Shloka 18

राजपूजाविधानम् / Royal Reception Protocols during Āśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

ततो यज्ञ महाबाहुवजिमेध॑ महाक्रतुम्‌ । बद्धन्नदक्षिणं राजा सर्वकामगुणान्वितम्‌,फिर उन महाबाहु नरेशने बहुत-से अन्नकी दक्षिणासे युक्त तथा सम्पूर्ण कामना और गुणोंसे सम्पन्न उस अश्वमेध नामक महायज्ञका अनुष्ठान आरम्भ कर दिया

Transliteration

tato yajñaṃ mahābāhur aśvamedhaṃ mahākratum | baddhvā na dakṣiṇaṃ rājā sarvakāmagunānvitam ||

Translation

అనంతరం ఆ మహాబాహు రాజు, బహు దక్షిణలను సమకూర్చి, సమస్త కామ్యఫలములు మరియు గుణములతో పరిపూర్ణమైన అశ్వమేధమనే మహాక్రతువును ఆరంభించెను.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

यज्ञम्sacrifice, ritual

महाबाहुःthe mighty-armed (one)

अश्वमेधम्the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)

महाक्रतुम्the great rite

बद्ध्वाhaving arranged / having bound (i.e., having set up)

नnot

दक्षिणम्priestly fee, sacrificial gift (dakṣiṇā)

राजाthe king

सर्वकामगुणान्वितम्endowed with all desired things and virtues

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaishampayana (speaker)

the king (rājā)

Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)

yajña (sacrifice)

dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts)

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?

The verse highlights dharmic kingship: a ruler should pursue sovereignty and prosperity through lawful rites and, crucially, through generosity (dakṣiṇā). The ethical emphasis is that public power is legitimized by adherence to sacred order and by giving that sustains religious and social institutions.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaishampayana narrates that the king begins the grand Aśvamedha sacrifice. He has already arranged ample ritual gifts (dakṣiṇā), and the rite is described as complete in desired aims and virtues—signaling a formally proper, well-endowed imperial ceremony.