Shloka 9

द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa

Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा।ऋषिपुत्रप्रभावेन कामान्प्राप्स्यामि चाप्यहम्।।।।

Transliteration

tad ahaṃ yaṣṭum icchāmi śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā | ṛṣiputraprabhāvena kāmān prāpsyāmi cāpy aham ||

Translation

“因此我愿依照圣典（沙斯特拉）所示之仪轨而行此祭；并凭借仙人之子的威德与加持，我亦将得遂所愿。”

Word by Word

• tat: therefore/for that reason
• tat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), discourse particle; sense: 'therefore/for that reason'

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• yaṣṭum: to perform a sacrifice
• yaṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुनन्त), 'to sacrifice/perform worship'

• icchāmi: I desire/wish
• icchāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)

• śāstradṛṣṭena: as prescribed by scripture
• śāstradṛṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra + dṛṣṭa (शास्त्र + दृष्ट, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) agreeing with 'karmaṇā'

• karmaṇā: by the act/rite
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (कर्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• ṛṣiputraprabhāvena: by the power/grace of the sage’s son
• ṛṣiputraprabhāvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi + putra + prabhāva (ऋषि + पुत्र + प्रभाव, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• kāmān: desired objects/boons
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (काम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• prāpsyāmi: I shall obtain
• prāpsyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (लुट्, Periphrastic Future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन)

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

• api: also/indeed
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अपि अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), additive/emphatic

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन) (repetition for emphasis)

Context

I wish to perform the yaga acording to scriptural procedures. And I will have my desire fulfilled by the grace of the sage (Rsyasringa)".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga (ṛṣi-putra; implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is acting within śāstra: legitimate ends must be pursued through legitimate means, under the guidance of realized and qualified persons.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha states his intention to conduct the rite strictly according to scripture and expresses confidence in the efficacy associated with the sage’s son (Ṛśyaśṛṅga).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for scriptural authority and reliance on sanctified guidance rather than mere royal power.