Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 38

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

त्र्यहोऽश्वमेधस्सङ्ख्यात: कल्पसूत्रेण ब्राह्मणै:। 37चतुष्टोममहस्तस्य प्रथमं परिकल्पितम्।।।।

Transliteration

tryaho ’śvamedhaḥ saṅkhyātaḥ kalpasūtreṇa brāhmaṇaiḥ |

catuṣṭomam ahas tasya prathamaṃ parikalpitam ||

Translation

برہمنوں کے فہم کے مطابق کَلپ سُوتر میں اشومیدھ کو تین دن کا یَجْن شمار کیا گیا ہے؛ اور اس کا پہلا دن چتُشٹوم کے طور پر مقرر کیا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• त्र्यहः: three-day
• त्र्यहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri-aha (प्रातिपदिक: tri + aha)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु = 'three-day (duration)' (qualifies aśvamedhaḥ)

• अश्वमेधः: Aśvamedha sacrifice
• अश्वमेधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva-medha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सङ्ख्यातः: is reckoned
• सङ्ख्यातः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkhyāta (कृदन्त; √khyā (धातु) + सम्-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) = 'is reckoned/counted'

• कल्पसूत्रेण: by/according to the Kalpa-sūtra
• कल्पसूत्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa-sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = 'Kalpa-sūtra'

• ब्राह्मणैः: by brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• चतुष्टोम-महः: the Chatuṣṭoma day
• चतुष्टोम-महः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuṣṭoma (प्रातिपदिक) + mahas/ahaḥ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = 'Chatuṣṭoma-day/rite'

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'first' (predicate/qualifier)

• परिकल्पितम्: was arranged
• परिकल्पितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parikalpita (कृदन्त; √kḷp (धातु) + परि-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) = 'arranged/planned'

Context

According to Kalpa sutra, aswamedha in conducted for three days. In the first day, chatushtoma is arranged.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvamedha
• Brahmins

FAQs

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

Dharma is adherence to authoritative tradition (Kalpa): sacred action is structured, time-bound, and validated by received textual rule.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse outlines the Aśvamedha’s three-day framework and specifies the first day’s principal arrangement (Catuṣṭoma).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Scholarly fidelity and orderly execution—virtues of the ritual specialists who preserve and apply the tradition.