Valmiki Ramayana 1.12.9: Bala Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 9

द्वादशः सर्गः · Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa

Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhyā palace assembly (implied)Places named: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ।

ऋषिपुत्रप्रभावेन कामान्प्राप्स्यामि चाप्यहम् ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.12.9

Transliteration

tad ahaṃ yaṣṭum icchāmi śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā |

ṛṣiputraprabhāvena kāmān prāpsyāmi cāpy aham ||9||

Translation

मैं यह यज्ञ सही तरीके से करूँगा। जो शास्त्रों में लिखा है वैसे। रिशि के बेटे के आशीर्वाद से मेरा काम बन जाएगा।

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Word by Word

• tat: therefore/for that reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), discourse particle; sense: 'therefore/for that reason'
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• yaṣṭum: to perform a sacrifice
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुनन्त), 'to sacrifice/perform worship'
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• icchāmi: I desire/wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• śāstradṛṣṭena: as prescribed by scripture
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra + dṛṣṭa (शास्त्र + दृष्ट, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) agreeing with 'karmaṇā'
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• karmaṇā: by the act/rite
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (कर्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• ṛṣiputraprabhāvena: by the power/grace of the sage’s son
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi + putra + prabhāva (ऋषि + पुत्र + प्रभाव, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• kāmān: desired objects/boons
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (काम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• prāpsyāmi: I shall obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (लुट्, Periphrastic Future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

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

• api: also/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अपि अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), additive/emphatic
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन) (repetition for emphasis)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• tad-ahaṃ → tad ahaṃ
• yaṣṭum-icchāmi → yaṣṭum icchāmi
• kāmān-prāpsyāmi → kāmān prāpsyāmi
• ca-apy-aham → ca api aham

Context

I wish to perform the yaga acording to scriptural procedures. And I will have my desire fulfilled by the grace of the sage (Rsyasringa)".

The teaching

Desired ends are rightly pursued through śāstra-guided action and the support of realized spiritual power.

Ethical theme

Śrautadharma / sādhana-niṣṭhā

For your practice

Affirms niyama (rule-following) and śraddhā in competent spiritual guidance as supports for fruition.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Methodical, hopeful, faith-in-rite

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Śāstra
• Rāja-dharma
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga (ṛṣi-putra; implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is acting within śāstra: legitimate ends must be pursued through legitimate means, under the guidance of realized and qualified persons.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha states his intention to conduct the rite strictly according to scripture and expresses confidence in the efficacy associated with the sage’s son (Ṛśyaśṛṅga).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for scriptural authority and reliance on sanctified guidance rather than mere royal power.