Dasharatha Resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Shloka 1 (bala.8.1)

तस्य चैवंप्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः । सुतार्थं तप्यमानस्य नासीद्वंशकरः सुतः ।। ८.१ ।।

tasya ca evam prabhāvasya dharmajñasya mahātmanaḥ | sutārtham tapya mānasya na asīt vaṃśakaraḥ sutaḥ || 8.1 ||

To him, of such power, righteous and great-souled, whose heart was burning to beget sons, no son who would perpetuate his lineage was born.

Shloka 2 (bala.8.2)

चिन्तयानस्य तस्यैवं बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनः । सुतार्थं वाजिमेधेन किमर्थं न यजाम्यहम् ।। ८.२ ।।

cintayānasya tasya evam buddhiḥ āsīn mahātmanaḥ | sutārtham vājimedhena kim artham na yajāmi aham || 8.2 ||

As that great soul pondered thus, this thought occurred to him: 'For the sake of a son, why should I not perform the Horse Sacrifice?'

Shloka 3 (bala.8.3)

स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान् । मंत्रिभिः सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरपि कृतात्मभिः ।। ८.३ ।।

sa niścitām matim kṛtvā yaṣṭavyam iti buddhimān | maṃtribhiḥ saha dharmātmā sarvaiḥ api kṛta ātmabhiḥ || 8.3 ||

That wise and righteous king, having resolved in his mind that the sacrifice should indeed be performed, took counsel together with all his ministers, men of disciplined mind —

Shloka 4 (bala.8.4)

ततोऽब्रवीदिदं राजा सुमन्त्रं मंत्रिसत्तमम् । शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान् गुरूंस्तान्सपुरोहितान् ।। ८.४ ।।

tato.abravīt mahātejāḥ sumaṃtram maṃtri sattamam | śīghram ānaya me sarvān gurūn tān sa purohitān || 8.4 ||

— then said this to Sumantra, the foremost of his ministers: 'Quickly bring to me all my preceptors, together with the family priests.'

Shloka 5 (bala.8.5)

ततः सुमंत्रः त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रमः । समानयत्स तान्सर्वान्समस्तान्वेदपारगान् ।। ८.५ ।।

tataḥ sumaṃtraḥ tvaritam gatvā tvarita vikramaḥ | sam ānayat sa tān sarvān samastān veda pāragān || 8.5 ||

Then Sumantra, swift of action, going quickly, brought together all those masters who had crossed to the far shore of the Vedas —

Shloka 6 (bala.8.6)

सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम् । पुरोहितं वशिष्ठं च ये चाप्यन्ये द्विजोत्तमाः ।। ८.६ ।।

suyajñam vāmadevam ca jābālim atha kāśyapam | purohitam vaśiṣṭham ca ye ca api anye dvijottamāḥ || 8.6 ||

— Suyajna, and Vamadeva, and Jabali, and Kashyapa, and the family priest Vasishtha, and whatever other most excellent twice-born there were.

Shloka 7 (bala.8.7)

तान्पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा । इदं धर्मार्थसहितं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ८.७ ।।

tān pūjayitvā dharmātmā rājā daśarathaḥ tadā | idam dharma artha sahitam ślakṣṇam vacanam abravīt || 8.7 ||

Then, having honoured them, the righteous King Dasharatha spoke this gentle speech, replete with meaning and righteousness:

Shloka 8 (bala.8.8)

मम लालप्यमानस्य सुतार्थं नास्ति वै सुखम् । तदर्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामीति मतिर्मम ।। ८.८ ।।

mama lālasya mānasya sutārtham nāsti vai sukham | tadartham hayamedhena yakṣhyāmi iti matir mama || 8.8 ||

'For the sake of a son I am tormented, and I know no happiness at all. For that purpose it is my resolve to perform the Horse Sacrifice.'

