Chapter 14

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे तस्मिन् प्राप्ते तुरंगमे
सरय्वाः च उत्तरे तीरे राज्ञो यज्ञो अभ्यवर्तत

atha saṃvatsare pūrṇe tasmin prāpte turaṃgame
sarayvāḥ ca uttare tīre rājño yajño abhyavartata

SYNONYMS

atha samvatsare pūrṇe: then, one year, completing | tasmin prāpte turangame: that, on regaining, ritual horse | sarayvaḥ uttare tīre: Sarayu river's, northern banks | rājñaḥ yajñaḥ abhyavartata: emperor, ritual, commenced. |

TRANSLATION

Then after completion of one year and on regaining the ritual horse, the Emperor Dasharatha commenced his Vedic Ritual on the northern banks of River Sarayu. [1-14-1]

PURPORT

Comment: In aswametha yaga , a well-decorated horse will be let out with an insignia on its forehead challenging any king to capture it and face the wrath of releasing king. If any one captures the horse, he shall be strong enough to incite a war. Otherwise, the valour and invincibility of releasing king are well established and he may proceed with the ritual proper. Now that the ritual horse released during last year by King Dasharatha has come back without being captured by anyone, thus establishing the invincibility of King Dasharatha, as such he can commence the ritual proper.
VERSE 2

ऋष्यशृंगम् पुरस्कृत्य कर्म चक्रुः द्विजर्षभाः
अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे राज्ञो।अस्य सुमहात्मनः

ṛṣyaśṛṃgam puraskṛtya karma cakruḥ dvijarṣabhāḥ
aśvamedhe mahāyajñe rājño|asya sumahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

su maha atmanaḥ: of that well, noble-souled king | aśvamethe mahā yajñe rājnaḥ asya: in Horse ritual, great ritual, of king | ṛṣyasṛngam puraskṛtya: Rishyasringa, keeping at helm of affairs | karma cakruḥ dvijarśabhāḥ: works, commenced, Brahmans, eminent ones. |

TRANSLATION

Keeping Rishyasringa at the helm of affairs those eminent Brahmans commenced, ashva medha , the Horse-ritual of that noble-souled Dasharatha. [1-14-2]

VERSE 3

कर्म कुर्वंति विधिवत् याजका वेदपारगाः
यथा विधि यथा न्यायं परिक्रामन्ति शास्त्रतः

karma kurvaṃti vidhivat yājakā vedapāragāḥ
yathā vidhi yathā nyāyaṃ parikrāmanti śāstrataḥ

SYNONYMS

yājakāḥ veda pāragāḥ: ritual conductors, in Vedas, well versed ones | karma kurvanti vidhivat: works, performed, customarily | yathā vidhi yathā nyāyam: as per canon, as per rules | parikrāmanti śāśtrataḥ: conducted, as per scriptures. |

TRANSLATION

Those well-versed conductors of Vedic rituals called ritviks , have started to perform works relating to ritual as per canon and rules, and conducted them scripturally and customarily. [1-14-3]

VERSE 4

प्रवर्ग्यम् शास्त्रतः कृत्वा तथा एव उपसदम् द्विजाः
चक्रुः च विधिवत् सर्वम् अधिकम् कर्म शास्त्रतः

pravargyam śāstrataḥ kṛtvā tathā eva upasadam dvijāḥ
cakruḥ ca vidhivat sarvam adhikam karma śāstrataḥ

SYNONYMS

dvijāḥ: Brahmans | pravargyam śāstrataḥ kṛtvā: pravargya ritual, as per scriptures, on performing | tathā eva upasadam: like that, upasada ritual | ca vidhivat: also, customarily on performing | adhikam sarvam karma śāstrataḥ: many more, all, rituals too, as per scriptures | cakruḥ: they performed. |

TRANSLATION

On performing pravargya ritual as per scriptures, like that upasada ritual too, those Brahmans have customarily performed all of those other rituals incidental to the main one scripturally. [1-14-4]

VERSE 5

अभिपूज्य तदा हृष्टाः सर्वे चक्रुः यथा विधि
प्रातः सवन पूर्वाणि कर्माणि मुनिपुंगवाः

abhipūjya tadā hṛṣṭāḥ sarve cakruḥ yathā vidhi
prātaḥ savana pūrvāṇi karmāṇi munipuṃgavāḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | muni pungavaḥ: sages, distinguished | sarve hṛṣṭāḥ: all of them, are contented with | abhipūjya: worshipping those and those gods | prātaḥ savana pūrvāni karmāni: early morning, savana rituals and its ancillary | yathā vidhi cakruḥ: as enjoined, performed. |

TRANSLATION

Then all of those distinguished sages are contended with what they have performed by worshipping gods already summoned, they also conducted early morning savana ritual and its ancillaries as enjoined. [1-14-5]

