Dasharatha decides to perform an elaborate Vedic ritual, called Aswametha yajna, Horse Ritual, to beget children. He being a considerate king in taking conscience of the courtiers, he discusses this aspect with the Vedic scholars and ministers of his court, beforehand.
तस्य च एवम् प्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः |
सुतार्थम् तप्य मानस्य न असीत् वंशकरः सुतः || १-८-१
1. evam prabhaavasya = this kind of, effectual king; dharmaj~nasya = virtue knower; mahaatmanaH = great soul; suta artham tapyamaanasya = children, to beget, burning, at heart; tasya cha = to him, also; vamshakarH sutaH = dynasty, enriching, son; naasiit = is not, there.
To him, to such an effectual and virtuously great-souled King Dasharatha, , a dynasty-enriching son is not begotten though his heart is burning to beget children. [1-8-1]
चिन्तयानस्य तस्य एवम् बुद्धिः आसीन् महात्मनः |
सुतार्थम् वाजिमेधेन किम् अर्थम् न यजामि अहम् || १-८-२
2. chintayaanasya = while thinking; tasya = to him; maha aatmanaH = to that great soul; evam = this way; buddhiH aasiit = thought, occurred; suta artham = sons, for the purpose of; vaaji medhena = by Horse Ritual; kim artham = why, not; na yajaami aham = not, perform, I shall.
To that anguished great-soul, a thought occurred this way, "To beget sons, why should not I perform Horse ritual...[and thus appease the gods in order to beget worthy sons..."] [1-8-2]
स निश्चिताम् मतिम् कृत्वा यष्टव्यम् इति बुद्धिमान् |
मंत्रिभिः सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैः अपि कृत आत्मभिः || १-८-३
ततोऽब्रवीत् महातेजाः सुमंत्रम् मंत्रि सत्तमम् |
शीघ्रम् आनय मे सर्वान् गुरून् तान् स पुरोहितान् || १-८-४
3, 4. buddhimaan = intellectual one; dharma aatmaa = conscientious souled; kR^ita aatmabhiH = with decent, souled [sagacious ministers]; sarvaiH api = with all, even; mantribhiH = with ministers; yaSTavyam iti = performable, thus; nischitaam matim kR^itvaa = resolved, mind, on making; tataH = then; mantri sattamam sumantram = best of ministers, to Sumantra; abraviit = addressed; sa purohitaan = with, clerics; taan sarvaan = them, all; me guruun = my teachers; shiighram aanaya = quickly, fetch.
That intellectual and a conscientious king having resolved with all of his sagacious ministers that such a Vedic ritual is performable, then addressed best ne among ministers, namely Sumantra, "fetch all my teachers and clerics, quickly...' [1-8-3,4]
ततः सुमंत्रः त्वरितम् गत्वा त्वरित विक्रमः |
सम् आनयत् स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान् वेद पारगान् || १-८-५
सुयज्ञम् वामदेवम् च जाबालिम् अथ काश्यपम् |
पुरोहितम् वशिष्ठम् च ये च अपि अन्ये द्विजोत्तमाः || १-८-६
5. tataH = then; tvaritaH vikramaH = in quickness, dauntless; sumantraH = Sumantra; tvaritam gatvaa = quickly, gone; suyajnam = Suyajna; vaamadevam = Vaama Deva; cha = also; atha = then; jaabaalim = Jaabaali; kaashyapam = Kaashyapa; purohitam = the clerics; vashiSTham cha = Vashishta, also; ye anye dwija uttamaaH = those, other, Brahman-s, eminent ones; veda paaragaan = Vedic scholars are there; samaanayat = fetched; taan sarvaan = them, all.
Then Sumantra gone quickly, for he in quickness is a dauntless one, and fetched all of the clerics like Suyajna, Vaama Deva, Jaabala, Kshyapa, and even Sage Vashishta, and also those other eminent Brahman that are Vedic scholars. [1-8-5,6]
तान् पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथः तदा |
इदम् धर्म अर्थ सहितम् श्लक्ष्णम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् ||१-८-७
7. dharmaatmaa raajaa dasarathaH = virtuous king, Dasharatha; tadaa = then; taan puujayitvaa = them, on adoring; idam = this; dharma artha sahitam = justification, meaning, having; shlakshnam vachanam abraviit = impressible, sentence, spoke to.
