The Great Horse Sacrifice

Shloka 1 (bala.14.1)

अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे तस्मिन् प्राप्ते तुरंगमे । सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे राज्ञो यज्ञोऽभ्यवर्तत ॥ 14.1 ॥

atha saṃvatsare pūrṇe tasmin prāpte turaṃgame | sarayvāścottare tīre rājño yajño'bhyavartata

Then, when a full year had passed and the horse had returned, the king's sacrifice commenced on the northern bank of the Sarayu.

Shloka 2 (bala.14.2)

ऋष्यशृङ्गं पुरस्कृत्य कर्म चक्रुर्द्विजर्षभाः । अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे राज्ञोऽस्य सुमहात्मनः ॥ 14.2 ॥

ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ puraskṛtya karma cakrurdvijarṣabhāḥ | aśvamedhe mahāyajñe rājño'sya sumahātmanaḥ

Placing Rishyashringa at their head, those foremost of Brahmins carried out the rites of the great horse-sacrifice of that noble-souled king.

Shloka 3 (bala.14.3)

कर्म कुर्वन्ति विधिवद्याजका वेदपारगाः । यथाविधि यथान्यायं परिक्रामन्ति शास्त्रतः ॥ 14.3 ॥

karma kurvanti vidhivadyājakā vedapāragāḥ | yathāvidhi yathānyāyaṃ parikrāmanti śāstrataḥ

The officiating priests, versed in the Vedas, performed the rites according to rule; they moved about the sacrificial ground exactly as ordinance and scripture required.

Shloka 4 (bala.14.4)

प्रवर्ग्यं शास्त्रतः कृत्वा तथैवोपसदं द्विजाः । चक्रुश्च विधिवत्सर्वमधिकं कर्म शास्त्रतः ॥ 14.4 ॥

pravargyaṃ śāstrataḥ kṛtvā tathaivopasadaṃ dvijāḥ | cakruśca vidhivatsarvamadhikaṃ karma śāstrataḥ

Having performed the Pravargya rite according to scripture, and likewise the Upasad, the Brahmins performed all the remaining ancillary rites duly and according to scripture.

Shloka 5 (bala.14.5)

अभिपूज्य तदा हृष्टाः सर्वे चक्रुर्यथाविधि । प्रातःसवनपूर्वाणि कर्माणि मुनिपुंगवाः ॥ 14.5 ॥

abhipūjya tadā hṛṣṭāḥ sarve cakruryathāvidhi | prātaḥsavanapūrvāṇi karmāṇi munipuṃgavāḥ

Then, joyfully, having duly honoured the gods, all those foremost of sages performed the rites belonging to the morning libation, according to rule.

Shloka 6 (bala.14.6)

ऐन्द्रश्च विधिवद्दत्तो राजा चाभिषुतोऽनघः । माध्यंदिनं च सवनं प्रावर्तत यथाक्रमम् ॥ 14.6 ॥

aindraśca vidhivaddatto rājā cābhiṣuto'naghaḥ | mādhyaṃdinaṃ ca savanaṃ prāvartata yathākramam

The oblation to Indra was duly offered, and the sinless king was consecrated; and the midday libation proceeded in due order.

Shloka 7 (bala.14.7)

तृतीयसवनं चैव राज्ञोऽस्य सुमहात्मनः । चक्रुस्ते शास्त्रतो दृष्ट्वा तथा ब्राह्मणपुंगवाः ॥ 14.7 ॥

tṛtīyasavanaṃ caiva rājño'sya sumahātmanaḥ | cakruste śāstrato dṛṣṭvā tathā brāhmaṇapuṃgavāḥ

And those foremost of Brahmins, having consulted the scriptures, likewise performed the third libation of that great-souled king.

