Loading data... On slow networks this could take a few minutes.
100%
Show/Hide Details
॥ अथ बालकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः ॥
१.१३.१
अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे तस्मिन्प्राप्ते तुरङ्गमे ।
सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे राज्ञो यज्ञोऽभ्यवर्तत ॥
Summary AI After a full year had passed and the sacrificial horse returned, King Daśaratha’s sacrifice commenced on the northern bank of the Sarayū River.
M N Dutt After the expiry of full one year, when the sacrificial horse had returned, the sacrifice, of the king commenced on the north bank of the Sarayu.
१.१३.२
ऋश्यशृङ्गं पुरस्कृत्य कर्म चक्रुर्द्विजर्षभाः ।
अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे राज्ञोऽस्य सुमहात्मनः ॥
Summary AI With the sage Ṛśyaśṛṅga at the forefront, the foremost among the twice-born performed the rituals in the great Aśvamedha sacrifice of that high-souled King.
M N Dutt And with Rşyasſága at their head, the principal twice-born ones began the proceedings in that mighty horse-sacrifice of that high-souled monarch.
१.१३.३
कर्म कुर्वन्ति विधिवद्याजका वेदपारगाः ।
यथाविधि यथान्यायं परिक्रामन्ति शास्त्रतः ॥
Summary AI The officiating priests, masters of the Vedas, performed the rituals lawfully. They proceeded according to the prescribed methods, justice, and the scriptures.
M N Dutt And the priests, each duly and according to the ordinance performing his proper part, engaged in the ceremony in consonance with the scriptures.
१.१३.४
प्रवर्ग्यं शास्त्रतः कृत्वा तथैवोपसदं द्विजाः ।
चक्रुश्च विधिवत्सर्वमधिकं कर्म शास्त्रतः ॥
Summary AI After performing the Pravargya and Upasad rites according to the scriptures, the twice-born priests executed all other supplementary rituals lawfully and scripturally.
M N Dutt And the regenerate ones, having performed the pravargya as well as the upasada according to the ordinance, duly completed the additional ceremonies. Then, worshipping the deities with glad hearts, those foremost of ascetics duly performed the morning ablutions and the other prescribed rites.
१.१३.५
अभिपूज्य ततो हृष्टाः सर्वे चक्रुर्यथाविधि ।
प्रातःसवनपूर्वाणि कर्माणि मुनिपुंगवाः ॥
Summary AI Having performed the preliminary worship, all those foremost among sages, filled with joy, conducted the rituals beginning with the morning libation according to the rule.
M N Dutt And the regenerate ones, having performed the pravargya as well as the upasada according to the ordinance, duly completed the additional ceremonies. Then, worshipping the deities with glad hearts, those foremost of ascetics duly performed the morning ablutions and the other prescribed rites.
१.१३.६
न चाहुतमभूत्तत्र स्खलितं वापि किंचन ।
दृश्यते ब्रह्मवत्सर्वं क्षेमयुक्तं हि चक्रिरे ॥
Summary AI Nothing remained unoffered there, nor did any error occur. Everything appeared divine like Brahman; indeed, they conducted the sacrifice with perfect care and success.
M N Dutt And no part of the ceremony was performed improperly, or left out, and every thing was satisfactorily celebrated with mantras.
१.१३.७
न तेष्वहःसु श्रान्तो वा क्षुधितो वापि दृश्यते ।
नाविद्वान्ब्राह्मणस्तत्र नाशतानुचरस्तथा ॥
Summary AI During those days, no one appeared tired or hungry. There was no Brāhmaṇa who was unlearned, nor any who was followed by fewer than a hundred attendants.
M N Dutt And on that day no Brāhmaṇa ever felt tired, or hungry and there was none that was not learned, or that was not followed by an hundred persons.
१.१३.८
ब्राह्मणा भुञ्जते नित्यं नाथवन्तश्च भुञ्जते ।
तापसा भुञ्जते चापि श्रमणा भुञ्जते तथा ॥
Summary AI The Brāhmaṇas ate constantly, and those with masters ate. Ascetics ate, and likewise, the wandering mendicants ate their fill.
M N Dutt Brāhmaṇas, and Śūdras having among them ascetics, and Sramanas, and the aged, and the infirm, and women, and children, were continually fed. And although they ate their fill, yet they know no repletion.
