Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 1

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः — Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

पुन: प्राप्ते वसन्ते तु पूर्णस्संवत्सरोऽभवत्।प्रसवार्थं गतो यष्टुं हयमेधेन वीर्यवान्।।1.13.1।।

Transliteration

punaḥ prāpte vasante tu pūrṇaḥ saṃvatsaro 'bhavat | prasavārthaṃ gato yaṣṭuṃ hayamedhena vīryavān ||

Translation

春が再び巡り、満一年が過ぎたとき、勇猛なる王は子を求めて、アシュヴァメーダ（馬祀）を執り行うために進み出た。

Word by Word

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb: 'again'

• prāpte: on arrival (of)
• prāpte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (saptamī absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-āp (प्र + आप्) (धातु) → prāpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) 'prāpta'; Locative Singular (सप्तमी एकवचन), Neuter/Masculine; used in locative absolute with vasante: 'when spring had arrived'

• vasante: in spring
• vasante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasanta (वसन्त) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative Singular; with prāpte forms locative absolute

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात): contrast/emphasis

• pūrṇaḥ: completed
• pūrṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (पूर्ण) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; predicate adjective of saṃvatsaraḥ

• saṃvatsaraḥ: a year
• saṃvatsaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of abhavat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃvatsara (संवत्सर) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person Singular, Parasmaipada

• prasavārtham: for begetting sons
• prasavārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) (purpose adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prasava + artha (प्रसव + अर्थ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: 'for the purpose of begetting offspring'; accusative-form used adverbially

• gataḥ: having gone
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of vīryavān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (गम्) (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; with implied subject (the king): 'having gone'

• yaṣṭum: to perform sacrifice
• yaṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) (purpose of gataḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज्) (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्): 'to sacrifice/perform worship'

• hayamedhena: by the Aśvamedha
• hayamedhena: Karaṇa (करण) (means/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya + medha (हय + मेध) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ('horse-sacrifice'); Masculine/Neuter Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular

• vīryavān: valiant
• vīryavān: Karta (कर्ता) (subject, implied king)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya-vat (वीर्य + वत्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; possessor-suffix -वत्

Context

After completion of one year when spring returned, the valiant king (Dasaratha) entered the sacrificial pavilion to worship celestial beings for begetting sons.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• spring (vasanta)
• Aśvamedha (hayamedha)

FAQs

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

Dharma values order and patience: major undertakings are done at the proper time and with due preparation, not hurriedly.

What is the narrative situation?

A year passes; with the return of spring, Daśaratha proceeds to commence the Aśvamedha for the sake of progeny.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and disciplined commitment to a vowed course of action.