Shloka 16

अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha

Completion of the Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

यज बीजै: सहस्राक्ष त्रिवर्षपरमोषितै:

Transliteration

yaja bījaiḥ sahasrākṣa trivarṣa-paramoṣitaiḥ

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O Sahasrākṣa, perform the sacrifice using seeds that have been stored for as long as three years.” In context, the instruction underscores disciplined preparation and purity of means in ritual action—right performance depends not only on intent but also on properly obtained and duly matured resources.

Word by Word

• यज: sacrifice; perform worship
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज्
• Form: Loṭ, 2, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बीजैः: with seeds
• बीजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सहस्राक्ष: O thousand-eyed one (Indra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्रिवर्षपरमोषितैः: with (seeds) kept/stored for at most three years
• त्रिवर्षपरमोषितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिवर्ष-परम-उषित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• bīja (seeds/grains)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ritual and dharmic action require proper preparation and purity of materials; ethical correctness is expressed through disciplined adherence to prescribed means, not merely through intention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates an instruction addressed to Sahasrākṣa (Indra): to carry out a sacrifice using seeds/grains that have been stored and matured for up to three years, indicating careful ritual readiness.