१.१३.९
वृद्धाश्च व्याधिताश्चैव स्त्रियो बालास्तथैव च ।
अनिशं भुञ्जमानानां न तृप्तिरुपलभ्यते ॥
Summary AI The elderly, the sick, women, and children also dined. Even though they ate continuously, they did not feel a sense of satiety because of the endless abundance.
M N Dutt Brāhmaṇas, and Śūdras having among them ascetics, and Sramanas, and the aged, and the infirm, and women, and children, were continually fed. And although they ate their fill, yet they know no repletion.
१.१३.१०
दीयतां दीयतामन्नं वासांसि विविधानि च ।
इति संचोदितास्तत्र तथा चक्रुरनेकशः ॥
Summary AI “Give food, give! Give various garments!” Thus exhorted, the workers repeatedly and abundantly distributed those items to everyone present.
M N Dutt And Give food, and clothes of various kinds (was heard all around) And those employed in the task gave away profusely.
१.१३.११
अन्नकूटाश्च बहवो दृश्यन्ते पर्वतोपमाः ।
दिवसे दिवसे तत्र सिद्धस्य विधिवत्तदा ॥
Summary AI Day after day, many heaps of cooked food, resembling mountains, were seen there, prepared strictly according to the rules.
M N Dutt And every day food dressed properly in due form was to be seen in countless heaps resembling hills.
१.१३.१२
अन्नं हि विधिवत्स्वादु प्रशंसन्ति द्विजर्षभाः ।
अहो तृप्ताः स्म भद्रं ते इति शुश्राव राघवः ॥
Summary AI The best of the twice-born praised the delicious food prepared according to rites. Daśaratha heard them saying, “Oh, we are satisfied! May good betide you!”
M N Dutt The foremost regenerate ones said, The viands have been prepared in the prescribed form, and they taste excellent. We have been gratified. God bless you! All this was heard by the descendant of Raghu.
१.१३.१३
स्वलंकृताश्च पुरुषा ब्राह्मणान्पर्यवेषयन् ।
उपासते च तानन्ये सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः ॥
Summary AI Well-adorned men served the Brāhmaṇas, while others, wearing polished jeweled earrings, waited upon them with reverence.
M N Dutt Persons adorned with ornaments distributed the victuals among the Brāhmaṇas, and they were assisted by others wearing jewelled pendants.
१.१३.१४
कर्मान्तरे तदा विप्रा हेतुवादान्बहूनपि ।
प्राहुः सुवाग्मिनो धीराः परस्परजिगीषया ॥
Summary AI In the intervals between rituals, eloquent and wise Brāhmaṇas engaged in many logical debates, motivated by the desire to overcome one another in knowledge.
M N Dutt In the interval between the completion of one bath and the beginning of the next, mild and eloquent Vipras, desirous of victory, engaged in various disputations.
१.१३.१५
दिवसे दिवसे तत्र संस्तरे कुशला द्विजाः ।
सर्वकर्माणि चक्रुस्ते यथाशास्त्रं प्रचोदिताः ॥
Summary AI Day after day, those twice-born priests, skilled in the sacrificial procedures, performed all the rites as directed and according to the scriptures.
M N Dutt Every day in that sacrifice, skilful Brāhmaṇas, engaged in the ceremony, did everything, according to the ritual.
१.१३.१६
नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीन्नाव्रतो नाबहुश्रुतः ।
सदस्यस्तस्य वै राज्ञो नावादकुशलो द्विजः ॥
Summary AI Among the King’s assembly, there was no Brāhmaṇa who was not a knower of the six Vedāṅgas, none who had not taken vows, none who was not highly learned, and none unskilled in debate.
M N Dutt There was no twice-born one that was not versed in the Vedas and the Vedāngas, or that did not observe vows, or that was not profoundly learned, nor did any assist at the sacrifice that could not argue ably.
१.१३.१७
प्राप्ते यूपोच्छ्रये तस्मिन्षड्बैल्वाः खादिरास्तथा ।
तावन्तो बिल्वसहिताः पर्णिनश्च तथापरे ॥
Summary AI When the time came for the erection of the sacrificial posts, six were made of Bilva wood, six of Khadira, and others were made of Parṇa wood.
M N Dutt And when the time came for planting the Yüpas of bilva, as many of catechu, and as many of Palasa, and one of Sleşmätaka, and two of Devadāru well-made and measuring two outstretched arms.
