Shloka 30

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

पशूनां त्रिशतं तत्र यूपेषु नियतं तदा।अश्वरत्नोत्तमं तस्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य च ।।।।

Transliteration

paśūnāṃ triśataṃ tatra yūpeṣu niyataṃ tadā | aśva-ratnottamaṃ tasya rājño daśarathasya ca ||

Translation

Noon, tatlong daang hayop ang itinali sa mga haliging panghandog; at gayundin ang pinakamainam na kabayo ng haring Daśaratha—hiyas sa lahat ng mga kabayo.

Word by Word

• पशूनाम्: of animals
• पशूनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• त्रिशतम्: three hundred
• त्रिशतम्: कर्म (कर्मपद/Acc) वा कर्तृ-सम्बन्ध (contextual count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशत (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + शत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-द्विगु-समास

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (स्थान/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• यूपेषु: on/at the sacrificial posts
• यूपेषु: अधिकरण (स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• नियतम्: bound/fastened
• नियतम्: कर्मणि-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + यम् (धातु) → नियत (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘bound/fastened’

• तदा: then
• तदा: काल-अधिकरण (time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अश्वरत्नोत्तमम्: the best prized horse
• अश्वरत्नोत्तमम्: कर्म (object; understood with ritual action)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व + रत्न + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (‘रत्नेषु उत्तमम्’ इति भावः) — ‘best excellent horse (as a prized one)’

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• दशरथस्य: of Daśaratha
• दशरथस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Context

Three hundred animals and the jewel of the horses (from the stables) belonging to king Dasaratha were bound to the sacrificial posts.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• yūpa (sacrificial posts)
• animals (paśu)
• horse (aśva)

FAQs

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

Dharma is the king’s public commitment to sanctioned duty: the rite is not casual but formally provisioned, showing resolve to follow a vowed path with visible accountability.

What is the narrative situation?

The sacrificial preparations intensify: numerous animals and Daśaratha’s finest horse are bound to the posts as part of the Aśvamedha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Royal resolve and willingness to bear the burdens of dharmic kingship through formal rites.