Rama Orders the Ashwamedha Preparations

Shloka 1 (uttara.91.1)

एतदाख्याय काकुत्स्थो भ्रातृभ्याममितप्रभः । लक्ष्मणं पुनरेवाह धर्मयुक्तमिदं वचः ।। ७.९१.१ ।।

etadākhyāya kākutstho bhrātṛbhyām amitaprabhaḥ | lakṣmaṇaṃ punarevāha dharmayuktam idaṃ vacaḥ || 7.91.1 ||

Having recounted this to his brothers, the boundlessly radiant Kakutstha (Rama) spoke again to Lakshmana this word full of righteousness.

Shloka 2 (uttara.91.2)

वसिष्ठं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ कश्यपम् । द्विजांश्च सर्वप्रवरानश्वमेधपुरस्कृतान् ।। ७.९१.२ ।।

vasiṣṭhaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca jābālim atha kaśyapam | dvijāṃś ca sarvapravarān aśvamedhapuraskṛtān || 7.91.2 ||

"Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Jabali, and Kashyapa, and all the foremost brahmins appointed to lead the Ashwamedha —"

Shloka 3 (uttara.91.3)

एतान्सर्वान्समानीय मन्त्रयित्वा च लक्ष्मण । हयं लक्षणसम्पन्नं विमोक्ष्यामि समाधिना ।। ७.९१.३ ।।

etān sarvān samānīya mantrayitvā ca lakṣmaṇa | hayaṃ lakṣaṇasampannaṃ vimokṣyāmi samādhinā || 7.91.3 ||

"Having summoned and consulted all of these, Lakshmana, I shall release, with due rite, the horse marked with auspicious signs."

Shloka 4 (uttara.91.4)

तद्वाक्यं राघवेणोक्तं श्रुत्वा त्वरितविक्रमः । द्विजान्सर्वान्समाहूय दर्शयामास राघवम् ।। ७.९१.४ ।।

tad vākyaṃ rāghaveṇoktaṃ śrutvā tvaritavikramaḥ | dvijān sarvān samāhūya darśayām āsa rāghavam || 7.91.4 ||

Hearing this word spoken by Raghava, the swift-valored Lakshmana summoned all the brahmins and brought them before Raghava.

Shloka 5 (uttara.91.5)

ते दृष्ट्वा देवसङ्काशं कृतपादाभिवन्दनम् । राघवं सुदुराधर्षमाशीर्भिः समपूजयन् ।। ७.९१.५ ।।

te dṛṣṭvā devasaṅkāśaṃ kṛtapādābhivandanam | rāghavaṃ sudurādharṣam āśīrbhiḥ samapūjayan || 7.91.5 ||

Seeing Raghava -- godlike, unassailable, who had bowed at their feet -- they honored him in turn with their blessings.

Shloka 6 (uttara.91.6)

प्राञ्जलिः स तदा भूत्वा राघवो द्विजसत्तमान् । आचचक्षे ऽश्वमेधस्य ह्यभिप्रायं महायशाः ।। ७.९१.६ ।।

prāñjaliḥ sa tadā bhūtvā rāghavo dvijasattamān | ācacakṣe 'śvamedhasya hy abhiprāyaṃ mahāyaśāḥ || 7.91.6 ||

Then, joining his palms, the greatly renowned Raghava explained to those foremost brahmins his intent regarding the Ashwamedha.

Shloka 7 (uttara.91.7)

ते तु रामस्य तच्छ्रुत्वा नमस्कृत्वा वृषध्वजम् । अश्वमेधं द्विजाः सर्वे पूजयन्ति स्म सर्वशः ।। ७.९१.७ ।।

te tu rāmasya tac chrutvā namaskṛtvā vṛṣadhvajam | aśvamedhaṃ dvijāḥ sarve pūjayanti sma sarvaśaḥ || 7.91.7 ||

Hearing this from Rama, and bowing to the bull-bannered god (Shiva), all those brahmins honored the Ashwamedha in every way.

Shloka 8 (uttara.91.8)

स तेषां द्विजमुख्यानां वाक्यमद्भुतदर्शनम् । अश्वमेधाश्रितं श्रुत्वा भृशं प्रीतो ऽभवत्तदा ।। ७.९१.८ ।।

sa teṣāṃ dvijamukhyānāṃ vākyam adbhutadarśanam | aśvamedhāśritaṃ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ prīto 'bhavat tadā || 7.91.8 ||

Hearing the wondrous words of those foremost brahmins concerning the Ashwamedha, he (Rama) then became greatly delighted.

