Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 48

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तो नरपतिर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगै:।।1.14.47।।गवां शतसहस्राणि दश तेभ्यो ददौ नृप:। 4 शतकोटीस्सुवर्णस्य रजतस्य चतुर्गुणम् ।।1.14.48।।

Transliteration

evam ukto narapatir brāhmaṇair vedapāragaiḥ |

gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi daśa tebhyo dadau nṛpaḥ |

śatakoṭīs suvarṇasya rajatasya caturguṇam ||

Translation

国王听罢这些通达吠陀的婆罗门之言，便赐予他们一百万头牛、一百俱胝黄金，以及四倍于此数的白银。

Word by Word

• sa-cityaḥ: the sacrificial altar
• sa-cityaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय ‘with’) + citya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘altar with (proper) layers/arrangement’

• rāja-siṃhasya: of the lion among kings
• rāja-siṃhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sañcitaḥ: was built/arranged
• sañcitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Result state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+√ci (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); passive sense ‘was piled/constructed’

• kuśalaiḥ: by skilled
• kuśalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa of dvijaiḥ

• dvijaiḥ: by Brahmins
• dvijaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• garuḍaḥ: (like) Garuḍa/eagle
• garuḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); upamāna/apposition to sacityaḥ

• rukma-pakṣaḥ: golden-winged
• rukma-pakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rukma (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘having golden wings’

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• triguṇaḥ: threefold
• triguṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘threefold/with three layers’

• aṣṭādaśa-ātmakaḥ: consisting of eighteen
• aṣṭādaśa-ātmakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭādaśa (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘consisting of eighteen’

Context

Lord of men, the king having been thus addressed by brahmins who were well-versed in the Vedas, bestowed on them ten hundred thousand cows, a hundred crore of gold coins and four times as much in silver coins.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Brāhmaṇas
• Veda
• Cows
• Gold
• Silver

FAQs

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

Dharma is fulfilled through generous, proportionate dakṣiṇā: the king honors sacred labor and maintains social-spiritual reciprocity between ruler and ritual specialists.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha responds to the priests’ request for substitute gifts by granting vast quantities of cattle and precious metals.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Royal generosity and responsiveness—Daśaratha gives promptly and abundantly rather than bargaining or delaying.