Shloka 49

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

ऋत्विजश्च ततस्सर्वे प्रददुस्सहिता वसु।ऋश्यशृङ्गाय मुनये वसिष्ठाय च धीमते।।।।

Transliteration

ṛtvijaś ca tataḥ sarve pradaduḥ sahitā vasu |

ṛśyaśṛṅgāya munaye vasiṣṭhāya ca dhīmate ||

Translation

Pagkaraan, ang lahat ng mga pari, na nagkakaisa, ay naghandog ng yaong kayamanan sa muning si Ṛśyaśṛṅga at sa marunong na si Vasiṣṭha.

Word by Word

• gavām: of cows
• gavām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śata-sahasrāṇi: hundred-thousands
• śata-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral compound ‘hundred-thousands’

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral (संख्या), indeclinable-like here; qualifying śatasahasrāṇi

• tebhyaḥ: to them
• tebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Puruṣa: Prathama (प्रथम), Vachana: Eka (एकवचन)

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śata-koṭīḥ: hundred crores
• śata-koṭīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘hundred crores’

• suvarṇasya: of gold
• suvarṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rajatasya: of silver
• rajatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• catur-guṇam: four times (as much)
• catur-guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying (rajatasya) quantity: ‘fourfold’

Context

Lord of men, the king having been thus addressed by brahmins who were wellversed in the Vedas, bestowed on them ten hundred thousand cows, a hundred crore of gold coins and four times as much in silver coins.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛtvij (priests)
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• Vasiṣṭha
• Wealth (Vasu)

FAQs

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

Respect for spiritual leadership: wealth obtained through ritual distribution is further offered to eminent sages, reinforcing the dharmic hierarchy of learning and guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving gifts from the king, the priests collectively pass the wealth onward to leading sages associated with the rite.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and non-attachment—priests redirect wealth toward revered teachers rather than hoarding it.