Shloka 9 (uttara.91.9)

विज्ञाय कर्म तत्तेषां रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् । प्रेषयस्व द्रुतं दूतान् सुग्रीवाय महात्मने ।। ७.९१.९ ।।

vijñāya karma tat teṣāṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇam abravīt | preṣayasva drutaṃ dūtān sugrīvāya mahātmane || 7.91.9 ||

Understanding their task, Rama said to Lakshmana: "Send messengers quickly to the great-souled Sugriva --"

Shloka 10 (uttara.91.10)

यथा महद्भिर्हरिभिर्बहुभिश्च वनौकसाम् । सार्धमागच्छ भद्रं ते ह्यनुभोक्तुं महोत्सवम् ।। ७.९१.१० ।।

yathā mahadbhir haribhir bahubhiś ca vanaukasām | sārdham āgaccha bhadraṃ te hy anubhoktuṃ mahotsavam || 7.91.10 ||

"-- so that he may come with many great monkeys and forest-dwellers, blessings upon you, to partake in this great festival."

Shloka 11 (uttara.91.11)

बिभीषणश्च रक्षोभिः कामगैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । अश्वमेधं महायज्ञमायात्वतुलविक्रमः ।। ७.९१.११ ।।

bibhīṣaṇaś ca rakṣobhiḥ kāmagair bahubhir vṛtaḥ | aśvamedhaṃ mahāyajñam āyātv atulavikramaḥ || 7.91.11 ||

"And let Vibhishana too, surrounded by many rakshasas who fly at will, he of matchless prowess, come to this great Ashwamedha sacrifice."

Shloka 12 (uttara.91.12)

राजानश्च महाभागा ये मे प्रियचिकीर्षवः । सानुगाः क्षिप्रमायान्तु यज्ञं द्रष्टुमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.९१.१२ ।।

rājānaś ca mahābhāgā ye me priyacikīrṣavaḥ | sānugāḥ kṣipram āyāntu yajñaṃ draṣṭum anuttamam || 7.91.12 ||

"And let the illustrious kings who wish to please me come swiftly with their retinues, to witness this supreme sacrifice."

Shloka 13 (uttara.91.13)

देशान्तरगता ये च द्विजा धर्मसमाहिताः । आमन्त्रयस्व तान्सर्वानश्वमेधाय लक्ष्मण ।। ७.९१.१३ ।।

deśāntaragatā ye ca dvijā dharmasamāhitāḥ | āmantrayasva tān sarvān aśvamedhāya lakṣmaṇa || 7.91.13 ||

"And the brahmins devoted to righteousness who have gone to other lands -- invite them all too, Lakshmana, to the Ashwamedha."

Shloka 14 (uttara.91.14)

ऋषयश्च महाबाहो आहूयन्तां तपोधनाः । देशान्तरगताः सर्वे सदाराश्च द्विजातयः । तथैव तालावचरास्तथैव नटनर्तकाः ।। ७.९१.१४ ।।

ṛṣayaś ca mahābāho āhūyantāṃ tapodhanāḥ | deśāntaragatāḥ sarve sadārāś ca dvijātayaḥ | tathaiva tālāvacarās tathaiva naṭanartakāḥ || 7.91.14 ||

"And, mighty-armed one, let the sages rich in austerity be summoned, and all the brahmins gone to other lands together with their wives, and likewise the cymbal-players and the actors and dancers."

Shloka 15 (uttara.91.15)

यज्ञवाटश्च सुमहान्गोमत्या नैमिशे वने । आज्ञाप्यतां महाबाहो तद्धि पुण्यमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.९१.१५ ।।

yajñavāṭaś ca sumahān gomatyā naimiśe vane | ājñāpyatāṃ mahābāho tad dhi puṇyam anuttamam || 7.91.15 ||

"And let a vast sacrificial enclosure be commanded built by the Gomati, in the Naimisha forest, mighty-armed one, for that place is supremely sacred."

Shloka 16 (uttara.91.16)

शान्तयश्च महाबाहो प्रवर्त्यन्तां समन्ततः ।। ७.९१.१६ ।।

śāntayaś ca mahābāho pravartyantāṃ samantataḥ || 7.91.16 ||

"And, mighty-armed one, let propitiatory rites be performed on every side."

Shloka 17 (uttara.91.17)

शतशश्चापि धर्मज्ञाः क्रतुमुख्यमनुत्तमम् । अनुभूय महायज्ञं नैमिशे रघुनन्दन ।। ७.९१.१७ ।।

śataśaś cāpi dharmajñāḥ kratumukhyam anuttamam | anubhūya mahāyajñaṃ naimiśe raghunandana || 7.91.17 ||

"And, joy of the Raghus, hundreds of the righteous, having partaken of that supreme and foremost great sacrifice in Naimisha,"

Shloka 18 (uttara.91.18)

तुष्टः पुष्टश्च सर्वो ऽसौ मानितश्च यथाविधि । प्रीतिं यास्यति धर्मज्ञ शीघ्रमामन्त्र्यतां जनः ।। ७.९१.१८ ।।

tuṣṭaḥ puṣṭaś ca sarvo 'sau mānitaś ca yathāvidhi | prītiṃ yāsyati dharmajña śīghram āmantryatāṃ janaḥ || 7.91.18 ||

"-- all of them, satisfied, well-fed, and duly honored, shall attain delight, O knower of dharma; let the people be invited at once."

