Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 37

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

प्लक्षशाखासु यज्ञानामन्येषां क्रियते हवि:।अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य वैतसो भाग इष्यते।।।।

Transliteration

plakṣaśākhāsu yajñānām anyeṣāṃ kriyate haviḥ |

aśvamedhasya yajñasya vaitaso bhāga iṣyate ||

Translation

ଅନ୍ୟ ଯଜ୍ଞମାନେ ପ୍ଲକ୍ଷବୃକ୍ଷର ଶାଖାଦ୍ୱାରା ହବି ଅର୍ପଣ କରାଯାଏ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଅଶ୍ୱମେଧ ଯଜ୍ଞରେ ବୈତସ (କେନ୍/ବେତ)ର ଭାଗ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ ମନାଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• प्लक्ष-शाखासु: on/in Plakṣa branches
• प्लक्ष-शाखासु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śākhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्लक्षस्य शाखाः)

• यज्ञानाम्: of sacrifices
• यज्ञानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अन्येषाम्: of other
• अन्येषाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; 'of other' (qualifies yajñānām)

• क्रियते: is performed/made
• क्रियते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• हविः: oblation
• हविः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अश्वमेधस्य: of the Aśvamedha
• अश्वमेधस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva-medha (प्रातिपदिक: aśva + medha)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अश्वस्य मेधः)

• यज्ञस्य: of the sacrifice
• यज्ञस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वैतसः: cane/reed (vaitasa)
• वैतसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaitasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'made of cane/reed' (qualifies bhāgaḥ)

• भागः: portion
• भागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इष्यते: is approved/chosen
• इष्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु; to desire/choose)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे अर्थः = 'is approved/considered'

Context

In other sacrifices oblations are offered with branches of a plaksha tree but in Aswamedha a branch of cane creeper is chosen instead.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvamedha
• Havis (oblation)

FAQs

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

Dharma is context-sensitive rightness: different rites have different correct instruments, and righteousness lies in honoring the specific rule that fits the specific sacrifice.

What is the narrative situation?

The text notes a technical distinction in offerings/instruments between common sacrifices and the specialized Aśvamedha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for tradition and precision—knowing and applying the correct rule in the correct context.