Valmiki Ramayana 1.12.4-5: Bala Kanda, Sarga 12, Shlokas 4-5
द्वादशः सर्गः · Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa
Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice
ततो राजाऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम् ।
सुमन्त्रावाहय क्षिप्रं ऋत्विजो ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥४॥
सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम् ।
पुरोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमाः ॥५॥
tato rājā 'bravīd vākyaṃ sumantraṃ mantrisattamam |
sumantrāvāhaya kṣipraṃ ṛtvijo brahmavādinaḥ ||4||
suyajñaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca jābālim atha kāśyapam |
purohitaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca ye cānye dvijasattamāḥ ||5||
राजा ने सुमंत्र से कहा, जल्दी जाकर उन ब्राह्मण लोगों को बुलाओ। सुयज्ञ, वामदेव, जाबाली, काश्यप, और पुरोहित वसिष्ठ को भी। जो भी बड़े ब्राह्मण हैं सबको लाओ।
Thereafter the king said to Sumantra, "Summon immediately, Suyajna, Vamadeva, Jabali and Kasyapa, family priest Vasishta and other foremost and learned brahmins who are the official priests well-versed in the Vedas".
FAQs
The verse reiterates that dharmic actions require proper authorities; repetition in transmission underscores the importance traditionally placed on correct ritual stewardship.
A parallel/duplicated line in this recension again records Daśaratha’s instruction to summon eminent officiants for the sacrifice.
Steadfastness and procedural rigor—Daśaratha’s insistence on calling the right experts.
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