Shloka 9 (bala.8.9)

तदहं यष्टुमिच्छमि शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा । कथं प्राप्स्याम्यहं कामं बुद्धिरत्र विचिन्त्यताम् ।। ८.९ ।।

tat aham yaṣṭum icchami śāstra dṛṣṭena karmaṇā | katham prāpsyāmi aham kāmam buddhiḥ atra vicintyatām || 8.9 ||

'I wish to perform that sacrifice according to the rite laid down in the scriptures — let it be considered how I may attain my desire.'

Shloka 10 (bala.8.10)

ततः साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणाः प्रत्यपूजयन् । वशिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखेरितम् ।। ८.१० ।।

tataḥ sādhu iti tadvākyam brāhmaṇāḥ pratyapūjayan | vaśiṣṭha pramukhāḥ sarve pārthivasya mukheritam || 8.10 ||

Then all the Brahmins, headed by Vasishtha, applauded that speech uttered by the king's own mouth, saying, 'Excellent!'

Shloka 11 (bala.8.11)

ऊचुश्च परमप्रीताः सर्वे दशरथं वचः । संभाराः संभ्रियंतां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम् ।। ८.११ ।।

ūcuḥ ca parama prītāḥ sarve daśaratham vacaḥ | saṃbhārāḥ saṃbhriyaṃtām te turagaḥ ca vimucyatām || 8.11 ||

And, exceedingly pleased, they all said this to Dasharatha: 'Let the materials be gathered, and let the sacrificial horse be set loose;'

Shloka 12 (bala.8.12)

सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम् । सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रानभिप्रेतांश्च पार्थिव ।। ८.१२ ।।

sarayvāḥ ca uttare tīre yajña bhūmir vidhīyatām | sarvathā prāpsyase putrān abhipretān ca pārthiva || 8.12 ||

'— and let a sacrificial ground be prepared on the northern bank of the Sarayu; O king, by every means you shall obtain the sons you desire.'

Shloka 13 (bala.8.13)

यस्य ते धर्मिकी बुद्धिरियं पुत्रार्थमागता । ततस्तुष्टोऽभवद्राजा श्रुत्वैतद् द्विजभाषितम् ।। ८.१३ ।।

yasya te dharmikī buddhiḥ iyam putrārtham āgatā | tataḥ tuṣṭo.abhavat rājā śrutvā tad dvija bhāṣitam || 8.13 ||

'— since this righteous resolve of yours has arisen for the very purpose of obtaining a son.' Hearing this speech of the twice-born, the king became joyful.

Shloka 14 (bala.8.14)

अमात्यांश्चाब्रवीद्राजा हर्षपर्याकुलेक्षणः । संभाराः संभ्रियंतां मे गुरूणां वचनादिह ।। ८.१४ ।।

amātyān abravīt rājā harṣa paryākula locana | saṃbhārāḥ saṃbhriyaṃtām me gurūṇām vacanāt iha || 8.14 ||

And the king, his eyes wide with joy, said to his ministers: 'Let the materials now be gathered here, as instructed by my preceptors.'

Shloka 15 (bala.8.15)

समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वः सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम् । सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम् ।। ८.१५ ।।

samartha adhiṣṭhitaḥ ca aśvaḥ saḥ upādhyāyo vimucyatām | sarayvāḥ ca uttare tīre yajña bhūmir vidhīyatām || 8.15 ||

'Let the horse, guarded by capable men and accompanied by the preceptor, be set loose; and let a sacrificial ground be prepared on the northern bank of the Sarayu.'

Shloka 16 (bala.8.16)

शान्तयश्चापि वर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि । शक्यः प्राप्तुमयं यज्ञः सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता । नापराधो भवेत् कष्टो यद्यस्मिन् क्रतुसत्तमे ।। ८.१६ ।।

śāntayaḥ ca api vardhantām yathā kalpam yathā vidhi | śakyaḥ prāptum ayam yajñaḥ sarveṇa api mahīkṣitā | na aparādho bhavet kaṣṭo yadi asmin kratu sattame || 8.16 ||

'And let the peace-offerings, too, be duly increased according to tradition and to rule, so that no grave fault may befall this most excellent rite — a rite that any king on earth would be glad to obtain.'