१.१३.१८
श्लेष्मातकमयो दिष्टो देवदारुमयस्तथा ।
द्वावेव तत्र विहितौ बाहुव्यस्तपरिग्रहौ ॥
Summary AI One post was ordained to be of Śleṣmātaka wood and another of Devadāru. Two posts were positioned with their arms extended as prescribed.
M N Dutt And when the time came for planting the Yüpas of bilva, as many of catechu, and as many of Palasa, and one of Sleşmätaka, and two of Devadāru well-made and measuring two outstretched arms.
१.१३.२१
आच्छादितास्ते वासोभिः पुष्पैर्गन्धैश्च भूषिताः ।
सप्तर्षयो दीप्तिमन्तो विराजन्ते यथा दिवि ॥
Summary AI Clothed in garments and adorned with flowers and fragrances, they shone like the radiant Saptarṣis (the Seven Sages) in the heavens.
M N Dutt And being wrapped up in cloths, and worshipped with flowers, they looked like the seven Rșis appearing in the welkin.
१.१३.२२
इष्टकाश्च यथान्यायं कारिताश्च प्रमाणतः ।
चितोऽग्निर्ब्राह्मणैस्तत्र कुशलैः शुल्बकर्मणि ॥
Summary AI Bricks were fashioned according to the rules and prescribed measurements; the sacrificial altar was constructed by Brāhmaṇas expert in the science of geometry (śulbakarma).
M N Dutt And an adequate number of bricks was also duly made (for the ceremony.) And Brāhmaṇas accomplished in the arts constructed the sacrificial fire-place with those bricks.
१.१३.२४
नियुक्तास्तत्र पशवस्तत्तदुद्दिश्य दैवतम् ।
उरगाः पक्षिणश्चैव यथाशास्त्रं प्रचोदिताः ।
शामित्रे तु हयस्तत्र तथा जल चराश्च ये ॥
Summary AI Animals, serpents, and birds were assigned to their respective deities according to scriptural injunctions. The sacrificial horse and aquatic creatures were likewise stationed at the place of immolation (śāmitra).
M N Dutt That fire-place of that lion among kings, set by skilful Brāhmaṇas, consisting on three sides of eighteen bricks, looked like the goldenwinged Garuda. And for the purpose of sacrificing them to the respective deities were collect beasts and reptiles, and birds, and horses, and aquatic animals. And the priests sacrificed all these in proper form.
१.१३.२५
ऋत्विग्भिः सर्वमेवैतन्नियुक्तं शास्त्रतस्तदा ।
पशूनां त्रिशतं तत्र यूपेषु नियतं तदा ।
अश्वरत्नोत्तमं तस्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य ह ॥
Summary AI The officiating priests arranged everything according to the scriptures. Three hundred animals, along with King Daśaratha’s most excellent jewel of a horse, were tied to the sacrificial posts.
M N Dutt And to these Yūpas were bound, three hundred beasts, as well as the foremost of the best horses belonging to king Dasaratha.
१.१३.२६
कौसल्या तं हयं तत्र परिचर्य समन्ततः ।
कृपाणैर्विशशासैनं त्रिभिः परमया मुदा ॥
Summary AI After circumambulating the horse, Kausalyā, with great joy and a steady mind, ceremonially struck it with three knives.
M N Dutt Then Kausalyā, having performed the preliminary rites, with three strokes slew that horse, experiencing great glee.
१.१३.२७
पतत्रिणा तदा सार्धं सुस्थितेन च चेतसा ।
अवसद्रजनीमेकां कौसल्या धर्मकाम्यया ॥
Summary AI Desiring religious merit, Kausalyā spent one night with the bird-like horse with a calm and composed mind.
M N Dutt And with the view of reaping merit, Kausalyā, with an undisturbed heart passed one night with that horse furnished with wings.
१.१३.२८
होताध्वर्युस्तथोद्गाता हयेन समयोजयन् ।
महिष्या परिवृक्त्याथ वावातामपरां तथा ॥
Summary AI The Hotā, Adhvaryu, and Udgātā priests then associated the horse with the chief queen (Mahiṣī), the discarded wife (Parivṛktī), and the favorite wife (Vāvātā).
