Shloka 23

अष्टमः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

ततस्स गत्वा ता:पत्नीर्नरेन्द्रो हृदयप्रिया:।उवाच दीक्षां विशत यक्ष्येऽहं सुतकारणात्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sa gatvā tāḥ patnīr narendro hṛdaya-priyāḥ |

uvāca dīkṣāṃ viśata yakṣye ’haṃ suta-kāraṇāt ||

Translation

随后，人中之主来到他心爱的诸位王后前，说道：“你们当入受戒净修（dīkṣā）；我将为求得子嗣而行祭祀。”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; ‘then’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; sarvanāma

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Kṛdanta absolutive (क्त्वान्त), ‘having gone’

• tāḥ: those
• tāḥ: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana; sarvanāma; viśeṣaṇa of ‘patnīḥ’

• patnīḥ: wives
• patnīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana

• narendraḥ: the king
• narendraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘nara’ + ‘indra’

• hṛdayapriyāḥ: dear to (his) heart
• hṛdayapriyāḥ: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛdaya-priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahu-vacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘hṛdaya’ + ‘priya’; viśeṣaṇa of ‘patnīḥ’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana; parasmaipada

• dīkṣām: consecration, ritual discipline
• dīkṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana

• viśata: enter (you all)
• viśata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √viś (विश्)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Bahu-vacana; parasmaipada

• yakṣye: I shall sacrifice/perform a rite
• yakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (यज्)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Periphrastic future/लुट्), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Eka-vacana; parasmaipada

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• sutakāraṇāt: for the sake of sons
• sutakāraṇāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta-kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Pañcamī vibhakti (Ablative/5th), Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘suta’ + ‘kāraṇa’; hetu-artha (reason/purpose)

Context

Thereupon Sumantra of swift movement immediateiy brought together Suyajna, Vamadeva,Jabali, Kasyapa and priest Vasistha along with other brahmins who had mastery over the Vedas.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• the queens (patnīḥ)
• dīkṣā (ritual consecration)
• yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Household dharma aligned with sacred duty: family life and the wish for heirs are pursued through disciplined, ritual purity and shared commitment.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha informs his queens of the planned sacrifice and instructs them to undertake the preparatory vow and consecration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility toward lineage and community—Daśaratha frames progeny as a dharmic aim supported by proper rites.