Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.3: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 3

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः · Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

यज्ञो मे क्रियतां ब्रह्मन्यथोक्तं मुनिपुङ्गव ।

यथा न विघ्नः क्रियते यज्ञाङ्गेषु विधीयताम् ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.13.3

Transliteration

yajño me kriyatāṃ brahmanyathoktaṃ munipuṅgava |

yathā na vighnaḥ kriyate yajñāṅgeṣu vidhīyatām ||3||

Translation

اے مُنیوں میں سے شریف، اے برہمن، یجں اس طرح انجام پذیر ہو جیسا کہ کہا گیا ہے، ایسے طریقے سے کہ یجں کے اعضاء میں کوئی رکاوٹ پیدا نہ ہو۔

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Word by Word

• yajñaḥ: sacrifice
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (यज्ञ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (logical object of kriyatām: 'let the sacrifice be done')

• me: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (अस्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular: enclitic 'me' = 'of me/my'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (possessor)

• kriyatām: let (it) be performed
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person Singular, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), passive sense: 'let it be done/performed'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• brahman: O Brahman
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• yathoktam: as prescribed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + ukta (यथा + उक्त) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: 'as stated/according to what is said'; adverbial use
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• munipuṅgava: O foremost of sages
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + puṅgava (मुनि + पुङ्गव) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ('bull/foremost among sages'); Masculine Vocative Singular
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• yathā: so that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction/adverb: 'so that/in such a way that'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (clause linker)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle (निषेध)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (negator)

• vighnaḥ: obstruction
• Type: Noun
• Root: vighna (विघ्न) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of kriyate)

• kriyate: occurs/is caused
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person Singular, Ātmanepada; passive/impersonal sense: 'is made/occurs'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• yajñāṅgeṣu: in the parts of the sacrifice
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + aṅga (यज्ञ + अङ्ग) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ('limbs/parts of sacrifice'); Neuter Locative Plural
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (locus: 'in the sacrificial requisites')
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• vidhīyatām: let (it) be arranged
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dhā (वि + धा) (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person Singular, Ātmanepada, passive sense: 'let it be arranged/provided'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• yathā + uktam → yathoktam
• yajña + aṅgeṣu → yajñāṅgeṣu

Context

"O foremost among ascetics O brahman, may the sacrifice be performed according to tradition in such a manner that the sacrifice is performed unhindered.

The teaching

The king seeks to perform yajna according to tradition (yathoktam), showing proper deference to brahmin authority and established ritual procedure.

Ethical theme

Raja dharma

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Solemn, reverent, ritualistic

Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual
• Kingly Duty
• Guru-Shishya Relationship

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Dasaratha

FAQs

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

The verse demonstrates the Dharma of a king seeking progeny through prescribed Vedic rituals, showing proper respect for spiritual authority and adherence to tradition. It exemplifies the principle of approaching qualified spiritual guides for important life endeavors.

What is the narrative situation?

King Dasaratha, after completing one year of preparation, enters the sacrificial pavilion to conduct the Putrakameshti sacrifice for begetting sons. He humbly requests Sage Vasishta, his chief priest and spiritual guide, to ensure the sacrifice is performed without obstacles according to tradition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of humility and proper deference to spiritual authority is emphasized. Despite being a powerful king, Dasaratha approaches the sage with respect, acknowledging his own limitations and seeking the sage's expertise for the sacred ritual.