The Horse Sacrifice Begins

Shloka 1 (bala.13.1)

पुनः प्राप्ते वसन्ते तु पूर्णः संवत्सरोऽभवत् । प्रसवार्थं गतो यष्टुं हयमेधेन वीर्यवान् ॥ 13.1 ॥

punaḥ prāpte vasante tu pūrṇaḥ saṃvatsaro'bhavat | prasavārthaṃ gato yaṣṭuṃ hayamedhena vīryavān

When spring came round again, a full year had passed; and the valiant king went forth to perform the horse-sacrifice for the sake of offspring.

Shloka 2 (bala.13.2)

अभिवाद्य वसिष्ठं च न्यायतः प्रतिपूज्य च । अब्रवीत्प्रश्रितं वाक्यं प्रसवार्थं द्विजोत्तमम् ॥ 13.2 ॥

abhivādya vasiṣṭhaṃ ca nyāyataḥ pratipūjya ca | abravītpraśritaṃ vākyaṃ prasavārthaṃ dvijottamam

Having saluted Vasishtha and duly honoured him according to custom, he spoke humble words to that foremost of Brahmins concerning his desire for offspring.

Shloka 3 (bala.13.3)

यज्ञो मे क्रियतां ब्रह्मन् यथोक्तं मुनिपुङ्गव । यथा न विघ्नाः क्रियन्ते यज्ञाङ्गेषु विधीयताम् ॥ 13.3 ॥

yajño me kriyatāṃ brahman yathoktaṃ munipuṅgava | yathā na vighnāḥ kriyante yajñāṅgeṣu vidhīyatām

‘Let my sacrifice be performed, O Brahmin, best of sages, exactly as prescribed; let arrangements be made in every part of the rite so that no obstacles may arise.’

Shloka 4 (bala.13.4)

भवान्स्निग्धः सुहृन्मह्यं गुरुश्च परमो महान् । वोढव्यो भवता चैव भारो यज्ञस्य चोद्यतः ॥ 13.4 ॥

bhavānsnigdhaḥ suhṛnmahyaṃ guruśca paramo mahān | voḍhavyo bhavatā caiva bhāro yajñasya codyataḥ

‘You are affectionate to me, my friend, and my supreme and great preceptor; and it is you alone who should bear the burden of this sacrifice now undertaken.’

Shloka 5 (bala.13.5)

तथेति च स राजानमब्रवीत् द्विजसत्तमः । करिष्ये सर्वमेवैतद्भवता यत्समर्थितम् ॥ 13.5 ॥

tatheti ca sa rājānamabravīt dvijasattamaḥ | kariṣye sarvamevaitadbhavatā yatsamarthitam

‘So be it,’ said that foremost of Brahmins to the king. ‘I shall accomplish everything that you have proposed.’

Shloka 6 (bala.13.6)

ततोऽब्रवीत् द्विजान्वृद्धान् यज्ञकर्मसु निष्ठितान् । स्थापत्ये निष्ठितांश्चैव वृद्धान्परमधार्मिकान् ॥ 13.6 ॥

tato'bravīt dvijānvṛddhān yajñakarmasu niṣṭhitān | sthāpatye niṣṭhitāṃścaiva vṛddhānparamadhārmikān

Then he summoned the elder Brahmins skilled in the rites of sacrifice, and the elder architects, most righteous, skilled in construction—

Shloka 7 (bala.13.7)

कर्मान्तिकान् शिल्पकरान् वर्धकीन् खनकानपि । गणकान् शिल्पिनश्चैव तथैव नटनर्तकान् ॥ 13.7 ॥

karmāntikān śilpakarān vardhakīn khanakānapi | gaṇakān śilpinaścaiva tathaiva naṭanartakān

—overseers of the works, craftsmen, carpenters, and diggers too; accountants and artisans, and likewise actors and dancers—

Shloka 8 (bala.13.8)

तथा शुचीन् शास्त्रविदः पुरुषान्सुबहुश्रुतान् । यज्ञकर्म समीहन्तां भवन्तो राजशासनात् ॥ 13.8 ॥

tathā śucīn śāstravidaḥ puruṣānsubahuśrutān | yajñakarma samīhantāṃ bhavanto rājaśāsanāt

—and pure men, learned in the scriptures, of great erudition: ‘By the king’s command, let all of you set about the work of the sacrifice.’