Shloka 8 (bala.14.8)

आह्वयांचक्रिरे तत्र शक्रादीन् विबुधोत्तमान् । ऋष्यशृङ्गादयो मन्त्रैः शिक्षाक्षरसमन्वितैः ॥ 14.8 ॥

āhvayāṃcakrire tatra śakrādīn vibudhottamān | ṛṣyaśṛṅgādayo mantraiḥ śikṣākṣarasamanvitaiḥ

There, Rishyashringa and the others invoked Indra and the other foremost gods, with mantras whose syllables were correctly pronounced according to phonetic rule.

Shloka 9 (bala.14.9)

गीतिभिर्मधुरैः स्निग्धैर्मन्त्राह्वानैर्यथार्हतः । होतारो ददुरावाह्य हविर्भागान् दिवौकसाम् ॥ 14.9 ॥

gītibhirmadhuraiḥ snigdhairmantrāhvānairyathārhataḥ | hotāro dadurāvāhya havirbhāgān divaukasām

With sweet and mellow chants and fitting mantra-invocations, the Hotri priests summoned the dwellers of heaven and gave them their due shares of the oblation.

Shloka 10 (bala.14.10)

न चाहुतमभूत्तत्र स्खलितं वा न किंचन । दृश्यते ब्रह्मवत्सर्वं क्षेमयुक्तं हि चक्रिरे ॥ 14.10 ॥

na cāhutamabhūttatra skhalitaṃ vā na kiṃcana | dṛśyate brahmavatsarvaṃ kṣemayuktaṃ hi cakrire

Nothing there was left unoffered, nor was there the slightest slip; everything appeared to proceed exactly as ordained by the Veda, for they performed it all flawlessly.

Shloka 11 (bala.14.11)

न तेष्वहःसु श्रान्तो वा क्षुधितो वापि दृश्यते । नाविद्वान् ब्राह्मणस्तत्र नाशतानुचरस्तथा ॥ 14.11 ॥

na teṣvahaḥsu śrānto vā kṣudhito vāpi dṛśyate | nāvidvān brāhmaṇastatra nāśatānucarastathā

In those days none was seen to be weary or hungry; no Brahmin there was without learning, nor was any without at least a hundred followers.

Shloka 12 (bala.14.12)

ब्राह्मणा भुञ्जते नित्यं नाथवन्तश्च भुञ्जते । तापसा भुञ्जते चापि श्रमणाश्चैव भुञ्जते ॥ 14.12 ॥

brāhmaṇā bhuñjate nityaṃ nāthavantaśca bhuñjate | tāpasā bhuñjate cāpi śramaṇāścaiva bhuñjate

Brahmins ate there continually, and the destitute too were fed; ascetics ate, and wandering mendicants ate as well.

Shloka 13 (bala.14.13)

वृद्धाश्च व्याधिताश्चैव स्त्रियो बालास्तथैव च । अनिशं भुञ्जमानानां न तृप्तिरुपलभ्यते ॥ 14.13 ॥

vṛddhāśca vyādhitāścaiva striyo bālāstathaiva ca | aniśaṃ bhuñjamānānāṃ na tṛptirupalabhyate

The elderly, the sick, women, and children likewise ate without pause, yet so abundant was the provision that no end to their satisfaction could be seen.

Shloka 14 (bala.14.14)

दीयतां दीयतामन्नं वासांसि विविधानि च । इति संचोदितास्तत्र तथा चक्रुरनेकशः ॥ 14.14 ॥

dīyatāṃ dīyatāmannaṃ vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca | iti saṃcoditāstatra tathā cakruranekaśaḥ

‘Let food be given, let food be given, and garments of many kinds as well’ — thus urged on, the attendants did so again and again.

Shloka 15 (bala.14.15)

अन्नकूटाश्च दृश्यन्ते बहवो पर्वतोपमाः । दिवसे दिवसे तत्र सिद्धस्य विधिवत्तदा ॥ 14.15 ॥

annakūṭāśca dṛśyante bahavo parvatopamāḥ | divase divase tatra siddhasya vidhivattadā

Heaps of cooked food, many of them like mountains, were to be seen there each day, duly prepared.