Shloka 19 (uttara.91.19)

शतं वाहसहस्राणां तण्डुलानां वपुष्मताम् । अयुतं तिलमुद्गानां प्रयात्वग्रे महाबल ।। ७.९१.१९ ।।

śataṃ vāhasahasrāṇāṃ taṇḍulānāṃ vapuṣmatām | ayutaṃ tilamudgānāṃ prayātv agre mahābala || 7.91.19 ||

"Let a hundred thousand cart-loads of splendid rice, and ten thousand of sesame and mung, go on ahead, O mighty one."

Shloka 20 (uttara.91.20)

चणकानां कुलित्थानां माषाणां लवणस्य च । अतो ऽनुरूपं स्नेहं च गन्धं सङ्क्षिप्तमेव च ।। ७.९१.२० ।।

caṇakānāṃ kulitthānāṃ māṣāṇāṃ lavaṇasya ca | ato 'nurūpaṃ snehaṃ ca gandhaṃ saṅkṣiptam eva ca || 7.91.20 ||

"Of chickpeas, horse-gram, black gram, and salt, and, in due proportion, of oils and of fragrant substances too -- in brief, all this."

Shloka 21 (uttara.91.21)

सुवर्णकोट्यो बहुला हिरण्यस्य शतोत्तराः । अग्रतो भरतः कृत्वा गच्छत्वग्रे समाधिना ।। ७.९१.२१ ।।

suvarṇakoṭyo bahulā hiraṇyasya śatottarāḥ | agrato bharataḥ kṛtvā gacchatv agre samādhinā || 7.91.21 ||

"Many crores of gold coins, and stores of silver beyond a hundred -- putting these in front, let Bharata go ahead, with due care."

Shloka 22 (uttara.91.22)

अन्तरा पण्यवीथ्यश्च सर्वे च नटनर्तकाः । सूदा नार्यश्च बहवो नित्यं यौवनशालिनः ।। ७.९१.२२ ।।

antarā paṇyavīthyaś ca sarve ca naṭanartakāḥ | sūdā nāryaś ca bahavo nityaṃ yauvanaśālinaḥ || 7.91.22 ||

"In between, let there be rows of market-stalls, and all the actors and dancers, cooks, and many women ever radiant with youth."

Shloka 23 (uttara.91.23)

भरतेन तु सार्धं ते यान्तु सैन्यानि चाग्रतः । नैगमा बलवृद्धाश्च द्विजाश्च सुसमाहिताः ।। ७.९१.२३ ।।

bharatena tu sārdhaṃ te yāntu sainyāni cāgrataḥ | naigamā balavṛddhāś ca dvijāś ca susamāhitāḥ || 7.91.23 ||

"Let the armies march ahead together with Bharata, and the leading citizens, the elders, and the well-composed brahmins."

Shloka 24 (uttara.91.24)

कर्मान्तिकान्वर्धकिनः कोशाध्यक्षांश्च नैगमान् । मम मातऽस्तथा सर्वाः कुमारान्तःपुराणि च ।। ७.९१.२४ ।।

karmāntikān vardhakinaḥ kośādhyakṣāṃś ca naigamān | mama mātaras tathā sarvāḥ kumārāntaḥpurāṇi ca || 7.91.24 ||

"Let the artisans, the builders, the treasury officers, and the leading citizens also go; and all my mothers too, and the princes and the women of the inner apartments."

Shloka 25 (uttara.91.25)

काञ्चनीं मम पत्नीं च दीक्षायां ज्ञांश्च कर्मणि । अग्रतो भरतः कृत्वा गच्छत्वग्रे महायशाः ।। ७.९१.२५ ।।

kāñcanīṃ mama patnīṃ ca dīkṣāyāṃ jñāṃś ca karmaṇi | agrato bharataḥ kṛtvā gacchatv agre mahāyaśāḥ || 7.91.25 ||

"Placing in front my golden consort (the golden image of Sita) and those versed in the initiation-rite and its procedure, let the greatly renowned Bharata go on ahead."

Shloka 26 (uttara.91.26)

उपकार्या महार्हाश्च पार्थिवानां महौजसाम् । सानुगानां नरश्रेष्ठो व्यादिदेश महाबलः ।। ७.९१.२६ ।।

upakāryā mahārhāś ca pārthivānāṃ mahaujasām | sānugānāṃ naraśreṣṭho vyādideśa mahābalaḥ || 7.91.26 ||

And that mighty, foremost of men gave orders as well for splendid encampments to be prepared for the mighty kings and their retinues.