Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 8
द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa
Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice
मम लालप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थं नास्ति वै सुखम्।तदर्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामीति मतिर्मम।।।।
mama lālapyamānasya putrārthaṃ nāsti vai sukham | tadarthaṃ hayamedhena yakṣyāmīti matir mama ||
میں بیٹے کی آرزو میں جلتا رہتا ہوں؛ سچ تو یہ ہے کہ مجھے کوئی سکھ نہیں۔ اسی لیے میرا پکا ارادہ ہے کہ میں اَشوَمیَدھ یَجْن کروں گا۔
"There is no happiness for me. I am overwhelmed with grief as I have no son. Therefore, I intend to perform a horse-sacrifice.
FAQs
Satya in self-disclosure and dharmic channeling of desire: Daśaratha admits his suffering honestly and seeks a lawful remedy through sanctioned ritual rather than adharma.
Daśaratha explains to the priests why he wishes to undertake the Aśvamedha—his grief at being without an heir.
Truthfulness and self-restraint: he does not hide his motive, yet commits to a dharmically regulated course.