Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 22

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

कारितास्सर्व एवैते शास्त्रज्ञैर्यज्ञकोविदै:।शोभार्थं तस्य यज्ञस्य काञ्चनालङ्कृताऽभवन्।।।।

Transliteration

kāritāḥ sarva evāite śāstrajñair yajñakovidaiḥ |

śobhārthaṁ tasya yajñasya kāñcanālaṅkṛtā abhavan ||

Translation

这些祭柱全由通晓《圣典》（śāstra）且精于祭祀（yajña）之人制作；为增辉那场仪式的庄严光彩，又以黄金加以装饰。

Word by Word

• eka-viṃśati-yūpāḥ: twenty-one sacrificial posts
• eka-viṃśati-yūpāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + yūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; dvigu numeral compound ‘twenty-one posts’

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• eka-viṃśati-aratnayaḥ: measuring twenty-one aratnis
• eka-viṃśati-aratnayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + aratni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate adjective: ‘of twenty-one aratnis (in length)’

• vāsobhiḥ: with cloths
• vāsobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• eka-viṃśad-bhiḥ: with twenty-one (pieces)
• eka-viṃśad-bhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; numeral instrumental ‘by/with twenty-one (cloths)’

• eka-ekam: one for each
• eka-ekam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used distributively; adverbial accusative sense ‘one each’

• samalaṅkṛtāḥ: well adorned
• samalaṅkṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + alaṅkṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate adjective

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

• Śāstra
• Yajña

FAQs

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

Dharma values both correctness and reverent excellence: sacred works are entrusted to true experts, and offerings are made dignified—outer splendor grounded in inner rule-based integrity.

What is the narrative situation?

After preparing the sacrificial posts, experts complete them and ornament them with gold to honor the ceremony.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for expertise and reverence—supporting learned craftsmen/ritualists and offering the best within dharmic bounds.