Then on adoring them virtuous King Dasharatha spoke this impressible sentence that included justification and meaning. [1-8-7]
मम लालस्य मानस्य सुतार्थम् नास्ति वै सुखम् |
तदर्थम् हयमेधेन यक्ष्ह्यामि इति मतिर् मम || १-८-८
8. sutaartham = for sons; laalasyamaanasya = tumultuous, mind; mama = my; sukham = quietude; na asti = not there; vai = verily; tat artham = for that, reason; haya medhena = by Horse Ritual; yakshhyami = Vedic worship; iti = thus; matiH mama = thinking, of mine.
"My mind is tumultuous without quietude for I have no sons... for that reason, I wish perform Aswametha, Vedic Horse Ritual... this is my thinking... [1-8-8]
तत् अहम् यष्टुम् इच्छमि शास्त्र दृष्टेन कर्मणा |
कथम् प्राप्स्यामि अहम् कामम् बुद्धिः अत्र विचिन्त्यताम् || १-८-९
9. tat aham = therefore, I; shaastra dR^iSTena = scriptures, point of view [as enshrined in]; karmaNaa = rite-oriented; yaSTum icChami = to perform ritual, I contemplate to; katham = how; praapyaami = I get; kaamam = my desire; buddhiH atra vichintyataam = contemplation, for that, be thought of.
"Therefore, I contemplate to perform that ritual as enshrined in the scriptures and as a rite-oriented one as well... let this contemplation of mine be well thought of... and as to how my desire to beget sons will be fulfilled... [1-8-9]
ततः साधु इति तद्वाक्यम् ब्राह्मणाः प्रत्यपूजयन् |
वशिष्ठ प्रमुखाः सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखेरितम् || १-८-१०
10. tataH = then; vashiSThaH = Sage Vashishta; braahmaNaaH = Brahman-s; pramukhaaH sarve = important personalities, all of them; paarthivasya mukha iiritam = from king's, mouth, voiced; tat vaakyam = that, sentence [idea]; saadhu iti = splendid, it is; prati apuujayan = in turn, honoured him
Then the Brahman scholars along with Sage Vashishta and all other important personalities in their turn have blessed and honoured him, saying that "splendid is this idea..." thus, for that which is voiced by the king. [1-8-10]
ऊचुः च परम प्रीताः सर्वे दशरथम् वचः |
संभाराः संभ्रियंताम् ते तुरगः च विमुच्यताम् || १-८-११
11. sarve = all of them; parama priitaH = very, happy; dasaratham = to Dasharatha; vachaH = these words; uchuH cha = they said, also; sambhaaraaH = paraphernalia; sambhriyantaam = be provided; te turagaH cha vimuchyataam = your, horse, also, be released.
All of them becoming happy have also said to King Dasharatha, "let the paraphernalia be provided, and your ritual-horse be released... [1-8-11]
सरय्वाः च उत्तरे तीरे यज्ञ भूमिर् विधीयताम् |
सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रान् अभिप्रेतान् च पार्थिव || १-८-१२
यस्य ते धर्मिकी बुद्धिः इयम् पुत्रार्थम् आगता |
12, 13a. paarthiva = oh king; sarvathaa = by all means; praapyase = you will beget; abhipretaancha = as you desired; putraan = sons; sarayvaaH ca uttare tire = River Sarayu's, on northern banks; yaj~na bhuumiH vidhiiyataam = ritual, ground, be arranged yasya te = to whom, like you; dhaarmikii buddhiH iyam = virtuous, thought, like this; putra artham aagataa = to beget sons, suggested itself to.
"Oh, king, by all means you will beget sons as you desired, since you, to whom an upright thinking has suggested itself... let the ritual ground be arranged on the northern banks of River Sarayu..." So said the scholars. [1-8-12, 13a]
ततः तुष्टोऽभवत् राजा श्रुत्वा तद् द्विज भाषितम् || १-८-१३
अमात्यान् अब्रवीत् राजा हर्ष पर्याकुल लोचन |
संभाराः संभ्रियंताम् मे गुरूणाम् वचनात् इह || १-८-१४
13b, 14. tataH = then; raajaa = king; tat dvija bhaaSitam shrutvaa = that, Brahmans', saying, on hearing; tuSTaH abhavat = glad, he became; raajaa = king; harSa paryaakula lochanaH = happiness, lurching, on eyes; amaatyaan abraviit = to ministers, spoke to; iha me guruNaam vachanaat = now, on my, teacher's, advise; sambhaaraaH sambhriyantaam = paraphernalia, be procured.
