Shloka 21

अष्टमः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

विसर्जयित्वा तान्विप्रान्सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्।ऋत्विग्भिरुपदिष्टोऽयं यथावत्क्रतुराप्यताम्।।।।

Transliteration

visarjayitvā tān viprān sacivān idam abravīt |

ṛtvigbhir upadiṣṭo 'yaṁ yathāvat kratur āpyatām ||

Translation

遣退那些婆罗门后，他对诸大臣说道：“此祭当依仪轨如法举行，正如诸位祭官（ṛtvij）所指示的那样。”

Word by Word

• visarjayitvā: having dismissed
• visarjayitvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (सृज्) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Kṛdanta: absolutive (क्त्वान्त), ‘having dismissed/sent away’

• tān: those
• tān: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana; sarvanāma; viśeṣaṇa of ‘viprān’

• viprān: brahmins
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana

• sacivān: ministers
• sacivān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; sarvanāma; object of ‘abravīt’ (this speech)

• abravīt: he said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; parasmaipada

• ṛtvigbhiḥ: by the priests
• ṛtvigbhiḥ: Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtvij (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahu-vacana

• upadiṣṭaḥ: instructed, prescribed
• upadiṣṭaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√diś (दिश्) + kta (क्त) → upadiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kṛdanta PPP (क्त); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘kratuḥ’

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

• yathāvat: properly
• yathāvat: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; prakāra-avyaya ‘properly, as enjoined’

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

• āpyatām: let it be accomplished/attained
• āpyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√āp (आप्)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; karmaṇi-prayoga (passive): ‘let it be obtained/attained’

Context

After sending away the brahmins, the king said to his ministers: "Let this sacrifice be performed as enjoined by scriptures and as directed by the officiating priests".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Brahmins (Vipras)

FAQs

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

Dharma is obedience to rightful ritual authority: the king insists the rite conform to the ṛtvijas’ prescriptions, reflecting commitment to truthfulness in procedure and outcome.

What is the narrative situation?

With the brahmins departed, Daśaratha reiterates to his ministers that the sacrifice must proceed exactly as the priests direct.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rule-following leadership—he aligns political execution with priestly expertise to ensure a faultless rite.