Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 36

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

हयस्य यानि चाङ्गानि तानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणा:।अग्नौ प्रास्यन्ति विधिवत्समन्त्राष्षोडशर्त्विज:।।।।

Transliteration

hayasya yāni cāṅgāni tāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇāḥ |

agnau prāsyanti vidhivat samantrāḥ ṣoḍaśartvijaḥ ||

Translation

سولہ رِتوِج برہمنوں نے مناسب منتر پڑھتے ہوئے، ودھی کے مطابق گھوڑے کے سب اعضا اور حصّے آگ میں اہوتی کے طور پر نذر کیے، جیسا کہ یَجْن کی رسم چاہتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• हयस्य: of the horse
• हयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• यानि: which
• यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (qualifies aṅgāni)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• अङ्गानि: limbs
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; 'those' (refers to aṅgāni)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; 'all' (qualifies tāni)

• ब्राह्मणाः: brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रास्यन्ति: throw/offer
• प्रास्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु; to throw) + प्र- उपसर्ग
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधिवत्: duly
• विधिवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण = 'according to rule'

• स-मन्त्राः: with mantras
• स-मन्त्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सह-तत्पुरुष = 'with mantras' (qualifies ṛtvijaḥ)

• षोडश-ऋत्विजः: sixteen priests
• षोडश-ऋत्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (संख्या) + ṛtvij (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास = 'sixteen priests'

Context

The sixteen officiating priests (brahmins) offered all the horse's limbs with prayers as per the customs.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (brāhmaṇāḥ)
• Agni (sacrificial fire)
• Aśvamedha horse

FAQs

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

Dharma is collective responsibility performed with correct speech (mantra) and correct method (vidhi): ritual action is ethical when it is disciplined, authorized, and complete.

What is the narrative situation?

The priests complete a central offering stage of the Aśvamedha by consigning the horse’s portions into the consecrated fire with mantras.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ritual integrity and teamwork among the officiants—precision, completeness, and fidelity to injunction.