" Then King Dasharatha is gladdened on hearing the sayings of those Brahmans. And with happiness lurching on his eyes the king spoke to the mid; saH = he - Fire-god; tasyaa mahimaam = her, glory - of mien; dR^iSTvaa = on seeing; samantaat avakiiryata = all over, spread.
"On listening that sentence of Fire-god, River Ganga adopted a celestial form readying herself, and on seeing her glorious mien the Fire-god seeped throughout her. [1-37-13]
समंततः तदा देवीम् अभ्यषिंचत पावकः |
सर्व स्रोतांसि पूर्णानि गंगाया रघुनन्दन || १-३७-१४
14. raghunandana = oh, of Raghu, delight; tadaa = then; paavakaH = Fire-god; deviim samantataH abhyaSincata = Goddess - Ganga, all over, drenched her with the potence of Shiva; gangaayaaH = of Ganga; sarva srotaamsi puurNaani = every, channel [rill of Ganga,] replete with.
"The Fire-god then drenched River Ganga from all over with the potence of Shiva which he contained so far, oh, Raghu's delight Rama, and every rill and channel of Ganga is replete with it. [1-37-14]
तम् उवाच ततो गंगा सर्व देव पुरोगमम् |
अशक्ता धारणे देव तेजः तव समुद्धतम् || १-३७-१५
दह्यमाना अग्निना तेन संप्रव्यथित चेतना |
15, 16a. tataH = then; gangaa = Ganga; sarva deva purogamam = all, god, who is in forefront of - Fire-god; tam uvaaca = to him - Fire-god, spoke; deva = oh, God - Fire-god; sam uddhatam = upheaved - rampant; tava tejaH = your, intense heat - fervour compounded with that of Shiva; dhaaraNe = to bear up; a shaktaa = I am not, capable; tena agninaa dahyamaanaa = by that, fire [of the potence of Shiva,] while being burnt; sampravyathita [sam pra vyathita] = very, highly, tortured; cetanaa = with such a heart - vitality.
"River Ganga then spoke this to the Fire-god who is in the lead of all gods, 'oh, god, I am incapable to bear up the rampant fervour of yours, and while being burnt with the fire of god Shiva compounded with that of yours my life-force is very highly tortured.' [1-37-15, 16a]
अथ अब्रवीत् इदम् गंगाम् सर्व देव हुताशनः || १-३७-१६
इह हैमवते पार्श्वे गर्भो अयम् संनिवेश्यताम् |
16b, 17a. atha = then; sarva deva huta ashanaH = all, god's, fire-oblations, consumer - consumer of fire oblations on behalf of all gods; gangaam idam abraviit = to Ganga, this, said - on seeing her miserable plight; ayam garbhaH = that, embryo; iha haimavate paarshve [paade] = here, at Himalayan Mountains, by the side of [at the foot of]; sam niveshyataam = verily, consign to - relocated at.
"He who consumes fire-oblations on behalf of all the gods, that Fire-god seeing the miserable condition of River Ganga then spoke this to her, ''you may lay away that embryo here at the side of Himalayan Mountains.' So said Fire-god to River Ganga. [1-37-16b, 17a]
श्रुत्वा तु अग्नि वचो गंगा तम् गर्भम् अतिभास्वरम् || १-३७-१७
उत्ससर्ज महातेजाः स्रोतोभ्यो हि तदा अनघ |
17b, 18a. mahaa tejaaH = oh, great-resplendent, Rama; anagha = oh, charming prince; agni vacaH shrutvaa tu = Fire-god's, words, on hearing, on her part; gangaa = Ganga; tadaa = that way; ati bhaasvaram = highly, refulgent; tam garbham = that, embryo; srotobhyaH utsasarja hi = from her channels [and rills,] ejected, indeed.
