Shloka 17

अष्टमः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

छिद्रं हि मृगयन्तेऽत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसा: ।निहतस्य च यज्ञस्य सद्य: कर्ता विनश्यति ।।।।

Transliteration

chidraṁ hi mṛgayante 'tra vidvāṁso brahmarākṣasāḥ |

nihatasya ca yajñasya sadyaḥ kartā vinaśyati ||

Translation

因为在此，博学的梵罗刹常寻觅破绽；若祭祀因过失而被摧毁，献祭者便立刻覆灭。

Word by Word

• chidram: a flaw, loophole
• chidram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chidra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Eka-vacana

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Vākya-sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (emphatic/causal particle)

• mṛgayante: they seek, look for
• mṛgayante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛg (मृग्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahu-vacana (Plural); ātmanepada

• atra: here, in this (rite)
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-avyaya (locative adverb)

• vidvāṃsaḥ: learned (ones)
• vidvāṃsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana; ‘learned ones’

• brahmarākṣasāḥ: brahmarākṣasas
• brahmarākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘brahma’ + ‘rākṣasa’

• nihatasya: of the destroyed/struck-down
• nihatasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√han (हन्) + kta (क्त) → nihata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Eka-vacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘yajñasya’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (conjunction)

• yajñasya: of the sacrifice
• yajñasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Eka-vacana

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb)

• kartā: the performer (of the rite)
• kartā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• vinaśyati: perishes, is ruined
• vinaśyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√naś (नश्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; parasmaipada

Context

Therefore let the arrangements be made in a manner this sacifice is completed in accordance with the scriptures. And in this, you are experts".

Characters & Entities

• Yajña

FAQs

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

Dharma includes guarding sacred action against corruption: negligence creates openings for harm, and responsibility for the rite’s purity falls on the one who undertakes it.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha cautions that hostile forces seek flaws in major sacrifices and that failure can bring immediate ruin to the patron.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and protective governance—anticipating threats and preventing lapses.