Shloka 16 (bala.14.16)

नानादेशादनुप्राप्ताः पुरुषाः स्त्रीगणास्तथा । अन्नपानैः सुविहितास्तस्मिन्यज्ञे महात्मनः ॥ 14.16 ॥

nānādeśādanuprāptāḥ puruṣāḥ strīgaṇāstathā | annapānaiḥ suvihitāstasminyajñe mahātmanaḥ

Men and groups of women who had come from many different lands were, at that great-souled king's sacrifice, well provided with food and drink.

Shloka 17 (bala.14.17)

अन्नं हि विधिवत्स्वादु प्रशंसन्ति द्विजर्षभाः । अहो तृप्ताः स्म भद्रं त इति शुश्राव राघवः ॥ 14.17 ॥

annaṃ hi vidhivatsvādu praśaṃsanti dvijarṣabhāḥ | aho tṛptāḥ sma bhadraṃ ta iti śuśrāva rāghavaḥ

The foremost Brahmins praised the food, so well and tastefully prepared; and Raghava heard them say, ‘Ah, we are satisfied — blessings upon you!’

Shloka 18 (bala.14.18)

स्वलंकृताश्च पुरुषा ब्राह्मणान्पर्यवेषयन् । उपासते च तानन्ये सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः ॥ 14.18 ॥

svalaṃkṛtāśca puruṣā brāhmaṇānparyaveṣayan | upāsate ca tānanye sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalāḥ

Well-adorned attendants served the Brahmins, while others, wearing bright jewelled earrings, waited upon them.

Shloka 19 (bala.14.19)

कर्मान्तरे तदा विप्रा हेतुवादान्बहूनपि । प्राहुः सुवाग्मिनो धीराः परस्परजिगीषया ॥ 14.19 ॥

karmāntare tadā viprā hetuvādānbahūnapi | prāhuḥ suvāgmino dhīrāḥ parasparajigīṣayā

In the intervals between the rites, those eloquent and steadfast Brahmins put forth many learned arguments, each eager to outdo the other.

Shloka 20 (bala.14.20)

दिवसे दिवसे तत्र संस्तरे कुशला द्विजाः । सर्वकर्माणि चक्रुस्ते यथाशास्त्रं प्रचोदिताः ॥ 14.20 ॥

divase divase tatra saṃstare kuśalā dvijāḥ | sarvakarmāṇi cakruste yathāśāstraṃ pracoditāḥ

Day after day, those Brahmins, skilled in the laying of the sacred grass, urged on by the scriptures, performed all the rites accordingly.

Shloka 21 (bala.14.21)

नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीत् नाव्रतो नाबहुश्रुतः । सदस्यास्तस्य वै राज्ञो नावादकुशला द्विजाः ॥ 14.21 ॥

nāṣaḍaṅgavidatrāsīt nāvrato nābahuśrutaḥ | sadasyāstasya vai rājño nāvādakuśalā dvijāḥ

Among that king's assembly of learned priests, there was none unversed in the six auxiliary sciences of the Veda, none without vows, none of little learning, and no Brahmin unskilled in debate.

Shloka 22 (bala.14.22)

प्राप्ते यूपोच्छ्रये तस्मिन् षड्बैल्वाः खादिरास्तथा । तावन्तो बिल्वसहिताः पर्णिनश्च तथापरे ॥ 14.22 ॥

prāpte yūpocchraye tasmin ṣaḍbailvāḥ khādirāstathā | tāvanto bilvasahitāḥ parṇinaśca tathāpare

When the time came for raising the sacrificial posts, six were of bilva wood, and as many of khadira wood together with bilva, and others again of parna wood.

Shloka 23 (bala.14.23)

श्लेष्मातकमयो दिष्टो देवदारुमयस्तथा । द्वावेव तत्र विहितौ बाहुव्यस्तपरिग्रहौ ॥ 14.23 ॥

śleṣmātakamayo diṣṭo devadārumayastathā | dvāveva tatra vihitau bāhuvyastaparigrahau

One post prescribed was of shleshmataka wood, and one of devadaru wood; these two alone were made large enough to be grasped by both arms, one on each side.

