Shloka 9

Devanagari script

प्रस्थाप्यन्तां हि विद्वांसो ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगा: । वाजिमेधार्थसिद्धयर्थ देशं पश्यन्तु यज्ञियम्‌,“अतः वेदके पारंगत दिद्वान्‌ ब्राह्मणोंको भेजना चाहिये कि वे अश्वमेध-यज्ञकी सिद्धिके लिये उपयुक्त स्थान देखें”

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

prasthāpyantāṃ hi vidvāṃso brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ |

vājimedhārthasiddhyarthaṃ deśaṃ paśyantu yajñiyam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Let the learned Brāhmaṇas, who have mastered the Vedas, be dispatched. For the successful accomplishment of the Aśvamedha sacrifice, let them examine and identify a land that is fit and proper for the rite.”

Word by Word

प्रस्थाप्यन्ताम्let (them) be sent forth / dispatched

हिindeed / for

विद्वांसःlearned (men)

ब्राह्मणाःBrahmins

वेदपारगाःversed in the Vedas (lit. having gone to the far shore of the Veda)

वाजिमेधार्थसिद्ध्यर्थम्for the accomplishment of the purpose of the Aśvamedha

देशम्place / region

पश्यन्तुlet them see / examine

यज्ञियम्fit for sacrifice / sacrificial

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Brāhmaṇas

Vedas

Aśvamedha (Vājimedha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Major rites should be undertaken with due procedure and competent guidance: Veda-trained Brāhmaṇas are to be entrusted with assessing ritual suitability, emphasizing dharmic order, expertise, and careful preparation rather than haste or mere royal will.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker instructs that learned Vedic Brāhmaṇas be sent out to inspect and select an appropriate location for the successful performance of the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice), a key royal rite requiring a properly qualified sacrificial ground.