Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 6

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

ऐन्द्रश्च विधिवद्दत्तो राजा चाभिषुतोऽनघ:।माध्यन्दिनं च सवनं प्रावर्तत यथाक्रमम्।।।।

Transliteration

aindraś ca vidhivad datto rājā cābhiṣuto ’naghaḥ | mādhyandinaṃ ca savanaṃ prāvartata yathākramam ||

Translation

വിധിപൂർവ്വം ഇന്ദ്രദേവന്റെ ഭാഗം അർപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; നിർമലമായ സോമരസം പിഴിഞ്ഞെടുത്തു. മധ്യാഹ്നസവനവും യഥാക്രമം ക്രമാനുസൃതമായി നടന്നു.

Word by Word

• ऐन्द्रः: Indra’s (portion/oblation)
• ऐन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aindra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (ऐन्द्रः हविः/भागः इत्यर्थे)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• विधिवत्: duly
• विधिवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• दत्तः: offered, given
• दत्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (ऐन्द्रः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अभिषुतः: (Soma) pressed/extracted
• अभिषुतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-षु (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (राजा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्—सोमरस-निष्पादनार्थं ‘pressed’)

• अनघः: faultless, pure
• अनघः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (राजा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• माध्यन्दिनम्: the midday (rite/pressing)
• माध्यन्दिनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhyandina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (मध्याह्न-सवनम्/कर्म)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• सवनम्: pressing/rite
• सवनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: savana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रावर्तत: took place, proceeded
• प्रावर्तत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यथाक्रमम्: in due order
• यथाक्रमम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathākramam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः ‘यथा क्रमः’ (adverb)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Soma (rājā)

FAQs

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

Dharma as adherence to vidhi: righteousness in ritual is shown through correct offerings and orderly procedure (yathākramam).

What is the narrative situation?

A procedural description of the sacrifice: offerings to Indra and the pressing of Soma occur, including the midday savana, in the correct sequence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and correctness in sacred duty—ritual specialists and patron uphold order without deviation.