Shloka 36

Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha

Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधं क्रतुवरं नरमेधं तथैव च

Transliteration

aśvamedhaṃ kratuvaraṃ naramedhaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：“（他举行了）阿湿婆梅陀祭（Aśvamedha），诸祭之最胜；并且也（举行了）那罗梅陀祭（Naramedha）。”此句唤起史诗对王权借宏大祭仪而彰显的关切，同时也暗示了围绕极端祭祀理想与达摩（dharma）界限之间的伦理张力。

Word by Word

• अश्वमेधम्: the horse-sacrifice
• अश्वमेधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्रतुवरम्: the best sacrifice (as an epithet)
• क्रतुवरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रतुवर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नरमेधम्: the man-sacrifice
• नरमेधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरमेध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: thus; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed; just; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Aśvamedha
• Naramedha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how kingship is portrayed through great sacrificial rites, while implicitly raising dharmic questions about the moral boundaries of ritual power—especially when rites are described in extreme terms.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is listing major sacrifices performed—specifically the Aśvamedha, praised as a supreme royal rite, and additionally the Naramedha—within a broader account of ritual acts and their significance.