Shloka 18

अष्टमः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तद्यथा विधिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते ।तथा विधानं क्रियतां समर्था: करणेष्विह।।।।

Transliteration

tad yathā vidhipūrvaṁ me kratur eṣa samāpyate |

tathā vidhānaṁ kriyatāṁ samarthāḥ karaṇeṣv iha ||

Translation

因此，当作安排，使我此祭祀依规圆满完成；诸位于此诸事皆能胜任，宜各尽其职。

Word by Word

• tat: therefore, that
• tat: Vākya-sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-prayoga of sarvanāma; vākya-upakrama ‘therefore/that’

• yathā: as, in such a way
• yathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā/vidhi-avyaya ‘as, in the manner that’

• vidhipūrvam: according to prescribed procedure
• vidhipūrvam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi-pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; napuṃsaka-ekavacana accusative form functioning as avyaya; ‘according to rule’

• me: my
• me: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Eka-vacana

• kratuḥ: the sacrifice
• kratuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; sarvanāma; viśeṣaṇa of ‘kratuḥ’

• samāpyate: is completed
• samāpyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√āp (आप्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; ātmanepada; passive-like sense ‘gets completed’

• tathā: so, in that manner
• tathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; prakāra-avyaya ‘thus, in that manner’

• vidhānam: arrangement, procedure
• vidhānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• kriyatām: let (it) be done
• kriyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/लोट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; karmaṇi-prayoga (passive imperative): ‘let it be done’

• samarthāḥ: competent (ones)
• samarthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana; used as substantive ‘capable persons’

• karaṇeṣu: in the acts/ritual operations
• karaṇeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Bahu-vacana

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-avyaya ‘here’

Context

Having heard these words of this Indra on earth (king Dasaratha) all the ministers with due respect replied: "May it be as ordered".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Kratu (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma is doing sacred and public duties “according to vidhi”—rule-based action supported by qualified expertise, not casual improvisation.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha directs his administration to ensure the Aśvamedha is completed strictly as prescribed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for competence and delegation—he entrusts tasks to those skilled in execution.