M N Dutt Hotás and Adhvaryus, and the Udgatás joined the king's Vāvātā along with his Mahișī and Parivrtti. And priests of subdued senses, wellup in sacrificial rites, began to offer oblations with the fat of the winged-horse, according to the ordinance. The Kșatriya kings could marry wives from among Kșatriyas, Vaişyas and Śūdras. The Kșatriya wife is called Mahiși, the Vaişya wife Vávātā and the Śūdra wife Parivrtti.
१.१३.२९
पतत्रिणस्तस्य वपामुद्धृत्य नियतेन्द्रियः ।
ऋत्विक्परम संपन्नः श्रपयामास शास्त्रतः ॥
Summary AI The highly accomplished priest, having controlled his senses, extracted the fat of the horse and cooked it according to the scriptural rites.
M N Dutt Hotás and Adhvaryus, and the Udgatás joined the king's Vāvātā along with his Mahișī and Parivrtti. And priests of subdued senses, wellup in sacrificial rites, began to offer oblations with the fat of the winged-horse, according to the ordinance. The Kșatriya kings could marry wives from among Kșatriyas, Vaişyas and Śūdras. The Kșatriya wife is called Mahiși, the Vaişya wife Vávātā and the Śūdra wife Parivrtti.
१.१३.३०
धूमगन्धं वपायास्तु जिघ्रति स्म नराधिपः ।
यथाकालं यथान्यायं निर्णुदन्पापमात्मनः ॥
Summary AI King Daśaratha, at the proper time and in the prescribed manner, inhaled the scent of the smoke from the marrow, thereby purging his sins.
M N Dutt The lord of men, desirous of removing his sins, at the proper time smelt the odour of the smoke arising from the fat, agreeably to the scriptures.
१.१३.३१
हयस्य यानि चाङ्गानि तानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणाः ।
अग्नौ प्रास्यन्ति विधिवत्समस्ताः षोडशर्त्विजः ॥
Summary AI All sixteen Brāhmaṇa priests collectively offered all the limbs of the horse into the sacrificial fire according to the ritual rules.
M N Dutt Then sixteen sacrificial priests in the prescribed form offered the various parts of the horse to the fire.
१.१३.३२
प्लक्षशाखासु यज्ञानामन्येषां क्रियते हविः ।
अश्वमेधस्य चैकस्य वैतसो भाग इष्यते ॥
Summary AI In other sacrifices, the oblation is placed on branches of the Plakṣa tree; however, for the Aśvamedha sacrifice alone, a cane (vaitasa) platform is desired.
१.१३.३५
ज्योतिष्टोमायुषी चैव अतिरात्रौ च निर्मितौ ।
अभिजिद्विश्वजिच्चैव अप्तोर्यामो महाक्रतुः ॥
Summary AI The Jyotiṣṭoma, Āyuṣ, and two Atirātra rites were performed, along with the Abhijit, Viśvajit, and the great Aptoryāma sacrifice.
M N Dutt And then the jyotisloma, and then Āyuştoma, and the Atirātra, and the Abhijit, and the Visvajit, and the Āptoryāma, all these various great sacrifices were celebrated with due rites.
१.१३.३६
प्राचीं होत्रे ददौ राजा दिशं स्वकुलवर्धनः ।
अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं तु ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम् ॥
Summary AI King Daśaratha, the enhancer of his lineage, bestowed the eastern direction upon the Hotā, the western upon the Adhvaryu, and the southern direction upon the Brahmā priest.
M N Dutt And in this mighty horse-sacrifice founded of yore by Svayambhū, that perpetuator of his line, the king, bestowed the Eastern quarter on his chief sacrificial priest, the Western on his Adhvaryu, the Southern on Brahmă, and the Northern on the Udgātā, as Daksinās.
१.१३.३७
उद्गात्रे तु तथोदीचीं दक्षिणैषा विनिर्मिता ।
अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे स्वयम्भुविहिते पुरा ॥
Summary AI To the Udgātā, he gave the northern direction. Such was the sacrificial fee ordained of old by the Self-born Creator for the great Aśvamedha sacrifice.
M N Dutt And in this mighty horse-sacrifice founded of yore by Svayambhū, that perpetuator of his line, the king, bestowed the Eastern quarter on his chief sacrificial priest, the Western on his Adhvaryu, the Southern on Brahmă, and the Northern on the Udgātā, as Daksinās.
१.१३.३८
क्रतुं समाप्य तु तदा न्यायतः पुरुषर्षभः ।
ऋत्विग्भ्यो हि ददौ राजा धरां तां क्रतुवर्धनः ॥
Summary AI Having concluded the sacrifice according to the rules, the best of men, the King who causes sacrifices to prosper, gave the entire earth to the officiating priests.
