Shloka 24

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

दर्भैस्समैस्समास्तीर्य विधिवन्मन्त्रपूर्वकम्।अग्निमादाय वेद्यां तु विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम्।।।।जुहावाग्नौ महातेजा वसिष्ठो भगवानृषि:।

Transliteration

darbhais samais samāstīrya vidhivan mantrapūrvakam |

agnim ādāya vedyāṃ tu vidhimantrapuraskṛtam ||

juhāva agnau mahātejā vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ || 1.73.24 ||

Translation

ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਮਾਨ ਦರ್ಭਾ ਵਿਛਾ ਕੇ ਮੰਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੇਦੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਅਗਨੀ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕੀਤੀ; ਫਿਰ ਨਿਯਤ ਮੰਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਹੇਠ ਮਹਾਤੇਜਸਵੀ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਵਸਿਸ਼ਠ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਅਗਨੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਹੁਤੀਆਂ ਅਰਪਿਤ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ।

Word by Word

दर्भैःwith darbha grass

समैःeven, equal-sized

समास्तीर्यhaving strewn evenly

विधिवत्according to rule

मन्त्रपूर्वकम्preceded by mantras

अग्निम्fire

आदायhaving taken/placed

वेद्याम्on the altar

तुindeed/and

विधि-मन्त्र-पुरस्कृतम्accompanied by prescribed rites and mantras

जुहावoffered (oblations)

अग्नौin the fire

महातेजाःof great splendor

वसिष्ठःVasiṣṭha

भगवान्venerable

ऋषिःsage

Context

Brilliant and worshipful rishi Vasishta chanted, mantras according to tradition, put the darbha grass of equal proportions around the altar, placed the fire on the altar, recitedthe mantras from the scriptures and offered oblations into the flame.

Characters & Entities

Vasiṣṭha

Agni (sacred fire)

Vedi (altar)

Darbha grass

Mantra

Homa (oblations)

FAQs

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

Dharma is adherence to sacred discipline: mantras and correctly prepared materials sanctify action, making the rite truthful, accountable, and socially binding.

What is the narrative situation?

The sacred fire is installed on the altar and the homa begins under Vasiṣṭha’s direction, marking the formal start of the marriage-sacrament.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s authoritative steadiness—he embodies the continuity of Vedic tradition and ensures the rite proceeds correctly.