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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सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्। सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम्।।1.12.12।।
Meaning
"Let the paraphernalia be garnered, and let your ritual horse be released; let the ritual ground be marked out on the northern bank of the Sarayu."
सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रांश्चत्वारोऽमितविक्रमान्। यस्य ते धार्मिकी बुद्धिरियं पुत्रार्थमागता ।।1.12.12।।
Meaning
"Since this righteous wish for children has arisen in you, you shall surely obtain four sons of immense prowess."
तत: प्रीतोऽभवद्राजा श्रुत्वा तद्विजभाषितम्। अमात्यांश्चाब्रवीद्राजा हर्षेणेदं शुभाक्षरम्।।1.12.13।।
Meaning
On hearing the brahmins' words, the king was overjoyed and spoke these auspicious words to his ministers with delight.
गुरूणां वचनाच्छीघ्रं सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तु मे। समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वस्सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम्।।1.12.14।।
Meaning
"As my preceptors have instructed, let the articles for the sacrifice be gathered at once, and let the horse, guarded by able men and accompanied by the chief priest, be released."
सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम्। शान्तयश्चाभिवर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि।।1.12.15।।
Meaning
"Let a sacrificial ground be built on the northern bank of the Sarayu, and let auspicious rites be performed exactly as prescribed."
शक्य: प्राप्तुमयं यज्ञस्सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता। नापराधो भवेत्कष्टो यद्यस्मिन्क्रतुसत्तमे।।1.12.16।।
Meaning
If no obstacle or omission occurs in this best of sacrifices, it would be possible for every king to obtain its fruit.
छिद्रं हि मृगयन्तेऽत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसा:। निहतस्य च यज्ञस्य सद्य: कर्ता विनश्यति।।1.12.17।।
Meaning
Learned brahma-rakshasas are ever on watch for flaws in such a sacrifice; if one is struck by a flaw, its performer is instantly destroyed.
तद्यथा विधिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते। तथा विधानं क्रियतां समर्था: करणेष्विह।।1.12.18।।
Meaning
"Therefore see to it that this sacrifice of mine is completed exactly as scripture prescribes — in this, you are all experts."
तथेति च ततस्सर्वे मन्त्रिण: प्रत्यपूजयन्। पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद्वाक्यं यथाज्ञप्तमकुर्वत।।1.12.19।।
Meaning
Honoring the king's words with "So be it," all the ministers carried out everything exactly as commanded.
ततो द्विजास्ते धर्मज्ञमस्तुवन्पार्थिवर्षभम्। अनुज्ञातास्ततस्सर्वे पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम्।।1.12.20।।
Meaning
Then the brahmins praised that righteous, foremost of kings, and having been given his leave, returned as they had come.