Shloka 9 (bala.13.9)

इष्टका बहुसाहस्री शीघ्रमानीयतामिति । औपकार्याः क्रियन्तां च राज्ञो बहुगुणान्विताः ॥ 13.9 ॥

iṣṭakā bahusāhasrī śīghramānīyatāmiti | aupakāryāḥ kriyantāṃ ca rājño bahuguṇānvitāḥ

‘Let many thousands of bricks be brought at once; and let guest-houses furnished with many comforts be built for the king.’

Shloka 10 (bala.13.10)

ब्राह्मणावसथाश्चैव कर्तव्याः शतशः शुभाः । भक्ष्यान्नपानैर्बहुभिः समुपेताः सुनिष्ठिताः ॥ 13.10 ॥

brāhmaṇāvasathāścaiva kartavyāḥ śataśaḥ śubhāḥ | bhakṣyānnapānairbahubhiḥ samupetāḥ suniṣṭhitāḥ

‘And let hundreds of auspicious dwellings for the Brahmins be constructed, well-appointed and furnished with abundant food, provisions, and drink.’

Shloka 11 (bala.13.11)

तथा पौरजनस्यापि कर्तव्याश्च सुविस्तराः । आगतानां सुदूराच्च पार्थिवानां पृथक् पृथक् ॥ 13.11 ॥

tathā paurajanasyāpi kartavyāśca suvistarāḥ | āgatānāṃ sudūrācca pārthivānāṃ pṛthak pṛthak

‘And spacious lodgings are to be built for the townspeople as well, and separate ones for the kings arriving from afar.’

Shloka 12 (bala.13.12)

वाजिवारणशलाश्च तथा शय्यागृहाणि च । भटानां महदावास वैदेशिकनिवासिनाम् ॥ 13.12 ॥

vājivāraṇaśalāśca tathā śayyāgṛhāṇi ca | bhaṭānāṃ mahadāvāsa vaideśikanivāsinām

‘And stables for the horses and sheds for the elephants, as well as sleeping-quarters, and great lodgings for the soldiers of the visiting foreign kings.’

Shloka 13 (bala.13.13)

आवासा बहुभक्ष्या वै सर्वकामैरुपस्थिताः । तथा पौरजनस्यापि जनस्य बहुशोभनम् ॥ 13.13 ॥

āvāsā bahubhakṣyā vai sarvakāmairupasthitāḥ | tathā paurajanasyāpi janasya bahuśobhanam

‘Let those lodgings be well provided with abundant food and every desired comfort; and let there be great splendour for the people of the city as well.’

Shloka 14 (bala.13.14)

दातव्यमन्नं विधिवत्सत्कृत्य न तु लीलया । सर्वे वर्णा यथा पूजां प्राप्नुवन्ति सुसत्कृताः ॥ 13.14 ॥

dātavyamannaṃ vidhivatsatkṛtya na tu līlayā | sarve varṇā yathā pūjāṃ prāpnuvanti susatkṛtāḥ

‘Food is to be given properly and with respect, not carelessly, so that people of every class receive due honour and are well treated.’

Shloka 15 (bala.13.15)

न चावज्ञा प्रयोक्तव्या कामक्रोधवशादपि । यज्ञकर्मसु ये व्यग्राः पुरुषाः शिल्पिनस्तथा ॥ 13.15 ॥

na cāvajñā prayoktavyā kāmakrodhavaśādapi | yajñakarmasu ye vyagrāḥ puruṣāḥ śilpinastathā

‘And no disrespect is to be shown, even under the sway of desire or anger, to the men and craftsmen who are busy with the work of the sacrifice.’

Shloka 16 (bala.13.16)

तेषामपि विशेषेण पूजा कार्या यथाक्रमम् । ये स्युः संपूजिता सर्वे वसुभिर्भोजनेन च ॥ 13.16 ॥

teṣāmapi viśeṣeṇa pūjā kāryā yathākramam | ye syuḥ saṃpūjitā sarve vasubhirbhojanena ca

‘Rather, special honour should be shown to them in due order; let all be duly honoured with wealth and with food.’