M N Dutt Having completed that sacrifice, that perpetuator of his race, and foremost of men, the king, conferied on the priests the earth; and having conferred it, that auspicious descendant of Ikşvāku experienced high delight. And then the priests spoke to that monarch, who had all his sins purged off saying.
१.१३.४०
न भूम्या कार्यमस्माकं न हि शक्ताः स्म पालने ।
रताः स्वाध्यायकरणे वयं नित्यं हि भूमिप ।
निष्क्रयं किंचिदेवेह प्रयच्छतु भवानिति ॥
Summary AI "O King, we have no use for the land, nor are we capable of protecting it. We are eternally devoted to the study of the Vedas. Please give us something else in exchange."
M N Dutt You alone are worthy to protect the entire world. We do not want the earth; nor can we rule it, being, O lord of Earth, constantly engaged in Vedic studies. Do you, therefore, confer upon us something instead, as the price thereof.
१.१३.४१
गवां शतसहस्राणि दश तेभ्यो ददौ नृपः ।
दशकोटिं सुवर्णस्य रजतस्य चतुर्गुणम् ॥
Summary AI King Daśaratha gave them one million cows, ten crore gold pieces, and four times that amount in silver.
M N Dutt Thus addressed by the Brāhmaṇas versed in the Veda, that best of kings bestowed upon them ten lace of kine, and ten Koțis of gold, and forty of silver.
१.१३.४३
ततस्ते न्यायतः कृत्वा प्रविभागं द्विजोत्तमाः ।
सुप्रीतमनसः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुर्मुदिता भृशम् ॥
Summary AI After distributing the wealth justly, those best among the twice-born, with highly satisfied minds and great joy, replied to the King.
M N Dutt Then those priests in a body, accepting the wealth, brought it to the ascetic Rșyaśộnga and the intelligent Vasiştha. Then having received each his share, those foremost of regenerate ones were exceedingly pleased, and said, We have been highly gratified.
१.१३.४४
ततः प्रीतमना राजा प्राप्य यज्ञमनुत्तमम् ।
पापापहं स्वर्नयनं दुस्तरं पार्थिवर्षभैः ॥
Summary AI Thereafter, King Daśaratha, with a pleased mind, successfully completed that unsurpassed yajña, which removes sins, leads to heaven, and is difficult for other great kings to perform.
M N Dutt Then having celebrated that excellent and sindestroying sacrifice, bringing heaven, and incapable of being celebrated by foremost monarchs, king Dasaratha, well pleased, spoke to Rsyasriga, saying, Oyou of excellent vows, it behove you to do that whereby my line may increase.
१.१३.४५
ततोऽब्रवीदृश्यशृङ्गं राजा दशरथस्तदा ।
कुलस्य वर्धनं तत्तु कर्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत ॥
Summary AI Then King Daśaratha spoke to Ṛśyaśṛṅga: 'O observer of noble vows, you should perform that rite which ensures the expansion of my lineage.'
M N Dutt Then having celebrated that excellent and sindestroying sacrifice, bringing heaven, and incapable of being celebrated by foremost monarchs, king Dasaratha, well pleased, spoke to Rsyasriga, saying, Oyou of excellent vows, it behove you to do that whereby my line may increase.
१.१३.४६
तथेति च स राजानमुवाच द्विजसत्तमः ।
भविष्यन्ति सुता राजंश्चत्वारस्ते कुलोद्वहाः ॥
Summary AI That best among the twice-born replied 'So be it' to the King and said, 'O King, four sons will be born to you, who will perpetuate your dynasty.'
M N Dutt Thereupon the best of Brāhmaṇas told the king that he would have four sons, born to him, as perpetuators of his race.
॥ इति बालकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः ॥

Other texts to read

नैषधीयचरितम् श्रीहर्षः

A Mahākāvya relating the romance and marriage of King Nala and Princess Damayantī
योगवासिष्ठम् वाल्मीकिः

A philosophical dialogue between Sage Vasiṣṭha and Prince Rāma, exploring the nature of reality, the mind, and the path to Mokṣa through Advaita Vedānta
About

Sanskrit Sahitya is a free, open-access digital library of classical Sanskrit literature with AI-powered tools and translations.

Resources
Connect