Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.37: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 37

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः · Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

ततो वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमाः ।

ऋश्यशृङ्गं पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञकर्मारभन् तदा ॥३७॥

यज्ञवाटगतास्सर्वे यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि ।

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Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.13.37

Transliteration

tato vasiṣṭhapramukhāssarva eva dvijottamāḥ |

ṛśyaśṛṅgaṃ puraskṛtya yajñakarmārabhan tadā ||37||

yajñavāṭagatāssarve yathāśāstraṃ yathāvidhi |

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Translation

അനന്തരം വസിഷ്ഠനെ മുൻപിൽ നിർത്തി എല്ലാ ദ്വിജോത്തമരും, ഋശ്യശൃംഗനെ പുരസ്കരിച്ച്, യജ്ഞവാടത്തിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ച്, ശാസ്ത്രാനുസാരവും വിധിപ്രകാരംയും യജ്ഞകർമ്മം ആരംഭിച്ചു.

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Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-प्रभव (adverb) ‘अनन्तरम्/तदनन्तरम्’

• वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः: with Vasiṣṭha as foremost
• वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसिष्ठ-प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘वसिष्ठः प्रमुखः येषाम्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (द्विजोत्तमाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• द्विजोत्तमाः: best of the twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजोत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभावः) ‘द्विजेषु उत्तमाः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ऋश्यशृङ्गम्: Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• ऋश्यशृङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋश्यशृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• पुरस्कृत्य: having placed in front; led by
• पुरस्कृत्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस्-कृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः (gerund/absolutive); अर्थः—‘पुरतः कृत्वा/अग्रे कृत्वा’

• यज्ञकर्म: sacrificial rites
• यज्ञकर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘यज्ञस्य कर्म’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आरभन्: began
• आरभन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Context

At that moment the best of brahmins led by Vasishta and headed by Rsyasringa, entered the sacrificial enclosure and began the sacrifice in accordance with traditions and scriptural stipulations.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে বালকাণ্ডে ত্রযোদশস্সর্গ:৷৷Thus ends the thirteenth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• brāhmaṇas (dvijottamāḥ)
• yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma is adherence to śāstra and vidhi: sacred acts must be performed with procedural integrity, showing satya as fidelity to revealed and traditional standards.

What is the narrative situation?

The officiating priests enter the yajña enclosure and formally commence the sacrifice, with Vasiṣṭha leading and Ṛśyaśṛṅga honored as principal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ritual discipline and reverence for sacred order—careful compliance with prescribed methods rather than improvisation.