Shloka 17 (bala.13.17)

यथा सर्वं सुविहितं न किंचित्परिहीयते । तथा भवन्तः कुर्वन्तु प्रीतियुक्तेन चेतसा ॥ 13.17 ॥

yathā sarvaṃ suvihitaṃ na kiṃcitparihīyate | tathā bhavantaḥ kurvantu prītiyuktena cetasā

‘See to it that everything is well arranged and nothing whatsoever is neglected; carry this out, all of you, with a glad and willing heart.’

Shloka 18 (bala.13.18)

ततः सर्वे समागम्य वसिष्ठमिदमब्रुवन् । यथेष्टं तत्सुविहितं न किंचित्परिहीयते ॥ 13.18 ॥

tataḥ sarve samāgamya vasiṣṭhamidamabruvan | yatheṣṭaṃ tatsuvihitaṃ na kiṃcitparihīyate

Then all of them, coming together, said this to Vasishtha: ‘It shall be arranged exactly as desired; nothing whatsoever shall be neglected.’

Shloka 19 (bala.13.19)

यथोक्तं तत्करिष्यामो न किंचित्परिहास्यते । ततः सुमंत्रमाहूय वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 13.19 ॥

yathoktaṃ tatkariṣyāmo na kiṃcitparihāsyate | tataḥ sumaṃtramāhūya vasiṣṭho vākyamabravīt

‘We shall do exactly as instructed; nothing shall be omitted.’ Then, summoning Sumantra, Vasishtha spoke these words:

Shloka 20 (bala.13.20)

निमंत्रयस्व नृपतीन्पृथिव्यां ये च धार्मिकाः । ब्राह्मणान् क्षत्रियान् वैश्यान् शूद्रांश्चैव सहस्रशः ॥ 13.20 ॥

nimaṃtrayasva nṛpatīnpṛthivyāṃ ye ca dhārmikāḥ | brāhmaṇān kṣatriyān vaiśyān śūdrāṃścaiva sahasraśaḥ

‘Invite the righteous kings of the earth, and Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras as well, by the thousands.’

Shloka 21 (bala.13.21)

समानयस्व सत्कृत्य सर्वदेशेषु मानवान् । मिथिलाधिपतिं शूरं जनकं सत्यवादिनम् ॥ 13.21 ॥

samānayasva satkṛtya sarvadeśeṣu mānavān | mithilādhipatiṃ śūraṃ janakaṃ satyavādinam

‘Bring together, with due honour, people from every land. And in particular, Janaka, the valiant and truthful lord of Mithila—’

Shloka 22 (bala.13.22)

तमानय महाभागं स्वयमेव सुसत्कृतम् । पूर्वसंबन्धिनं ज्ञात्वा ततः पूर्वं ब्रवीमि ते ॥ 13.22 ॥

tamānaya mahābhāgaṃ svayameva susatkṛtam | pūrvasaṃbandhinaṃ jñātvā tataḥ pūrvaṃ bravīmi te

—‘go yourself and bring that most fortunate one with due honour, knowing him to be an old ally of ours; that is why I name him first to you.’

Shloka 23 (bala.13.23)

तथा काशीपतिं स्निग्धं सततं प्रियवादिनम् । सद् वृत्तं देवसंकाशं स्वयमेवानयस्व ह ॥ 13.23 ॥

tathā kāśīpatiṃ snigdhaṃ satataṃ priyavādinam | sad vṛttaṃ devasaṃkāśaṃ svayamevānayasva ha

‘Likewise, go yourself and bring the king of Kashi, ever affectionate and gentle of speech, of virtuous conduct, godlike in bearing.’

Shloka 24 (bala.13.24)

तथा केकयराजानं वृद्धं परमधार्मिकम् । श्वशुरं राजसिंहस्य सपुत्रं त्वमिहानय ॥ 13.24 ॥

tathā kekayarājānaṃ vṛddhaṃ paramadhārmikam | śvaśuraṃ rājasiṃhasya saputraṃ tvamihānaya

‘Likewise bring here the aged and most righteous king of Kekaya, father-in-law of our lion-like king, together with his sons.’

