Shloka 13

द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa

Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तत: प्रीतोऽभवद्राजा श्रुत्वा तद्विजभाषितम्।अमात्यांश्चाब्रवीद्राजा हर्षेणेदं शुभाक्षरम्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ prīto ’bhavad rājā śrutvā tad dvijabhāṣitam, amātyāṃś cābravīd rājā harṣeṇedaṃ śubhākṣaram.

Translation

国王听闻婆罗门们的话，心生欢喜；他满怀喜悦，以吉祥之言对诸大臣说道。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततः अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• prītaḥ: pleased
• prītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (प्रीत प्रातिपदिक; √prī)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; predicate of 'rājā'

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, Imperfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa Singular

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; qualifying 'bhāṣitam'

• dvijabhāṣitam: the brahmin’s utterance
• dvijabhāṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + bhāṣita (द्विज + भाषित, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'spoken by a brahmin'; Neuter, Accusative Singular

• amātyān: ministers
• amātyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (अमात्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Plural

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

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa Singular

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular (repeated)

• harṣeṇa: with joy
• harṣeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harṣa (हर्ष प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; qualifying 'śubhākṣaram'

• śubhākṣaram: auspicious words
• śubhākṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha + akṣara (शुभ + अक्षर, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) 'auspicious-words/letters'; Neuter, Accusative Singular; object of 'abravīt' (i.e., spoke these auspicious words)

Context

Pleased to hear the brahmins' words, the king happily addressed his ministers with auspicious words:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• brāhmaṇas (dvijas)

FAQs

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

Dharma is translated into action through governance: after receiving righteous assurance, the king responsibly moves to administrative execution by instructing his ministers.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, encouraged by the priests’ words, turns to his ministers to proceed with the next steps of the sacrificial undertaking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership and orderly administration—Daśaratha channels joy into disciplined, auspicious, and purposeful command.