Sarga 14: The Horse-Sacrifice Concluded
Ashvamedha Samapti
The full horse-sacrifice unfolds on the Sarayu's bank — the ritual killing, the priests' offerings, Dasaratha's boundless generosity to the brahmins — and Rishyasringa promises the king four sons.
Jump to a shloka · 58 in this sarga
अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे तस्मिन्प्राप्ते तुरङ्गमे। सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे राज्ञो यज्ञोऽभ्यवर्तत।।1.14.1।।
Meaning
After a full year, when the sacrificial horse had returned, the king's sacrifice commenced on the northern bank of the river Sarayu.
ऋश्यशृङ्गं पुरस्कृत्य कर्म चक्रुर्द्विजर्षभा:। अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे राज्ञोऽस्य सुमहात्मन:।।1.14.2।।
Meaning
The finest brahmins, with Rishyasringa at their head, performed the rites of the great horse-sacrifice of that most noble king.
कर्म कुर्वन्ति विधिवद्याजका वेदपारगा:। यथाविधि यथान्यायं परिक्रामन्ति शास्त्रत:।।1.14.3।।
Meaning
The officiating priests, masters of the Vedas, carried out the ceremonies exactly as prescribed, moving through their duties according to law and scripture.
प्रवर्ग्यं शास्त्रत: कृत्वा तथैवोपसदं द्विजा: चक्रुश्च विधिवत्सर्वमधिकं कर्म शास्त्रत:।।1.14.4।।
Meaning
Having performed the Pravargya rite according to scripture, the brahmins likewise performed the Upasada and all other required ceremonies as prescribed.
अभिपूज्य ततो हृष्टास्सर्वे चक्रुर्यथाविधि। प्रातस्सवनपूर्वाणि कर्माणि मुनिपुङ्गवा:।।1.14.5।।
Meaning
Then those eminent ascetics, rejoicing, worshipped the gods and carried out the morning ablution rites as prescribed.
ऐन्द्रश्च विधिवद्दत्तो राजा चाभिषुतोऽनघ:। माध्यन्दिनं च सवनं प्रावर्तत यथाक्रमम्।।1.14.6।।
Meaning
Indra's portion of the offering was duly given, the pure Soma juice extracted, and the midday ablution proceeded in its proper order.
तृतीयसवनं चैव राज्ञोऽस्य सुमहात्मन:। चक्रुस्तेशास्त्रतो दृष्ट्वा तथा ब्राह्मणपुङ्गवा:।।1.14.7।।
Meaning
Those eminent brahmins likewise performed the third Soma-pressing of that most noble king, exactly in accordance with the scriptures.
आह्वानं चक्रिरे तत्र शक्रादीन्विबुधोत्तमान्। ऋश्यशृङ्गादिभिर्मन्त्रै: शिक्षाक्षरसमन्वितै:।।1.14.8।।
Meaning
Rishyasringa and the other eminent scholars, with well-articulated Vedic hymns, invoked Indra and the other gods to that place.
गीतिभिर्मधुरै: स्निग्धैर्मन्त्राह्वानैर्यथार्हत:। होतारो ददुरैवाह्य हविर्भागान्दिवौकसाम्।।1.14.9।।
Meaning
The hota priests welcomed the gods with sweet, harmonious hymns, and duly offered them their portion of the oblations.
न चाहुतमभूत्तत्र स्खलितं वापि किञ्चन । दृश्यते ब्रह्मवत्सर्वं क्षेमयुक्तं हि चक्रिरे।।1.14.8।।
Meaning
No offering there went unoffered, nor was any slip made — everything was carried out safely and exactly according to the sacred formulas.