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
न तेष्वहस्सु श्रान्तो वा क्षुधितो वापि दृश्यते। नाविद्वान्ब्राह्मणस्तत्र नाशतानुचरस्तथा।।1.14.9।।
Meaning
In all those days, no one was seen tired or hungry, no brahmin there was unlearned, and none had fewer than a hundred followers.
ब्राह्मणा भुञ्जते नित्यं नाथवन्तश्च भुञ्जते। तापसा भुञ्जते चापि श्रमणा भुञ्जतेतथा।।1.14.10।।
Meaning
Brahmins ate continually, as did their attendants; ascetics ate, and wandering monks ate as well.
वृद्धाश्च व्याधिताश्चैव स्त्रियो बालास्तथैव च । अनिशं भुञ्जमानानां न तृप्तिरुपलभ्यते।।1.14.11।।
Meaning
The aged, the sick, women, and children all feasted endlessly, yet no limit to their enjoyment could be found.
दीयतां दीयतामन्नं वासांसि विविधानि च। इति सञ्चोदितास्तत्र तथा चक्रुरनेकश:।।1.14.12।।
Meaning
"Give food, give food, and give clothes of every kind" — urged on by such calls, the attendants distributed profusely again and again.
अन्नकूटाश्च बहवो दृश्यन्ते पर्वतोपमा:। दिवसे दिवसे तत्र सिद्धस्य विधिवत्तदा।।1.14.13।।
Meaning
Day after day, heaps of cooked food resembling mountains could be seen there, prepared according to tradition.
नानादेशादनुप्राप्ता: पुरुषास्स्त्रीगणास्तथा। अन्नपानैस्सुविहितास्तस्मिन्यज्ञे महात्मन:।।1.14.14।।
Meaning
Men and women who had arrived from many countries were, at that great king's sacrifice, entertained well with food and drink.
अन्नं हि विधिवत्साधु प्रशंसन्ति द्विजर्षभा:। अहो तृप्ता: स्म भद्रं ते इति शुश्राव राघव:।।1.14.15।।
Meaning
The brahmins praised the delicious, properly cooked food, saying "Ah, we are fully satisfied — blessings upon you" — and Dasaratha heard these words himself.
स्वलङ्कृताश्च पुरुषा ब्राह्मणान्पर्यवेषयन्। उपासते च तानन्ये सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डला:।।1.14.16।।
Meaning
Well-dressed men served the brahmins, while others wearing gem-studded earrings assisted in attending on them.
कर्मान्तरे तदा विप्रा हेतुवादान्बहूनपि। प्राहुश्च वाग्मिनो धीरा: परस्परजिगीषया।।1.14.17।।
Meaning
Between the ceremonies, eloquent and sagacious brahmins engaged in many disputations, each eager to outdo the other.
दिवसे दिवसे तत्र संस्तरे कुशला द्विजा:। सर्वकर्माणि चक्रुस्ते यथाशास्त्रं प्रचोदिता:।।1.14.18।।
Meaning
Day after day in that sacrifice, the skilled brahmins carried out every rite exactly as scripture required, guided at every step.