Shloka 25 (bala.13.25)

अङ्गेश्वरं महेष्वासं रोमपादं सुसत्कृतम् । वयस्यं राजसिंहस्य समानय यशस्विनम् ॥ 13.25 ॥

aṅgeśvaraṃ maheṣvāsaṃ romapādaṃ susatkṛtam | vayasyaṃ rājasiṃhasya samānaya yaśasvinam

‘Bring here, with due honour, that great archer Romapada, lord of Anga, the illustrious friend of our lion-like king.’

Shloka 26 (bala.13.26)

तथा कोसलराजानं भानुमंतं सुसत्कृतम् । मगधाधिपतिं शूरं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम् ॥ 13.26 ॥

tathā kosalarājānaṃ bhānumaṃtaṃ susatkṛtam | magadhādhipatiṃ śūraṃ sarvaśāstraviśāradam

‘Likewise bring, with due honour, Bhanumanta, king of Kosala, and the valiant lord of Magadha, learned in every branch of scripture,’

Shloka 27 (bala.13.27)

प्राप्तिज्ञं परमोदारं सत्कृतं पुरुषर्षभम् । राज्ञः शासनमादाय चोदयस्व नृपर्षभान् । प्राचीनान् सिन्धुसौवीरान् सौराष्ट्रेयांश्च पार्थिवान् ॥ 13.27 ॥

prāptijñaṃ paramodāraṃ satkṛtaṃ puruṣarṣabham | rājñaḥ śāsanamādāya codayasva nṛparṣabhān | prācīnān sindhusauvīrān saurāṣṭreyāṃśca pārthivān

—‘and the most generous Praptijna, that bull among men, duly honoured as well. And taking the king’s command, urge onward the kings of the east, of Sindhu and Sauvira, and of Saurashtra,’

Shloka 28 (bala.13.28)

दाक्षिणात्यान्नरेन्द्रांश्च समस्तानानयस्व ह । सन्ति स्निग्धाश्च ये चान्ये राजानः पृथिवीतले ॥ 13.28 ॥

dākṣiṇātyānnarendrāṃśca samastānānayasva ha | santi snigdhāśca ye cānye rājānaḥ pṛthivītale

—‘and bring all the kings of the southern lands as well; and whatever other friendly kings there may be upon the face of the earth,’

Shloka 29 (bala.13.29)

तानानय यथा क्षिप्रं सानुगान् सहबान्धवान् । एतान् दूतैर्महाभागैरानयस्व नृपाज्ञया ॥ 13.29 ॥

tānānaya yathā kṣipraṃ sānugān sahabāndhavān | etān dūtairmahābhāgairānayasva nṛpājñayā

—‘bring them too, quickly, together with their followers and kinsmen; summon all these through illustrious envoys, by the king’s command.’

Shloka 30 (bala.13.30)

वसिष्ठवाक्यं तच्छ्रुत्वा सुमंत्रस्त्वरितस्तदा । व्यादिशत्पुरुषांस्तत्र राज्ञामानयने शुभान् ॥ 13.30 ॥

vasiṣṭhavākyaṃ tacchrutvā sumaṃtrastvaritastadā | vyādiśatpuruṣāṃstatra rājñāmānayane śubhān

Hearing these words of Vasishtha, Sumantra promptly directed capable men there to go and bring the kings.

Shloka 31 (bala.13.31)

स्वयमेव हि धर्मात्मा प्रयातो मुनिशासनात् । सुमंत्रस्त्वरितो भूत्वा समानेतुं महीक्षितः ॥ 13.31 ॥

svayameva hi dharmātmā prayāto muniśāsanāt | sumaṃtrastvarito bhūtvā samānetuṃ mahīkṣitaḥ

And the righteous Sumantra himself, at the sage’s command, set out swiftly in person to go and fetch the kings.

Shloka 32 (bala.13.32)

ते च कर्मान्तिकाः सर्वे वसिष्ठाय महर्षये । सर्वं निवेदयन्ति स्म यज्ञे यदुपकल्पितम् ॥ 13.32 ॥

te ca karmāntikāḥ sarve vasiṣṭhāya maharṣaye | sarvaṃ nivedayanti sma yajñe yadupakalpitam

And all those overseers of the works reported to the great sage Vasishtha everything that had been prepared for the sacrifice.

