Shloka 1
द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa
Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice
तत: काले बहुतिथे कस्मिंश्चित्सुमनोहरे।वसन्ते समनुप्राप्ते राज्ञो यष्टुं मनोऽभवत्।।।।
tataḥ kāle bahutithe kasmiṃścit sumanohare, vasante samanuprāpte rājño yaṣṭuṃ mano ’bhavat.
时日久远之后，在某个令人心悦的时节，当春天来临之际，国王心中生起了举行祭祀（yajña）的念头。
After a long time, at the advent of charming spring a desire arose in the mind of the king (Dasaratha) to perform the sacrifice.
FAQs
Dharma includes acting at an appropriate time (kāla): the narrative marks auspicious timing and deliberate intention rather than rash action.
The story transitions to the period when Daśaratha’s resolve to conduct the sacrifice becomes active, aligned with the arrival of spring.
Purposeful resolve—Daśaratha’s sustained commitment to a dharmic solution for his problem.