VERSE 6

ऐन्द्रश्च विधिवत् दत्तो राजा च अभिषुतो।अनघः
मध्यंदिनम् च सवनम् प्रावर्तत यथा क्रमम्

aindraśca vidhivat datto rājā ca abhiṣuto|anaghaḥ
madhyaṃdinam ca savanam prāvartata yathā kramam

SYNONYMS

indraḥ ca vidhivat dattaḥ: [oblations addressed to] Indra, as ordained, having given | anaghaḥ rājā ca: flawless, king, also | abhiṣutaḥ: soma raja creeper, well squeezed for the juice | madhyandinam savanam: in mid-day, savana ritual | yathā kramam pravartataḥ: as per sequence, has happened. |

TRANSLATION

The oblations addressed to Indra are well given as ordained, and the flawless king Dasharatha also crushed the Soma creeper to squeeze Soma juice, and thus the mid-day savana ritual has come to pass according to sequence. [1-14-6]

PURPORT

Soma creeper is from Sacrostemma Brevistigma of Asclepiadacea family and some other scholars hold the view that it is from Sarcostema Viminalis family.
VERSE 7

तृतीय सवनम् चैव राज्ञो।अस्य सुमहात्मनः
चक्रुः ते शाश्त्रतो दृष्ट्वा तथा ब्राह्मण पुंगवाः

tṛtīya savanam caiva rājño|asya sumahātmanaḥ
cakruḥ te śāśtrato dṛṣṭvā tathā brāhmaṇa puṃgavāḥ

SYNONYMS

tathā te brāhmaṇa pungavāḥ: like that, those, Brahmans, proficient ones | śāstrataḥ dṛṣṭvā: from the viewpoint of scriptures, having examined | su mahātmanaḥ asya rājñaḥ: of that highly, exalted soul, of that, king | tṛtīya savanam ca eva cakruḥ: third, savana ritual, also, like that, they performed. |

TRANSLATION

Like that those proficient Brahmans have also performed the third savana , ritual of that great-exalted soul Dasharatha according to the viewpoint of scriptures. [1-14-7]

VERSE 8

आह्वान् चक्रिरे तत्र शक्रादीन् विबुधोत्तमान्
ऋष्यशृङ्गाअदौ मन्त्रैः शिक्षाक्षर समन्वितौ

āhvān cakrire tatra śakrādīn vibudhottamān
ṛṣyaśṛṅgāadau mantraiḥ śikṣākṣara samanvitau

SYNONYMS

ṛṣyaśṛṅga ādau: Rishyasringa, others | mantraiḥ: with Vedic hymns | śikśa akśara samanvitau: when trained, letters, who have them [those that still retained the pronunciation of letters though trained much earlier] | śakra ādīn vibudha uttamān: Indra, and others, gods, best | tatra: to that place | āhvayām cakrire: invoking, the made. |

TRANSLATION

Rishyasringa and other best scholars with their well lettered and intonated Vedic hymns have invoked Indra and other gods to that place. [1-14-8]

VERSE 9

गीतिभिः मधुरैः स्निग्धैः मन्त्र आह्वानैः यथार्हतः
होतारो ददुरावाह्य हविर्भागान् दिवौकसाम्

gītibhiḥ madhuraiḥ snigdhaiḥ mantra āhvānaiḥ yathārhataḥ
hotāro dadurāvāhya havirbhāgān divaukasām

SYNONYMS

hotāraḥ: Hotaa-s, conductors of this invocations | gītibhiḥ madhuraiḥ snigdhaiḥ: with singing, sweetly, harmoniously | mantra āhvānaiḥ yatha arhataḥ: with hymns, invited are, as befitting | āvāhya: having welcomed | divaukasām haviḥ bhāgān daduḥ: to partaking celestials, oblations, they gave. |

TRANSLATION

The hotaa -s, invocators, have welcomed the celestials for partaking oblations by singing saama Veda hymns sweetly and harmoniously, and on inviting them with Vedic hymns they have offered oblations to them. [1-14-9]

VERSE 10

न च अहुतं आभूत् तत्र स्खलितम् वा न किंचन
दृश्यते ब्रह्मवत् सर्वम् क्षेमयुक्तम् हि चक्रिरे

na ca ahutaṃ ābhūt tatra skhalitam vā na kiṃcana
dṛśyate brahmavat sarvam kṣemayuktam hi cakrire

SYNONYMS

tatra: there in the ritual | a hutam: unburnt oblation | na abhūt: not, resulted in | kimcana na skhalitam vā abūt: a little, not, slipped away, either, is there | sarvam brahmavat dṛsyate: all, appeared, to be hymn oriented | kśema yuktam cakrire hi: secure, enough, is performed, in deed. |

TRANSLATION

There is no unburnt oblation resulted in that fire-ritual nor even a small mishap slipped in the performance of ritual. Everything appeared canonically correct and hymn oriented. Indeed the ritual is performed in a secure way. [1-14-10]

VERSE 11

न तेषु अहस्सु श्रान्तो वा क्षुधितो वा न दृश्यते
न अविद्वान् ब्राह्मणः कश्चिन् न अशत अनुचरः तथा

na teṣu ahassu śrānto vā kṣudhito vā na dṛśyate
na avidvān brāhmaṇaḥ kaścin na aśata anucaraḥ tathā