Shloka 33 (bala.13.33)

ततः प्रीतो द्विजश्रेष्ठस्तान्सर्वान्मुनिरब्रवीत् । अवज्ञया न दातव्यं कस्यचिल्लीलयापि वा ॥ 13.33 ॥

tataḥ prīto dvijaśreṣṭhastānsarvānmunirabravīt | avajñayā na dātavyaṃ kasyacillīlayāpi vā

Then that foremost of Brahmins, the sage, pleased, said to all of them: ‘Nothing is to be given to anyone with disrespect, nor carelessly either.’

Shloka 34 (bala.13.34)

अवज्ञया कृतं हन्याद्दातारं नात्र संशयः । ततः कैश्चिदहोरात्रैरुपयाता महीक्षितः ॥ 13.34 ॥

avajñayā kṛtaṃ hanyāddātāraṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | tataḥ kaiścidahorātrairupayātā mahīkṣitaḥ

‘Whatever is given with disrespect destroys the giver himself — of this there is no doubt.’ Then, after some days and nights, the kings of the earth arrived,

Shloka 35 (bala.13.35)

बहूनि रत्नान्यादाय राज्ञो दशरथस्य ह । ततो वसिष्ठः सुप्रीतो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 13.35 ॥

bahūni ratnānyādāya rājño daśarathasya ha | tato vasiṣṭhaḥ suprīto rājānamidamabravīt

bringing with them many jewels for King Dasharatha. Then Vasishtha, well pleased, said this to the king:

Shloka 36 (bala.13.36)

उपयाता नरव्याघ्र राजानस्तव शासनात् । मयापि सत्कृताः सर्वे यथार्हं राजसत्तमाः ॥ 13.36 ॥

upayātā naravyāghra rājānastava śāsanāt | mayāpi satkṛtāḥ sarve yathārhaṃ rājasattamāḥ

‘O tiger among men, the kings have arrived at your bidding; and I too have duly honoured every one of these foremost kings, according to his rank.’

Shloka 37 (bala.13.37)

यज्ञीयं च कृतं सर्वं पुरुषैः सुसमाहितैः । निर्यातु च भवान्यष्टुं यज्ञायतनमन्तिकात् ॥ 13.37 ॥

yajñīyaṃ ca kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ puruṣaiḥ susamāhitaiḥ | niryātu ca bhavānyaṣṭuṃ yajñāyatanamantikāt

‘Everything needed for the sacrifice has been completed by diligent men; may you now set out from here for the sacrificial enclosure to perform the rite.’

Shloka 38 (bala.13.38)

सर्वकामैरुपहृतैरुपेतं वै समन्ततः । द्रष्टुमर्हसि राजेन्द्र मनसेव विनिर्मितम् ॥ 13.38 ॥

sarvakāmairupahṛtairupetaṃ vai samantataḥ | draṣṭumarhasi rājendra manaseva vinirmitam

‘It is furnished on every side with all that could be desired; you should behold it, O lord of kings, as though it were fashioned by thought alone.’

Shloka 39 (bala.13.39)

तथा वसिष्ठवचनादृष्यशृङ्गस्य चोभयोः । शुभे दिवसनक्षत्रे निर्यातो जगतीपतिः ॥ 13.39 ॥

tathā vasiṣṭhavacanādṛṣyaśṛṅgasya cobhayoḥ | śubhe divasanakṣatre niryāto jagatīpatiḥ

Thus, on the advice of both Vasishtha and Rishyashringa, on an auspicious day and under a favourable asterism, the lord of the earth set forth.

Shloka 40 (bala.13.40)

ततो वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमाः । ऋष्यशृङ्गं पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञकर्मारभंस्तदा ॥ 13.40 ॥

tato vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ sarva eva dvijottamāḥ | ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ puraskṛtya yajñakarmārabhaṃstadā

Then all those foremost Brahmins, led by Vasishtha, placing Rishyashringa at their head, began the work of the sacrifice.

Shloka 41 (bala.13.41)

यज्ञवाटं गताः सर्वे यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि । श्रीमांश्च सह पत्नीभी राजा दीक्षामुपाविशत् ॥ 13.41 ॥

yajñavāṭaṃ gatāḥ sarve yathāśāstraṃ yathāvidhi | śrīmāṃśca saha patnībhī rājā dīkṣāmupāviśat

All of them went to the sacrificial enclosure according to scripture and rule; and the glorious king, together with his queens, entered upon the vow of consecration.