Shloka 24 (bala.14.24)

कारिताः सर्व एवैते शास्त्रज्ञैर्यज्ञकोविदैः । शोभार्थं तस्य यज्ञस्य कांचनालंकृताभवन् ॥ 14.24 ॥

kāritāḥ sarva evaite śāstrajñairyajñakovidaiḥ | śobhārthaṃ tasya yajñasya kāṃcanālaṃkṛtābhavan

All of these were made by men learned in the scriptures and skilled in sacrificial lore; and, for the splendour of that sacrifice, they were adorned with gold.

Shloka 25 (bala.14.25)

एकविंशतियूपास्ते एकविंशत्यरत्नयः । वासोभिरेकविंशद्भिरेकैकं समलंकृताः ॥ 14.25 ॥

ekaviṃśatiyūpāste ekaviṃśatyaratnayaḥ | vāsobhirekaviṃśadbhirekaikaṃ samalaṃkṛtāḥ

Those posts, twenty-one in number, were each twenty-one cubits in height, and each one was adorned with a garment of its own, twenty-one garments in all.

Shloka 26 (bala.14.26)

विन्यस्ता विधिवत्सर्वे शिल्पिभिः सुकृता दृढाः । अष्टाश्रयः सर्व एव श्लक्ष्णरूपसमन्विताः ॥ 14.26 ॥

vinyastā vidhivatsarve śilpibhiḥ sukṛtā dṛḍhāḥ | aṣṭāśrayaḥ sarva eva ślakṣṇarūpasamanvitāḥ

All were duly set in place, well wrought and firm by the craftsmen, each eight-sided and finished with a smooth and beautiful form.

Shloka 27 (bala.14.27)

आच्छादितास्ते वासोभिः पुष्पैर्गन्धैश्च पूजिताः । सप्तर्षयो दीप्तिमन्तो विराजन्ते यथा दिवि ॥ 14.27 ॥

ācchāditāste vāsobhiḥ puṣpairgandhaiśca pūjitāḥ | saptarṣayo dīptimanto virājante yathā divi

Draped in garments and honoured with flowers and fragrant scents, they shone forth like the radiant Seven Sages in the sky.

Shloka 28 (bala.14.28)

इष्टकाश्च यथान्यायं कारिताश्च प्रमाणतः । चितोऽग्निर्ब्राह्मणैस्तत्र कुशलैः शिल्पकर्मणि ॥ 14.28 ॥

iṣṭakāśca yathānyāyaṃ kāritāśca pramāṇataḥ | cito'gnirbrāhmaṇaistatra kuśalaiḥ śilpakarmaṇi

Bricks were made there, correctly and to exact measure; and the fire-altar was built up there by Brahmins skilled in that craft.

Shloka 29 (bala.14.29)

स चित्यो राजसिंहस्य संचितः कुशलैर्द्विजैः । गरुडो रुक्मपक्षो वै त्रिगुणोऽष्टादशात्मकः ॥ 14.29 ॥

sa cityo rājasiṃhasya saṃcitaḥ kuśalairdvijaiḥ | garuḍo rukmapakṣo vai triguṇo'ṣṭādaśātmakaḥ

That fire-altar of the lion-like king, built up by skilled Brahmins, was in the shape of Garuda with golden wings, three times the usual size, made of eighteen layers.

Shloka 30 (bala.14.30)

नियुक्तास्तत्र पशवस्तत्तदुद्दिश्य दैवतम् । उरगाः पक्षिणश्चैव यथाशास्त्रं प्रचोदिताः ॥ 14.30 ॥

niyuktāstatra paśavastattaduddiśya daivatam | uragāḥ pakṣiṇaścaiva yathāśāstraṃ pracoditāḥ

Animals were assigned there, each dedicated to its own deity; serpents and birds too, as urged by scriptural rule.

