Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 1

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः — Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

पुन: प्राप्ते वसन्ते तु पूर्णस्संवत्सरोऽभवत्।प्रसवार्थं गतो यष्टुं हयमेधेन वीर्यवान्।।1.13.1।।

Transliteration

punaḥ prāpte vasante tu pūrṇaḥ saṃvatsaro 'bhavat | prasavārthaṃ gato yaṣṭuṃ hayamedhena vīryavān ||

Translation

Quand le printemps revint et qu’une année entière se fut accomplie, le vaillant roi se mit en route pour célébrer l’Aśvamedha, le sacrifice du cheval, en quête de descendance.

Word by Word

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb: 'again'

• prāpte: on arrival (of)
• prāpte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (saptamī absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-āp (प्र + आप्) (धातु) → prāpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) 'prāpta'; Locative Singular (सप्तमी एकवचन), Neuter/Masculine; used in locative absolute with vasante: 'when spring had arrived'

• vasante: in spring
• vasante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasanta (वसन्त) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative Singular; with prāpte forms locative absolute

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात): contrast/emphasis

• pūrṇaḥ: completed
• pūrṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (पूर्ण) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; predicate adjective of saṃvatsaraḥ

• saṃvatsaraḥ: a year
• saṃvatsaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of abhavat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃvatsara (संवत्सर) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person Singular, Parasmaipada

• prasavārtham: for begetting sons
• prasavārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) (purpose adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prasava + artha (प्रसव + अर्थ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: 'for the purpose of begetting offspring'; accusative-form used adverbially

• gataḥ: having gone
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of vīryavān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (गम्) (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; with implied subject (the king): 'having gone'

• yaṣṭum: to perform sacrifice
• yaṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) (purpose of gataḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज्) (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्): 'to sacrifice/perform worship'

• hayamedhena: by the Aśvamedha
• hayamedhena: Karaṇa (करण) (means/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya + medha (हय + मेध) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ('horse-sacrifice'); Masculine/Neuter Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Karta (कर्ता) (subject, implied king)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (वीर्य + वत्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; possessor-suffix -वत्

Context

After completion of one year when spring returned, the valiant king (Dasaratha) entered the sacrificial pavilion to worship celestial beings for begetting sons.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• spring (vasanta)
• Aśvamedha (hayamedha)

FAQs

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

Dharma values order and patience: major undertakings are done at the proper time and with due preparation, not hurriedly.

What is the narrative situation?

A year passes; with the return of spring, Daśaratha proceeds to commence the Aśvamedha for the sake of progeny.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and disciplined commitment to a vowed course of action.