Sarga 12: The Sacrifice Is Ordained
Yajna Sankalpa
As spring returns, Dasaratha formally requests Rishyasringa to preside over the horse-sacrifice, summons the Vedic priests, and orders every preparation made for a flawless rite.
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तत: काले बहुतिथे कस्मिंश्चित्सुमनोहरे। वसन्ते समनुप्राप्ते राज्ञो यष्टुं मनोऽभवत्।।1.12.1।।
Meaning
After a long while, when the charming spring season arrived, the king's mind turned again to performing the sacrifice.
तत: प्रसाद्य शिरसा तं विप्रं देववर्णिनम्। यज्ञाय वरयामास सन्तानार्थं कुलस्य वै।।1.12.2।।
Meaning
Then, bowing his head to that brahmin glowing like a celestial being, he asked him to preside over the sacrifice for the sake of continuing his dynasty.
तथेति च स राजानमुवाच च सुसत्कृत:। सम्भारा सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्।।1.12.3।।
Meaning
That well-honored brahmin agreed, saying: "So be it — let the necessary articles be gathered and your sacrificial horse released."
ततो राजाऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्। सुमन्त्रावाहय क्षिप्रं ऋत्विजो ब्रह्मवादिन:।।1.12.4।। सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम्। पुरोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमा:।।1.12.5।।
Meaning
Then the king said to Sumantra, finest of ministers: "Quickly summon the Vedic priests — Suyajna, Vamadeva, Jabali, Kashyapa, the family priest Vasishtha, and other excellent brahmins."
ततस्सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रम:। समानयत्स तान्विप्रान् समस्तान्वेदपारगान्।।1.12.6।।
Meaning
Sumantra, ever swift, went at once and brought together all those brahmins who had fully mastered the Vedas.
तान्पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा। धर्मार्थसहितं युक्तं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.12.7।।
Meaning
Having honored them, virtuous King Dasaratha then spoke these gracious words, full of righteousness and purpose.
मम लालप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थं नास्ति वै सुखम्। तदर्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामीति मतिर्मम।।1.12.8।।
Meaning
"There is no happiness for me, grieving as I am for a son. For that reason I intend to perform the horse-sacrifice."
तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा। ऋषिपुत्रप्रभावेन कामान्प्राप्स्यामि चाप्यहम्।।1.12.9।।
Meaning
"I wish to perform this rite exactly as prescribed by scripture, and through the grace of the sage's son, Rishyasringa, obtain my desire."
ततस्साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणा: प्रत्यपूजयन्। वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखाच्च्युतम्।।1.12.10।।
Meaning
Then the brahmins, with Vasishtha foremost, extolled the king's words, exclaiming "Well said!"
ऋष्यशृङ्गपुरोगाश्च प्रत्यूचुर्नृपतिं तदा। सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्।।1.12.11।।
Meaning
The priests, with Rishyasringa foremost among them, replied to the king: "Let the requisite articles be gathered, and your sacrificial horse released."