Valmiki Ramayana 1.14.24: Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 24
अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः · Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha
Setting: अयोध्या (यज्ञभूमि)
विन्यस्ता विधिवत्सर्वे शिल्पिभिस्सुकृता दृढाः ।
अष्टाश्रयस्सर्व एव श्लक्ष्णरूपसमन्विताः ॥२४॥
vinyastā vidhivat sarve śilpibhiḥ sukṛtā dṛḍhāḥ |
aṣṭāśrayāḥ sarva eva ślakṣṇa-rūpa-samanvitāḥ ||24||
सब खंभों को सही तरीके से खड़ा किया। जो लोग बनाए थे वो एक्सपर्ट काम करने वाले थे। मज़बूत बनाया था सब को। आठ तरफ से कटा हुआ था, और साफ चमक रहा था। देखने में बिल्कुल ठीक था।
Sandhi Notes
- ācchāditās te = ācchāditāḥ + te
- puṣpairgandhaiśca = puṣpaiḥ + gandhaiḥ + ca
All those posts, strong with eight sides and finely finished surfaces, well-carved by sculptors were duly erected.
The teaching
धर्मकर्मे ‘विधिवत्’ इति प्रधानः; कौशलं, दृढता, परिष्कारः—एते यज्ञस्य बाह्य-शुद्धिं वहन्ति, अन्तः-श्रद्धां च दृढयन्ति।
- Ethical theme
- कर्म-धर्म / कर्तव्य-निपुणता
For your practice
साधनायां ‘दृढता’ (नियम-स्थैर्य) तथा ‘श्लक्ष्णता’ (वाणी-मनः-परिष्कार) इति गुण-द्वय-स्मरणम्।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Stable, polished, well-ordered
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Ritual precision
- Craftsmanship
- Satya
‘दृढ’ व्रत/निश्चयस्य बाह्य-प्रतिमा; श्लक्ष्णता = रजस्-तमस्-क्षयेन सत्त्व-प्राधान्य (चित्त-प्रसाद)
कठोपनिषद् ‘नायमात्मा…’—अन्तःकरण-प्रसाद/शुद्धि-आवश्यकता; बाह्य-शुद्धि तस्य सहकारी
शिल्पशास्त्र-परम्परा (अष्टाश्रि स्तम्भ-रचना); महाभारत (यज्ञ-सम्भार-स्थैर्य/विधि-वर्णन प्रसङ्गाः)
विधिवत्—श्रौत-कल्पसूत्र-नियम; शिल्पिनः—राजकार्ये शिल्प-धर्म
बालकाण्ड 1.14 (यज्ञ-परिकर-स्थापन-वर्णन)
अनुष्टुप्
Narrative
स्थिर-गम्भीर (दृढता-वर्णन)
FAQs
Dharma is shown as fidelity to prescribed standards (vidhi) and truthful workmanship—ritual objects must be made correctly, not merely ceremonially displayed.
The sacrificial posts for the rite are being installed; the text emphasizes their correct construction and placement.
Collective competence and sincerity—priests and artisans uphold the rite through skill and exactness.
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