Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 21

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

प्राप्ते यूपोच्छ्रये तस्मिन्षड्बैल्वा: खादिरास्तथा।तावन्तो बिल्वसहिता: पर्णिनश्च तथापरे।।1.14.20।।श्लेष्मातकमयस्त्वेको देवदारुमयस्तथा।द्वावेव विहितौ तत्र बाहुव्यस्तपरिग्रहौ।।1.14.21।।

Transliteration

prāpte yūpocchraye tasmin ṣaḍbailvāḥ khādirās tathā |

tāvanto bilvasahitāḥ parṇinaś ca tathāpare ||

śleṣmātakamayas tv eko devadārumayas tathā |

dvāv eva vihitau tatra bāhuvyastaparigrahau ||

Translation

Đến lúc dựng các trụ tế (yūpa), người ta dựng sáu trụ bằng gỗ bilva, lại sáu trụ bằng gỗ khadira; cũng bấy nhiêu trụ khác kèm bilva, và những trụ khác nữa bằng gỗ parṇi. Có một trụ bằng gỗ śleṣmātaka, và hai trụ bằng gỗ devadāru; tại đó chúng được đặt theo khoảng cách đo bằng hai cánh tay dang rộng.

Word by Word

• kāritāḥ: were made/constructed
• kāritāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Causative PPP (णिच् + क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘having been caused to be made’

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifying ete

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

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; pronoun for the posts

• śāstra-jñaiḥ: by the knowers of the scriptures
• śāstra-jñaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana

• yajña-kovidaiḥ: by those skilled in sacrifice
• yajña-kovidaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• śobhā-artham: for adornment/beauty
• śobhā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śobhā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; purpose sense ‘for the sake of beauty’

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• yajñasya: of the sacrifice
• yajñasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• kāñcana-alaṅkṛtāḥ: adorned with gold
• kāñcana-alaṅkṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + alaṅkṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate adjective

• abhavan: became/were
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, Imperfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

Context

When the time came to erect sacrificial posts, six posts each made of bilva and khadira wood and many made of parni wood along, one of sleshmataka and two of devadaru wood, with a distance of two outstretched hands between them were erected.

Characters & Entities

• Yūpa (sacrificial post)
• Bilva (wood/tree)

FAQs

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

Dharma is precision and fidelity in sacred action: even materials and measurements are regulated, showing that righteousness includes careful, truthful adherence to prescribed standards.

What is the narrative situation?

The yajña advances to the stage of erecting yūpa posts; the text inventories woods and spacing, highlighting ritual exactness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence expressed through meticulous order—careful preparation as a form of integrity in worship and public duty.