Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 35

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

धूमगन्धं वपायास्तु जिघ्रति स्म नराधिप:।यथाकालं यथान्यायं निर्णुदन्पापमात्मन:।।।।

Transliteration

dhūmagandhaṃ vapāyās tu jighrati sma narādhipaḥ |

yathākālaṃ yathānyāyaṃ nirṇudan pāpam ātmanaḥ ||

Translation

国王在适当之时、依正当仪则，嗅闻从 vapā 升起的芬芳烟气，由此按法驱除自身之罪。

Word by Word

• धूम-गन्धम्: smoke-fragrance
• धूम-गन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūma (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धूमस्य गन्धः)

• वपायाः: of the marrow/omentum
• वपायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक

• जिघ्रति: smells
• जिघ्रति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ghrā (धातु; to smell)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्म: (in past)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; भूतार्थे वर्तमान-क्रियायाः सूचक निपात (past narrative marker)

• नराधिपः: king
• नराधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नराणाम् अधिपः)

• यथा-कालम्: at the proper time
• यथा-कालम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् = 'at the proper time'

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to rule
• यथा-न्यायम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् = 'according to rule/justice'

• निर्णुदन्: driving away
• निर्णुदन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirṇudan (कृदन्त; √nud (धातु) + निर्- उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) = 'driving away' (qualifies narādhipaḥ)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of himself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Context

The king at appropriate time and in agreement with the scriptures inhaled the odour of the smoke (from the burnt marrow) and absolved himself of his sins.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is acting ‘in due time and due manner’ (yathākāla, yathānyāya): even purification is not arbitrary but governed by disciplined conformity to rightful procedure.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha performs a prescribed act within the Aśvamedha—receiving the smoke-scent from the prepared offering as part of ritual expiation/purification.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s rule-bound piety: he seeks purification through lawful means rather than impulse.