"Oh, great-resplendent Rama, on hearing the words of Fire-god, oh, charming prince Rama, River Ganga indeed ejected that great-radiant embryo of Shiva from all her rills and channels. [1-37-17b, 18a]
यत् अस्या निर्गतम् तस्मात् तप्त जांबूनद प्रभम् || १-३७-१८
कांचनम् धरणीम् प्राप्तम् हिरण्यम् अतुल प्रभम् |
18b, 19a. asyaaH = from her - from Ganga; tapta jaambuunada prabham = molten, gold, with a glitter of; yat = which; [tejaH = refulgent potence is there]; nir gatam = out, coming - emerged; dharaNiim praaptam = earth, that which has reached; tasmaat = from that; hiraNyam = silver; a tula prabham kaancanam = un, balanceable - matchless, in dazzle, gold; [abhavat = emerged.]
"Which refulgent embryo with the glitter of molten gold has emerged from River Ganga is there that has reached earth, and from that the silver, and even the gold with its matchless dazzle have emerged. [1-37-18]
ताम्रम् कार्ष्णायसम् चैव तैक्ष्ण्यात् एव अभिजायत || १-३७-१९
मलम् तस्य अभवत् तत्र त्रपु सीसकम् एव च |
तत् एतत् धरणीम् प्राप्य नाना धातुः अवर्धत || १-३७-२०
19b, 20. tatra = in that - process; taikSNyaat = from combustion - [kshaara = metallic alkali, element]; taamram = copper; kaarSNaayasam = iron; ca eva = also thus; abhijaayata = are generated; tasya = its - of the semen of Shiva; malam = from residua; trapu = tin; siisakam eva ca = lead, also, token earlier, then the virtue knowing Brahman scholars hailing that best king took leave of him and wentaway as they have come. [1-8-20b, 21a]
विसर्जयित्वा तान् विप्रान् सचिवान् इदम् अब्रवीत् || १-८-२१
ऋत्विग्भिः उपसंदिष्टो यथावत् क्रतुर् आप्यताम् |
21b, 22a. tataH = then; visarjayitvaa = sending off; sarve = all; taan = them; vipraan = Brahmans; sachivaan idam abraviit = to ministers, this, said; R^itvigbhiH = by the Vedic scholars; upasamdiSTaH = as advised; yathaa vat kratuH aapyataam = procedurally, ritual, be conducted
Then on sending off those Brahman scholars, the king spoke this way to the ministers... "As advised by the Vedic scholars this ritual shall be conducted, procedurally..." [1-8-21b, 22A]
इति उक्त्वा नृप शार्दूलः सचिवान् समुपस्थितान् || १-८-२२
विसर्जयित्वा स्वम् वेश्म प्रविवेश महामतिः |
22B, 23a. mahaa mmatiH nR^ipa shaardUlaH = highly intelligent, kingly tiger Dasharatha; samupasthitaan = who are in audience; sachivaan = to misters; iti uktvaa = thus, on saying; visarjayitvaa = sent them off; svam veshma pravivesha = his, palace, entered.
Tha tigerly-king and highly intellectual Dasharatha, on saying thus to his ministers who are still in his audience, sent away those ministers also, and he entered his palace. [1-8-22b, 23a]
ततः स गत्वा ताः पत्नीर् नरेन्द्रो हृदयंगमाः || १-८-२३
उवाच दीक्षाम् विशत यक्षेऽहम् सुत कारणात् |
23b, 24a. tataH = then; saH = he; narendraH = the king, the best; hR^idayangamaa = heartily dear ones; taaH patniiH = to them his wives; gatvaa = on approaching; uvaacha = spoke; aham = I am; suta kaarNaat = sons, for the reason of; yakshye = performing ritual; diikshaam vishata = vow, you enter;
And on approaching his wives, that best king's heartily dear ones, he said to them, " I am performing a Vedic ritual for the reason of begetting sons, and you all shall enter a vow..." [1-8-23b, 24a]
तासाम् तेन अति कान्तेन वचनेन सुवर्चसाम् |
मुख पद्मान् अशोभन्त पद्मानीव हिमात्यये || १-८-२४
24b, c. ati kaantinena = most pleasing; vachanaena = by words [of king]; suvarchasaam = already lustrous; taasaam = their [the queens]; mukha padmaani = countenances, lotuses; padmaan iva = lotuses, like; tena = by those [words of king]; himaatyaye = dew-fall, clearance of; ashobhanta = became more gleaming.
On hearing those words of the king, the lustrous countenances of the queens have become more gleaming, like the blooming lotuses after the clearance of dew-fall. [1-8-24b, c]
...
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि कावे अष्टमः सर्गः
© 1999, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : March, 04]