Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 26

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

इष्टकाश्च यथान्यायं कारिताश्च प्रमाणत:।चितोऽग्निर्ब्राह्मणैस्तत्र कुशलैश्शुल्बकर्मणि ।।।।

Transliteration

iṣṭakāś ca yathā-nyāyaṃ kāritāś ca pramāṇataḥ | cito 'gnir brāhmaṇais tatra kuśalaiḥ śulba-karmaṇi ||

Translation

وہاں اینٹیں شاستر کے مطابق درست صورت اور ٹھیک پیمانے پر بنائی گئیں، اور آگنی کی چِتی (یَجْن ویدی) برہمنوں نے—جو شُلب کرم، یعنی رسیوں سے ناپ تول اور تعمیر کے علم میں ماہر تھے—ترتیب دی۔

Word by Word

• sa-cityaḥ: with the altar (properly formed)
• sa-cityaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + citya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘with the (fire-)altar/with the piled structure’ (describing the altar arrangement)

• rāja-siṃhasya: of the king-lion (Daśaratha)
• rāja-siṃhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; ‘of the lion among kings’

• sañcitaḥ: was constructed/piled up
• sañcitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + ci (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate ‘was piled/constructed’

• kuśalaiḥ: by skilled
• kuśalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying dvijaiḥ

• dvijaiḥ: Brahmins
• dvijaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• garuḍaḥ: (like) Garuḍa/eagle
• garuḍaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; metaphorical apposition to the altar

• rukma-pakṣaḥ: golden-winged
• rukma-pakṣaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rukma (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying garuḍaḥ

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphasis particle

• tri-guṇaḥ: threefold
• tri-guṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘threefold/with three strands’

• aṣṭādaśa-ātmakaḥ: consisting of eighteen (parts)
• aṣṭādaśa-ātmakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘consisting of eighteen’

Context

The sacrificial fire-place was constructed with bricks with standard measurement by brahmins who were experts in the art of measuring land with a string or single strand.

Characters & Entities

• agni (fire-altar)
• brāhmaṇa (priests)

FAQs

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

Dharma is precision and truthfulness in execution: sacred acts require correct knowledge, careful measurement, and competent hands—not negligence or improvisation.

What is the narrative situation?

The fire-altar and its brickwork are being constructed according to śāstric standards by trained ritual experts.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competence joined with discipline—learning applied faithfully in service of a dharmic rite.