Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 58

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

ऐन्द्रश्च विधिवद्दत्तो राजा चाभिषुतोऽनघः।

माध्यन्दिनं च सवनं प्रावर्तत यथाक्रमम्॥

Transliteration

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

Translation

ବିଧିମତେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଦେବଙ୍କ ଭାଗ ଅର୍ପିତ ହେଲା; ନିର୍ଦୋଷ ସୋମରସ ପୀଡିତ ହେଲା। ମଧ୍ୟାହ୍ନ ସବନ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯଥାକ୍ରମେ ଚାଲିଲା।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• ṛśyaśṛṅgam: Rishyaśṛṅga (name)
• ṛśyaśṛṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛśyaśṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; apposition to rājā

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• kulasya: of the lineage/family
• kulasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (षष्ठी, genitive), Eka-vacana

• vardhanam: increase/augmentation
• vardhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; object of kartum (to do)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Prathamā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana

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

• kartum: to do
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-pratyaya (तुमुन्), infinitive (तुमन्त/infinitive), ‘to do/make’

• arhasi: you ought/are fit
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष), Eka-vacana

• suvrata: O one of good vows
• suvrata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana-vibhakti (सम्बोधन), Eka-vacana; compound: su (सु, good) + vrata (व्रत, vow)

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.