Shloka 31 (bala.14.31)

शामित्रे तु हयस्तत्र तथा जलचराश्च ये । ऋषिभिः सर्वमेवैतन्नियुक्तं शास्त्रतस्तदा ॥ 14.31 ॥

śāmitre tu hayastatra tathā jalacarāśca ye | ṛṣibhiḥ sarvamevaitanniyuktaṃ śāstratastadā

The horse was set apart for the peace-offering rite, and likewise the water-creatures; all of this was arranged by the sages, exactly according to scripture.

Shloka 32 (bala.14.32)

पशूनां त्रिशतं तत्र यूपेषु नियतं तदा । अश्वरत्नोत्तमं तस्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य च ॥ 14.32 ॥

paśūnāṃ triśataṃ tatra yūpeṣu niyataṃ tadā | aśvaratnottamaṃ tasya rājño daśarathasya ca

Three hundred animals were then bound fast to the sacrificial posts, together with that jewel among horses belonging to King Dasharatha.

Shloka 33 (bala.14.33)

कौसल्या तं हयं तत्र परिचर्य समंततः । कृपाणैर्विशशासैनं त्रिभिः परमया मुदा ॥ 14.33 ॥

kausalyā taṃ hayaṃ tatra paricarya samaṃtataḥ | kṛpāṇairviśaśāsainaṃ tribhiḥ paramayā mudā

Kausalya, attending upon that horse and walking all around it, then, with the greatest joy, touched it with three swords in the ritual gesture of the rite.

Shloka 34 (bala.14.34)

पतत्रिणा तदा सार्धं सुस्थितेन च चेतसा । अवसद्रजनीमेकां कौसल्या धर्मकाम्यया ॥ 14.34 ॥

patatriṇā tadā sārdhaṃ susthitena ca cetasā | avasadrajanīmekāṃ kausalyā dharmakāmyayā

Then, with a composed heart and longing for the merit of the rite, Kausalya lay for one night beside that swift horse.

Shloka 35 (bala.14.35)

होताध्वर्युस्तथोद्गाता हस्तेन समयोजयन् । महिष्या परिवृत्त्या च वावातामपरां तथा ॥ 14.35 ॥

hotādhvaryustathodgātā hastena samayojayan | mahiṣyā parivṛttyā ca vāvātāmaparāṃ tathā

The Hotri, Adhvaryu, and Udgatri priests then took by the hand, in turn, the chief queen, the set-aside queen, and the king's other favoured consort.

Shloka 36 (bala.14.36)

पतत्रिणस्तस्य वपामुद्धृत्य नियतेन्द्रियः । ऋत्विक् परमसंपन्नः श्रपयामास शास्त्रतः ॥ 14.36 ॥

patatriṇastasya vapāmuddhṛtya niyatendriyaḥ | ṛtvik paramasaṃpannaḥ śrapayāmāsa śāstrataḥ

The officiating priest, of controlled senses and richly endowed with learning, drew out the omentum of that swift horse and cooked it according to scripture.

Shloka 37 (bala.14.37)

धूमगन्धं वपायास्तु जिघ्रति स्म नराधिपः । यथाकालं यथान्यायं निर्णुदन् पापमात्मनः ॥ 14.37 ॥

dhūmagandhaṃ vapāyāstu jighrati sma narādhipaḥ | yathākālaṃ yathānyāyaṃ nirṇudan pāpamātmanaḥ

The king, at the proper time and in the proper manner, inhaled the fragrant smoke of the burning omentum, thereby driving away his own sins.

Shloka 38 (bala.14.38)

हयस्य यानि चांगानि तानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणाः । अग्नौ प्रास्यन्ति विधिवत् समस्ताः षोडशर्त्विजः ॥ 14.38 ॥

hayasya yāni cāṃgāni tāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇāḥ | agnau prāsyanti vidhivat samastāḥ ṣoḍaśartvijaḥ

All the remaining limbs of the horse were then duly cast into the fire by all sixteen officiating priests together.

