (वि); passive sense: 'let it be released'

Context

The priests led by Rsyasringa replied to the king, saying, "Let the sacrificial articles be procured and your sacrificial horse released."

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• priests (ṛtvijas)
• turaga (sacrificial horse)

FAQs

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

Dharma is order and correctness in sacred action: the priests stress proper preparation and procedure, implying that righteous ends require disciplined means.

What is the narrative situation?

The officiants give practical instructions to begin the yajña: collect materials and release the consecrated horse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s ritual competence and leadership—guiding the king in a regulated, dharma-aligned process.