Valmiki Ramayana 1.8.14: Bala Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 14

अष्टमः सर्गः · Daśaratha Resolves on the Aśvamedha (Horse

Sacrifice) for Progeny

Devanagari script

सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां मे गुरूणां वचनादिह ।

समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वस्सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम् ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.8.14

Transliteration

sambhārāḥ sambhriyantāṁ me gurūṇāṁ vacanād iha |

samarthādhiṣṭhitaś cāśvaḥ sopādhyāyo vimucyatām ||14||

Translation

राजा ने कहा, 'मेरे गुरु लोगों ने जो कहा है, उसके हिसाब से यहाँ सब सामान जमा करो। जो घोड़ा यज्ञ के लिए है, उसको छोड़ दो। उसके साथ पंडित लोग भी रखना, और केपेबल लोग उसकी हिफाज़त करें।'

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Word by Word

• सम्भाराः: requisites/materials
• सम्भाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सम्भ्रियन्ताम्: let (them) be collected
• सम्भ्रियन्ताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरूणाम्: of the preceptors
• गुरूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वचनात्: on the instruction/word (of)
• वचनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'here')

• समर्थाधिष्ठितः: supervised by capable men
• समर्थाधिष्ठितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ + अधिष्ठित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: समर्थैः अधिष्ठितः = 'guarded/supervised by capable (men)'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अश्वः: the horse
• अश्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सोपाध्यायः: together with the priest
• सोपाध्यायः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + उपाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (सह-भाव): उपाध्यायेन सह = 'together with the officiating priest'

• विमुच्यताम्: let (it) be released
• विमुच्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

Context

"Let the articles required (for performing the sacrifice) be procured in accordance with the words of my spiritual preceptors and the horse be released under the protection of able men.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Aśvamedha horse
• Priests (Upādhyāya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is adherence to proper authority and procedure: the king orders that the sacrifice be executed according to the gurus’ injunctions, with competent protection and oversight.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha begins formal preparations for the Aśvamedha—gathering materials and releasing the consecrated horse under guard.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and accountability—he insists on qualified guardianship and fidelity to the preceptors’ directions.