Shloka 39 (bala.14.39)

प्लक्षशाखासु यज्ञानामन्येषां क्रियते हविः । अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य वैतसो भाग इष्यते ॥ 14.39 ॥

plakṣaśākhāsu yajñānāmanyeṣāṃ kriyate haviḥ | aśvamedhasya yajñasya vaitaso bhāga iṣyate

In other sacrifices the oblation is offered on branches of the plaksha tree; but in the horse-sacrifice, the offering on branches of the cane (vetasa) plant is prescribed.

Shloka 40 (bala.14.40)

त्र्यहोऽश्वमेधः संख्यातः कल्पसूत्रेण ब्राह्मणैः । चतुष्टोममहस्तस्य प्रथमं परिकल्पितम् ॥ 14.40 ॥

tryaho'śvamedhaḥ saṃkhyātaḥ kalpasūtreṇa brāhmaṇaiḥ | catuṣṭomamahastasya prathamaṃ parikalpitam

The horse-sacrifice is reckoned by the Brahmins, according to the Kalpa-sutras, to last three days; its first day was appointed as the Chatushtoma rite.

Shloka 41 (bala.14.41)

उक्थ्यं द्वितीयं संख्यातमतिरात्रं तथोत्तरम् । कारितास्तत्र बहवो विहिताः शास्त्रदर्शनात् ॥ 14.41 ॥

ukthyaṃ dvitīyaṃ saṃkhyātamatirātraṃ tathottaram | kāritāstatra bahavo vihitāḥ śāstradarśanāt

The second day was reckoned as the Ukthya rite, and the following one as the Atiratra; and many other prescribed rites, as laid down in the scriptures, were also performed there.

Shloka 42 (bala.14.42)

ज्योतिष्टोमायुषी चैवमतिरात्रौ विनिर्मितौ । अभिजिद्विश्वजिच्चैवमप्तोर्यामो महाक्रतुः ॥ 14.42 ॥

jyotiṣṭomāyuṣī caivamatirātrau vinirmitau | abhijidviśvajiccaivamaptoryāmo mahākratuḥ

The Jyotishtoma and Ayush rites, and likewise two Atiratras, were performed; and the Abhijit, the Vishvajit, and the great rite of Aptoryama as well.

Shloka 43 (bala.14.43)

प्राचीं होत्रे ददौ राजा दिशं स्वकुलवर्धनः । अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं तु ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम् ॥ 14.43 ॥

prācīṃ hotre dadau rājā diśaṃ svakulavardhanaḥ | adhvaryave pratīcīṃ tu brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṃ diśam

The king, the increaser of his line, gave the eastern quarter to the Hotri, the western to the Adhvaryu, and the southern quarter to the Brahma priest.

Shloka 44 (bala.14.44)

उद्गात्रे च ततोदीचीं दक्षिणैषा विनिर्मिता । अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे स्वयंभुविहिते पुरा ॥ 14.44 ॥

udgātre ca tatodīcīṃ dakṣiṇaiṣā vinirmitā | aśvamedhe mahāyajñe svayaṃbhuvihite purā

And to the Udgatri he gave the northern quarter — this was the sacrificial fee ordained of old by the Self-existent One for the great horse-sacrifice.

Shloka 45 (bala.14.45)

क्रतुं समाप्य तु तदा न्यायतः पुरुषर्षभः । ऋत्विग्भ्यो हि ददौ राजा धरां तां कुलवर्धनः ॥ 14.45 ॥

kratuṃ samāpya tu tadā nyāyataḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | ṛtvigbhyo hi dadau rājā dharāṃ tāṃ kulavardhanaḥ

Then, having duly completed the rite, that bull among men, the king, the increaser of his line, gave that same earth to the officiating priests.

