Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 38

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

त्र्यहोऽश्वमेधस्सङ्ख्यात: कल्पसूत्रेण ब्राह्मणै:। 37चतुष्टोममहस्तस्य प्रथमं परिकल्पितम्।।।।

Transliteration

tryaho ’śvamedhaḥ saṅkhyātaḥ kalpasūtreṇa brāhmaṇaiḥ |

catuṣṭomam ahas tasya prathamaṃ parikalpitam ||

Translation

Selon le Kalpasūtra tel que l’entendent les brahmanes, l’Aśvamedha est compté comme un rite de trois jours ; et son premier jour est ordonné comme le Catuṣṭoma.

Word by Word

• त्र्यहः: three-day
• त्र्यहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri-aha (प्रातिपदिक: tri + aha)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु = 'three-day (duration)' (qualifies aśvamedhaḥ)

• अश्वमेधः: Aśvamedha sacrifice
• अश्वमेधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva-medha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सङ्ख्यातः: is reckoned
• सङ्ख्यातः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkhyāta (कृदन्त; √khyā (धातु) + सम्-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) = 'is reckoned/counted'

• कल्पसूत्रेण: by/according to the Kalpa-sūtra
• कल्पसूत्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa-sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = 'Kalpa-sūtra'

• ब्राह्मणैः: by brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• चतुष्टोम-महः: the Chatuṣṭoma day
• चतुष्टोम-महः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuṣṭoma (प्रातिपदिक) + mahas/ahaḥ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = 'Chatuṣṭoma-day/rite'

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'first' (predicate/qualifier)

• परिकल्पितम्: was arranged
• परिकल्पितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parikalpita (कृदन्त; √kḷp (धातु) + परि-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) = 'arranged/planned'

Context

According to Kalpa sutra, aswamedha in conducted for three days. In the first day, chatushtoma is arranged.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvamedha
• Brahmins

FAQs

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

Dharma is adherence to authoritative tradition (Kalpa): sacred action is structured, time-bound, and validated by received textual rule.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse outlines the Aśvamedha’s three-day framework and specifies the first day’s principal arrangement (Catuṣṭoma).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Scholarly fidelity and orderly execution—virtues of the ritual specialists who preserve and apply the tradition.