Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 55

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

तत: प्रीतमना राजा प्राप्य यज्ञमनुत्तमम्।पापापहं स्वर्नयनं दुष्करं पार्थिवर्षभै:।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ prītamanā rājā prāpya yajñam anuttamam | pāpāpahaṃ svarnayanaṃ duṣkaraṃ pārthivarṣabhaiḥ ||

Translation

其后，国王心怀欢悦，既已圆满成就那无上祭祀——能除罪垢、引至天界，连最卓越的君王亦难以完成——便满心满足。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb ‘thereafter’

• prītamanāḥ: cheerful-minded
• prītamanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta + manas (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘with pleased mind’ (qualifies rājā)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāpya: having attained/accomplished
• prāpya: Kriyā (क्रिया) (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having obtained/attained (having accomplished)’

• yajñam: sacrifice
• yajñam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies yajñam

• pāpāpaham: removing sins
• pāpāpaham: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa + apaha (प्रातिपदिक; from apa-√han ‘remove’)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies yajñam: ‘sin-removing’

• svarnayanam: leading to heaven
• svarnayanam: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svar + nayana (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ‘leading to heaven’ (qualifies yajñam)

• duṣkaram: difficult to perform
• duṣkaram: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies yajñam: ‘hard to do’

• pārthivarṣabhaiḥ: by the best of kings
• pārthivarṣabhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-in-passive-like sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘by the best of kings/monarchs’ (agent/standard of comparison: hard for them)

Context

Sacrifice destroys sins. It leads to heaven. It is incapable of being done by other monarchs. King Dasaratha was very much pleased after performing this great sacrifice.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Yajña (Putreṣṭi context)
• Svarga (heaven, implied by svaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma as disciplined sacred action: properly performed yajña is portrayed as purifying (pāpāpaha) and spiritually elevating (svarnayana).

What is the narrative situation?

The narration summarizes the greatness of the completed sacrifice and Daśaratha’s inner joy after accomplishing it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance in righteous duty—Daśaratha completes a rite described as difficult even for eminent kings.