Shloka 46 (bala.14.46)

एवं दत्त्वा प्रहृष्टोऽभूत् श्रीमानिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः । ऋत्विजस्त्वब्रुवन् सर्वे राजानं गतकिल्बिषम् ॥ 14.46 ॥

evaṃ dattvā prahṛṣṭo'bhūt śrīmānikṣvākunandanaḥ | ṛtvijastvabruvan sarve rājānaṃ gatakilbiṣam

Having thus given it away, that glorious descendant of Ikshvaku rejoiced; but all the priests then said to the king, now freed of sin:

Shloka 47 (bala.14.47)

भवानेव महीं कृत्स्नामेको रक्षितुमर्हति । न भूम्या कार्यमस्माकं न हि शक्ताः स्म पालने ॥ 14.47 ॥

bhavāneva mahīṃ kṛtsnāmeko rakṣitumarhati | na bhūmyā kāryamasmākaṃ na hi śaktāḥ sma pālane

‘You alone are fit to protect this entire earth; we have no use for land, nor are we capable of governing it.’

Shloka 48 (bala.14.48)

रताः स्वाध्यायकरणे वयं नित्यं हि भूमिप । निष्क्रयं किंचिदेवेह प्रयच्छतु भवानिति ॥ 14.48 ॥

ratāḥ svādhyāyakaraṇe vayaṃ nityaṃ hi bhūmipa | niṣkrayaṃ kiṃcideveha prayacchatu bhavāniti

‘We are ever devoted to the practice of Vedic study, O lord of the earth; let your majesty instead give us some other token in its place.’

Shloka 49 (bala.14.49)

मणिरत्नं सुवर्णं वा गावो यद्वा समुद्यतम् । तत्प्रयच्छ नरश्रेष्ठ धरण्या न प्रयोजनम् ॥ 14.49 ॥

maṇiratnaṃ suvarṇaṃ vā gāvo yadvā samudyatam | tatprayaccha naraśreṣṭha dharaṇyā na prayojanam

‘Give us jewels, gold, or cattle, or whatever else is at hand, O best of men; we have no need of the earth itself.’

Shloka 50 (bala.14.50)

एवमुक्तो नरपतिर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । गवां शतसहस्राणि दश तेभ्यो ददौ नृपः ॥ 14.50 ॥

evamukto narapatirbrāhmaṇairvedapāragaiḥ | gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi daśa tebhyo dadau nṛpaḥ

Thus addressed by the Brahmins learned in the Vedas, the king gave to them ten hundred-thousand cows.

Shloka 51 (bala.14.51)

दशकोटीः सुवर्णस्य रजतस्य चतुर्गुणम् । ऋत्विजश्च ततः सर्वे प्रददुः सहिता वसु ॥ 14.51 ॥

daśakoṭīḥ suvarṇasya rajatasya caturguṇam | ṛtvijaśca tataḥ sarve pradaduḥ sahitā vasu

—ten crores of gold, and four times as much silver; and then all the officiating priests together distributed this wealth further,

Shloka 52 (bala.14.52)

ऋष्यशृङ्गाय मुनये वसिष्ठाय च धीमते । ततस्ते न्यायतः कृत्वा प्रविभागं द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ 14.52 ॥

ṛṣyaśṛṅgāya munaye vasiṣṭhāya ca dhīmate | tataste nyāyataḥ kṛtvā pravibhāgaṃ dvijottamāḥ

—to the sage Rishyashringa and to the wise Vasishtha; then those foremost Brahmins, having duly made the division,

Shloka 53 (bala.14.53)

सुप्रीतमनसः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुर्मुदिता भृशम् । ततः प्रसर्पकेभ्यस्तु हिरण्यं सुसमाहितः ॥ 14.53 ॥

suprītamanasaḥ sarve pratyūcurmuditā bhṛśam | tataḥ prasarpakebhyastu hiraṇyaṃ susamāhitaḥ

were all deeply pleased at heart and replied with great joy. Then, to the wandering scholars too, that composed king