Shloka 17 (bala.8.17)

छिद्रं हि मृगयन्तेऽत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसाः । विधिहीनस्य यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति ।। ८.१७ ।।

chidram hi mṛgayante sma vidvāṃso brahma rākṣasāḥ | vidhi hīnasya yajñasya sadyaḥ kartā vinaśyati || 8.17 ||

'For learned Brahma-rakshasas are ever seeking a flaw in it; if the sacrifice is performed contrary to rule, its performer perishes at once.'

Shloka 18 (bala.8.18)

तद्यथा विधिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते । तथा विधानं क्रियतां समर्थाः साधनेष्विति ।। ८.१८ ।।

tadyathā vidhi pūrvam me kratureṣa samāpyate | tathā vidhānam kriyatām samarthāḥ sādhaneṣu iti || 8.18 ||

'Therefore see to it that this sacrifice of mine is duly and properly completed according to rule; you are all capable in such undertakings.'

Shloka 19 (bala.8.19)

तथेति चाब्रुवन्सर्वे मंत्रिणः प्रतिपूजिता । पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद्वाक्यं यथापूर्वं निशम्य ते ।। ८.१९ ।।

tathā iti ca abruvan sarve maṃtriṇaḥ pratipūjitā | pārthivendrasya tad vākyam yathā pūrvam niśaṃya te || 8.19 ||

Hearing this speech of the lord of kings, all the ministers, thus honoured, replied, 'So be it,' just as they had spoken before.

Shloka 20 (bala.8.20)

तथा द्विजास्ते धर्मज्ञा वर्धयन्तो नृपोत्तमम् । अनुज्ञातास्ततः सर्वे पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम् ।। ८.२० ।।

tathā dvijāḥ te dharmajñā varthayato nṛpottamam | anujñātāḥ tataḥ sarve punar jagmur yathā āgatam || 8.20 ||

Then those righteous twice-born, having thus exalted that best of kings, took his leave and departed once more, even as they had come.

Shloka 21 (bala.8.21)

विसर्जयित्वा तान्विप्रान् सचिवानिदमब्रवीत् । ऋत्विग्भिरुपसंदिष्टो यथावत् क्रतुराप्यताम् ।। ८.२१ ।।

visarjayitvā tān viprān sacivān idam abravīt | ṛtvigbhiḥ upasaṃdiṣṭo yathāvat kratur āpyatām || 8.21 ||

Having taken leave of those Brahmins, the king said this to his ministers: 'As the officiating priests have directed, let the sacrifice be duly carried through.'

Shloka 22 (bala.8.22)

इत्युक्त्वा नृपशार्दूलः सचिवान्समुपस्थितान् । विसर्जयित्वा स्वं वेश्म प्रविवेश महामतिः ।। ८.२२ ।।

iti uktvā nṛpa śārdūlaḥ sacivān samupasthitān | visarjayitvā svam veśma praviveśa mahāmatiḥ || 8.22 ||

Having said this, that tiger among kings, of great intelligence, dismissed the ministers who had gathered before him, and entered his own palace.

Shloka 23 (bala.8.23)

ततः स गत्वा ताः पत्नीर्नरेन्द्रो हृदयंगमाः । उवाच दीक्षां विशत यक्ष्येऽहं सुतकारणात् ।। ८.२३ ।।

tataḥ sa gatvā tāḥ patnīr narendro hṛdayaṃgamāḥ | uvāca dīkṣām viśata yakṣe.aham suta kāraṇāt || 8.23 ||

Then that king, going to his wives who were dear to his heart, said to them: 'For the sake of a son I am about to perform the sacrifice; enter now upon the vow.'

Shloka 24 (bala.8.24)

तासां तेनातिकान्तेन वचनेन सुवर्चसाम् । मुखपद्मान्यशोभन्त पद्मानीव हिमात्यये ।। ८.२४ ।।

tāsām tena ati kāntena vacanena suvarcasām | mukha padmān aśobhanta padmānīva himātyaye || 8.24 ||

At those most pleasing words of the king, the lotus faces of those queens, already radiant, shone still more brightly, like lotuses when the frost has cleared.