Shloka 17

राजपूजाविधानम् / Royal Reception Protocols during Āśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः स तु तेजस्वी व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना । दीक्षां विवेश धर्मात्मा वाजिमेधाप्तये तत:,परम बुद्धिमान्‌ व्यासजीके ऐसा कहनेपर धर्मात्मा एवं तेजस्वी राजा युधिष्ठिरने अश्वमेध-यज्ञकी सिद्धिके लिये उसी दिन दीक्षा ग्रहण की

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ sa tu tejasvī vyāsenāmitabuddhinā | dīkṣāṃ viveśa dharmātmā vājimedhāptaye tataḥ ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—అమితబుద్ధి వ్యాసుడు ఇలా చెప్పగా, ధర్మాత్ముడూ తేజస్వియైన రాజు యుధిష్ఠిరుడు అశ్వమేధ యజ్ఞసిద్ధి కొరకు దీక్షలో ప్రవేశించెను.

Word by Word

इतिthus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

सःhe

तुbut/indeed

तेजस्वीsplendid, radiant

व्यासेनby Vyasa

अमितबुद्धिनाof immeasurable intellect

दीक्षाम्initiation (vow/rite)

विवेशentered/undertook

धर्मात्माrighteous-souled

वाजिमेधाप्तयेfor the attainment/accomplishment of the horse-sacrifice

ततःthen/thereupon

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Vyāsa

Dīkṣā (ritual initiation)

Vājimedha/Aśvamedha (horse sacrifice)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A righteous ruler acts under the counsel of true wisdom and undertakes solemn rites with disciplined commitment; dharma is upheld not merely by power, but by guided, conscientious action.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being instructed by the sage Vyāsa, the king formally begins the dīkṣā (consecratory initiation) required to perform the Aśvamedha, marking the start of the sacrificial undertaking.