Shloka 54 (bala.14.54)

जांबूनदं कोटिसंंख्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ तदा । दरिद्राय द्विजायाथ हस्ताभरणमुत्तमम् ॥ 14.54 ॥

jāṃbūnadaṃ koṭisaṃṃkhyaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo dadau tadā | daridrāya dvijāyātha hastābharaṇamuttamam

gave crores' worth of refined gold to the Brahmins; and to a poor Brahmin, who was begging of him,

Shloka 55 (bala.14.55)

कस्मैचिद्याचमानाय ददौ राघवनंदनः । ततः प्रीतेषु विधिवत् द्विजेषु द्विजवत्सलः ॥ 14.55 ॥

kasmaicidyācamānāya dadau rāghavanaṃdanaḥ | tataḥ prīteṣu vidhivat dvijeṣu dvijavatsalaḥ

that son of Raghu's line gave an excellent ornament for the hand. Then, when the Brahmins had all been duly satisfied, that friend of the twice-born,

Shloka 56 (bala.14.56)

प्रणाममकरोत्तेषां हर्षव्याकुलितेन्द्रियः । तस्याशिषोऽथ विविधा ब्राह्मणैः समुदाहृताः ॥ 14.56 ॥

praṇāmamakarotteṣāṃ harṣavyākulitendriyaḥ | tasyāśiṣo'tha vividhā brāhmaṇaiḥ samudāhṛtāḥ

his senses overwhelmed with joy, bowed down before them; and various blessings were then pronounced by the Brahmins upon the king as he lay prostrate on the ground —

Shloka 57 (bala.14.57)

उदारस्य नृवीरस्य धरण्यां पतितस्य च । ततः प्रीतमना राजा प्राप्य यज्ञमनुत्तमम् ॥ 14.57 ॥

udārasya nṛvīrasya dharaṇyāṃ patitasya ca | tataḥ prītamanā rājā prāpya yajñamanuttamam

blessings upon that generous, heroic king. Then the king, glad at heart, having accomplished that unsurpassed sacrifice,

Shloka 58 (bala.14.58)

पापापहं स्वर्नयनं दुस्तरं पार्थिवर्षभैः । ततोऽब्रवीदृष्यशृंगं राजा दशरथस्तदा ॥ 14.58 ॥

pāpāpahaṃ svarnayanaṃ dustaraṃ pārthivarṣabhaiḥ | tato'bravīdṛṣyaśṛṃgaṃ rājā daśarathastadā

—which removes sin and leads to heaven, and which is hard for even the foremost of kings to accomplish — then said this to Rishyashringa:

Shloka 59 (bala.14.59)

कुलस्य वर्धनं त्वं तु कर्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत । तथेति च स राजानमुवाच द्विजसत्तमः । भविष्यन्ति सुता राजंश्चत्वारस्ते कुलोद्वहाः ॥ 14.59 ॥

kulasya vardhanaṃ tvaṃ tu kartumarhasi suvrata | tatheti ca sa rājānamuvāca dvijasattamaḥ | bhaviṣyanti sutā rājaṃścatvāraste kulodvahāḥ

‘O sage of noble vows, it is you who should now bring about the increase of my line.’ ‘So be it,’ replied that foremost Brahmin to the king. ‘O king, four sons, upholders of your line, will be born to you.’

Shloka 60 (bala.14.60)

स तस्य वाक्यं मधुरं निशम्य प्रणम्य तस्मै प्रयतो नृपेन्द्र । जगाम हर्षं परमं महात्मा तं ऋष्यशृङ्गं पुनरप्युवाच ॥ 14.60 ॥

sa tasya vākyaṃ madhuraṃ niśamya praṇamya tasmai prayato nṛpendra | jagāma harṣaṃ paramaṃ mahātmā taṃ ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ punarapyuvāca

Hearing those sweet words of his, the lord of kings bowed reverently to him; and that great-souled one, filled with the greatest joy, spoke once more to Rishyashringa.