Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 26

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

इष्टकाश्च यथान्यायं कारिताश्च प्रमाणत:।चितोऽग्निर्ब्राह्मणैस्तत्र कुशलैश्शुल्बकर्मणि ।।।।

Transliteration

iṣṭakāś ca yathā-nyāyaṃ kāritāś ca pramāṇataḥ | cito 'gnir brāhmaṇais tatra kuśalaiḥ śulba-karmaṇi ||

Translation

Là, les briques furent façonnées selon la règle et avec une mesure exacte; et l’autel du feu fut disposé par des brāhmaṇa experts en śulba, la science des mesures et des tracés au cordeau.

Word by Word

• sa-cityaḥ: with the altar (properly formed)
• sa-cityaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + citya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘with the (fire-)altar/with the piled structure’ (describing the altar arrangement)

• rāja-siṃhasya: of the king-lion (Daśaratha)
• rāja-siṃhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; ‘of the lion among kings’

• sañcitaḥ: was constructed/piled up
• sañcitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + ci (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate ‘was piled/constructed’

• kuśalaiḥ: by skilled
• kuśalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying dvijaiḥ

• dvijaiḥ: Brahmins
• dvijaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• garuḍaḥ: (like) Garuḍa/eagle
• garuḍaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; metaphorical apposition to the altar

• rukma-pakṣaḥ: golden-winged
• rukma-pakṣaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rukma (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying garuḍaḥ

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphasis particle

• tri-guṇaḥ: threefold
• tri-guṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘threefold/with three strands’

• aṣṭādaśa-ātmakaḥ: consisting of eighteen (parts)
• aṣṭādaśa-ātmakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘consisting of eighteen’

Context

The sacrificial fire-place was constructed with bricks with standard measurement by brahmins who were experts in the art of measuring land with a string or single strand.

Characters & Entities

• agni (fire-altar)
• brāhmaṇa (priests)

FAQs

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

Dharma is precision and truthfulness in execution: sacred acts require correct knowledge, careful measurement, and competent hands—not negligence or improvisation.

What is the narrative situation?

The fire-altar and its brickwork are being constructed according to śāstric standards by trained ritual experts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competence joined with discipline—learning applied faithfully in service of a dharmic rite.