Shloka 16

अष्टमः सर्गः

Daśaratha Resolves on the Aśvamedha (Horse-Sacrifice) for Progeny

Devanagari script

शक्य: प्राप्तुमयं यज्ञस्सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता।नापराधो भवेत्कष्टो यद्यस्मिन्क्रतुसत्तमे।।।।

Transliteration

śakyaḥ prāptum ayaṁ yajñaḥ sarveṇāpi mahīkṣitā |

nāparādho bhavet kaṣṭo yady asmin kratusattame ||

Translation

此一祭祀确能使任何君王得其所愿之果；但在这最胜之仪中，切莫有重大疏失与过错。

Word by Word

• śakyaḥ: possible, feasible
• śakyaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Eka-vacana (Singular); viśeṣaṇa of ‘yajñaḥ’

• prāptum: to obtain
• prāptum: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (आप्) with pra-; tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Tumunanta infinitive (तुमुनन्त अव्यय-प्राय), ‘to obtain/attain’

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; sarvanāma; viśeṣaṇa of ‘yajñaḥ’

• yajñaḥ: sacrifice
• yajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• sarveṇa: by every (one)
• sarveṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Eka-vacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘mahīkṣitā’

• api: even, indeed
• api: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (particle) conveying emphasis ‘even/indeed’

• mahīkṣitā: by the king
• mahīkṣitā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīkṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Eka-vacana; ‘king/earth-protector’

• na: not
• na: Vākya-niṣedha (वाक्य-निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha (negation particle)

• aparādhaḥ: fault, omission
• aparādhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aparādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• bhavet: would be, should occur
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Eka-vacana; parasmaipada

• kaṣṭaḥ: grave, troublesome
• kaṣṭaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘aparādhaḥ’

• yadi: if
• yadi: Hetu/Śarta (हेतु/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; śart-nipāta (conditional conjunction)

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka-prayoga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Eka-vacana; sarvanāma

• kratusattame: O best of sacrifices
• kratusattame: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu-sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana vibhakti (Vocative), Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘kratu’ + ‘sattama’ (best among sacrifices)

Context

The learned brahmarakshasas always look out for flaws in the sacrifice so that they can spoil it. If a flaw finds place, the doer of the sacrifice is immediately destroyed.

Characters & Entities

• Yajña (Aśvamedha implied)
• King (Mahīkṣit)

FAQs

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

Dharma emphasizes integrity: results depend not merely on intention but on faultless execution—omissions in duty can ruin even noble undertakings.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha warns that the sacrifice’s success hinges on preventing serious ritual errors.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vigilance and responsibility—he highlights the consequences of negligence.