Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 11

द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa

Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ऋष्यशृङ्गपुरोगाश्च प्रत्यूचुर्नृपतिं तदा।सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्।।।।

Transliteration

ṛśyaśṛṅgapurogāś ca pratyūcur nṛpatiṃ tadā, sambhārāḥ sambhriyantāṃ te turagaś ca vimucyatām.

Translation

そのとき、リシュヤシュリンガ（Ṛśyaśṛṅga）を先頭とする祭司たちは王に答えた。「供犠の備えを整え、儀礼の馬を放ちなさい。」

Word by Word

• ṛṣyaśṛṅgapurogāḥ: those led by Ṛṣyaśṛṅga
• ṛṣyaśṛṅgapurogāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣyaśṛṅga + puroga (ऋष्यशृङ्ग + पुरोग, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'having Ṛṣyaśṛṅga in front/leader'; Masculine, Nominative Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• pratyūcuḥ: replied
• pratyūcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa Plural; with prefix prati- (प्रति)

• nṛpatim: to the king
• nṛpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (नृपति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (तदा अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• sambhārāḥ: materials/implements
• sambhārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sambhāra (सम्भार प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural

• sambhriyantām: let (them) be procured/collected
• sambhriyantām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (भृ धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, Imperative), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa Plural; with prefix sam- (सम्); passive/impersonal sense: 'let them be collected'

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular (enclitic)

• turagaḥ: the horse
• turagaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turaga (तुरग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vimucyatām: let (it) be released
• vimucyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (मुच् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, Imperative), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa Singular; with prefix vi- (वि); passive sense: 'let it be released'

Context

The priests led by Rsyasringa replied to the king, saying, "Let the sacrificial articles be procured and your sacrificial horse released."

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• priests (ṛtvijas)
• turaga (sacrificial horse)

FAQs

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

Dharma is order and correctness in sacred action: the priests stress proper preparation and procedure, implying that righteous ends require disciplined means.

What is the narrative situation?

The officiants give practical instructions to begin the yajña: collect materials and release the consecrated horse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s ritual competence and leadership—guiding the king in a regulated, dharma-aligned process.