Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 15

द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa

Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Devanagari script

सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम्।शान्तयश्चाभिवर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि।।।।

Transliteration

sarayvāś cottare tīre yajñabhūmir vidhīyatām | śāntayaś cābhivardhantāṃ yathākalpaṃ yathāvidhi ||

Translation

「サラユー河の北岸にヤジュニャの祭場を設けよ。さらに、儀軌（カルパ）と聖典の規定のとおり、鎮めと守護の諸儀礼をしかるべく増し行え。」

Word by Word

• sarayvāḥ: of the Sarayū (river)
• sarayvāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarayū (सरयू प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive Singular

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

• uttare: on the northern
• uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (उत्तर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular; qualifying 'tīre'

• tīre: bank/shore
• tīre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīra (तीर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative Singular

• yajñabhūmiḥ: sacrificial ground
• yajñabhūmiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + bhūmi (यज्ञ + भूमि, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Feminine, Nominative Singular

• vidhīyatām: let it be prepared/constructed
• vidhīyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa Singular; passive sense (√dhā with vi-): 'let it be arranged/made'

• śāntayaḥ: pacificatory rites
• śāntayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānti (शान्ति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Plural

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

• abhivardhantām: let (them) increase/prosper
• abhivardhantām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (वृध् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa Plural; with prefix abhi-

• yathākalpam: according to the prescribed ritual code
• yathākalpam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + kalpa (यथा + कल्प, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; adverbial: 'according to the ritual rule/kalpa'

• yathāvidhi: according to injunction
• yathāvidhi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + vidhi (यथा + विधि, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva; adverbial: 'according to rule'

Context

Let a sacrificial pavillion be constructed on the northern bank of Sarayu according to prescribed methods ordained in the 'kalpa' and other scriptures for the uninterrupted completion of the sacrifice.

Characters & Entities

• Sarayū (river)
• yajñabhūmi (sacrificial ground)

FAQs

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

Dharma is meticulous adherence to prescribed duty: sacred actions must be performed in the right place and in the right way, without improvisation that risks harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha directs the location and correct ritual setup for the sacrifice, emphasizing proper construction and protective rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for tradition and responsibility: the king insists on ‘yathākalpa, yathāvidhi’—doing things exactly as enjoined.