Valmiki Ramayana 1.14.20-21: Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shlokas 20-21
अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः · Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha
Setting: अयोध्या (यज्ञभूमि/यज्ञशाला)
प्राप्ते यूपोच्छ्रये तस्मिन्षड्बैल्वाः खादिरास्तथा ।
तावन्तो बिल्वसहिताः पर्णिनश्च तथापरे ॥२०॥
श्लेष्मातकमयस्त्वेको देवदारुमयस्तथा ।
द्वावेव विहितौ तत्र बाहुव्यस्तपरिग्रहौ ॥२१॥
prāpte yūpocchraye tasmin ṣaḍbailvāḥ khādirās tathā |
tāvanto bilvasahitāḥ parṇinaś ca tathāpare ||20||
śleṣmātakamayas tv eko devadārumayas tathā |
dvāv eva vihitau tatra bāhuvyastaparigrahau ||21||
जब यग्य के लकड़ी के खंभों को खड़ा करना का टाइम आया, तोह छे बिल्व की लकड़ी से बनाए। और छे खदिरा की लकड़ी से। इतने ही और भी थे, बिल्व के साथ साथ। कुछ और लकड़ी का भी यूज़ हुआ। एक खंभा श्लेष्मातक लकड़ी का था। और दो देवदारु लकड़ी से बनाए थे। सब खंभों के बीच में दो हाथ की जगह छोड़ी थी।
Sandhi Notes
- yūpocchraye = yūpa + ucchraye
- tasminṣaḍbailvāḥ = tasmin + ṣaṭ + bailvāḥ
- khādirāstathā = khādirāḥ + tathā
- parṇinaśca = parṇinaḥ + ca
- tathāpare = tathā + apare
- mayastvēko = mayaḥ + tu + ekaḥ
- tracts treat prāpte...tasmin as locative-absolute style framing
When the time came to erect sacrificial posts, six posts each made of bilva and khadira wood and many made of parni wood along, one of sleshmataka and two of devadaru wood, with a distance of two outstretched hands between them were erected.
The teaching
धर्मकर्मे सूक्ष्म-विधि-पालनम्—द्रव्य-विशेषः, संख्या, मापनं—एतेन यज्ञस्य सिद्धिः।
- Ethical theme
- कर्म-धर्म / विधि-निष्ठा
For your practice
साधनायां ‘सूक्ष्मता’—नियम, मितता, क्रम—इति भावः; बाह्य-क्रमः अन्तः-एकाग्रतां पोषयति।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Ritual-precise, ornate, auspicious
Themes
- Dharma
- Vedic Ritual
- Material Culture
- Itihasa
- Ritual Precision
कर्मकाण्डे ‘नियत-कर्म’ इति शुद्धि-हेतुः; बाह्य-व्यवस्था अन्तःकरण-एकाग्रतायाः साधनम्
तैत्तिरीयोपनिषद् (यज्ञ-दान-तपः-प्रधानता) तथा ‘ऋतं च सत्यं च’ इति नियम-प्रतिष्ठा
श्रौतसूत्र-परम्परा (यूप-निर्माण/स्थापन-विधि); महाभारत अनुशासन पर्व (यज्ञद्रव्य-विनियोग-वर्णन)
वेदिक यज्ञ-परिकर (यूप, वेदि, द्रव्य); वनस्पति-प्रतीकत्व (बिल्व-शिव/देवता-सम्बन्ध, खादिर-यज्ञोपयोग)
बालकाण्ड 1.14-1.15 (पुत्रेष्टि-यज्ञस्य सामग्री-विस्तार)
अनुष्टुप्
Narrative
उदात्त-प्रधान (वर्णनात्मक, गणना-स्पष्टता)
FAQs
Dharma is precision and fidelity in sacred action: even materials and measurements are regulated, showing that righteousness includes careful, truthful adherence to prescribed standards.
The yajña advances to the stage of erecting yūpa posts; the text inventories woods and spacing, highlighting ritual exactness.
Reverence expressed through meticulous order—careful preparation as a form of integrity in worship and public duty.
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