SYNONYMS

tesu ahassu: in these, days | śrāntaḥ na dṛśyate: weary person, not, to be found | kśudhitaḥ vā api: hungry person, or, even | na: not seen | a vidvān brāhmaṇaḥ: no, unscholarly, Brahman | tathā: likewise | a śata anucaraḥ = one vithout, hundred, follovers: apprentices | kascin: anywhere. |

TRANSLATION

In these days of ritual none found there to be weary or hungry, and there is no single unscholarly person, nor any Brahman without at least a hundred apprentices. [1-14-11]

VERSE 12

ब्राह्मणा भुंजते नित्यम् नाथवन्तः च भुंजते
तापसा भुंजते च अपि श्रमणाः चैव भुंजते

brāhmaṇā bhuṃjate nityam nāthavantaḥ ca bhuṃjate
tāpasā bhuṃjate ca api śramaṇāḥ caiva bhuṃjate

SYNONYMS

brāhmanā bhunjate nityam: Brahmans, fed, anytime | nātha vantaḥ: masters, having [persons who have their masters i.e., servants] bhunjate = are fed | tāpasā bhunjate ca api: sages, are fed, also, even | śramaṇāḥ ca eva bhunjate tathā: pilgrims, also, thus, are fed, like that. |

TRANSLATION

Given anytime the Brahmans, servants, sages, and pilgrims are fed with food for their arrival at the place of boarding is unpredictable, and that arrival is dependent on their duties for Brahmans, and by their masters for servants, and for pilgrims that do not have a particular time of arrival or departure. [1-14-12]

PURPORT

Some scholars tend to conclude that Ramayana might have been written in post Buddhist period by finding the words like shramaNa etc., the famous wandering Buddhist monk sect. The word shramaNa in Sanskrit means only a pilgrim, and pilgrimage is an ordained aspect of salvation as per Indra is the friend of traveller. Therefore wander - aitareya brahmaNa [VII.33.3] The Buddhist shramaNa -s are the wandering monks in search of converts whereas Hindu shramana -s are pure sanyasi -s wandering for their own salvation.
VERSE 13

ओर्

or

SYNONYMS

vṛddhāḥ ca vyādhitāḥ ca eva: elderly people, sick ones, also, thus | strī bālāḥ thatha eva ca: women, children, like that, only | aniśam bhunjamānānām: always, dining on thus | na tṛptiḥ upalabhyate: no, satisfaction to complete the meal, attained. |

TRANSLATION

Elderly people, sick ones, women and children though dining on always thus, no satisfaction to complete the meal is attained for themselves, as the food served is that pleasant. Elderly people, sick ones, women and children though dining on always thus, there is no satisfaction to Emperor Dasharatha, for it appeared to be too meagre a serving and a lot more is to be served.] [1-14-13]

VERSE 14

दीयताम् दीयताम् अन्नम् वासांसि विविधानि च
इति संचोदिताः तत्र तथा चक्रुः अनेकशः

dīyatām dīyatām annam vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca
iti saṃcoditāḥ tatra tathā cakruḥ anekaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

dīyatām dīyatām annam: 'Be given, Be given' food | vāsāmsi vividhāni ca: clothing, variously, also | iti tatra samcoditaḥ: thus, there, directed by | tathā cakruḥ anekasaḥ: accordingly, done [distributed,] in many ways. |

TRANSLATION

"Food be given abundantly, clothing be given variously" are the directives, accordingly the king's men have distributed numerously there at the ritual place. [1-14-14]

VERSE 15

अन्न कूटाः च दृश्यन्ते बहवः पर्वत उपमाः
दिवसे दिवसे तत्र सिद्धस्य विधिवत् तदा

anna kūṭāḥ ca dṛśyante bahavaḥ parvata upamāḥ
divase divase tatra siddhasya vidhivat tadā

SYNONYMS

tatra tadā: there, thus | vidhivat siddhasya anna kūṭāḥ: customarily, made available, food stuff, heaps of | bahavaḥ parvata upamā: many, mountains, in similitude | divase divase: day by day | dṛśyante: are appearing. |

TRANSLATION

Heaps of foodstuffs are also appearing there, many of them and mountain similar, which is made available customarily, day after day. [1-14-15]

VERSE 16

नाना देशात् अनुप्राप्ताः पुरुषाः स्त्री गणाः तथा
अन्न पानैः सुविहिताः तस्मिन् यज्ञे महात्मनः

nānā deśāt anuprāptāḥ puruṣāḥ strī gaṇāḥ tathā
anna pānaiḥ suvihitāḥ tasmin yajñe mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahātmanaḥ: of great-soul Dasharatha's | tasmin yajñe: in that, ritual | nānā deśāt anu prāptāḥ: from different, countries, arrived | puruṣāḥ tatha strī gaṇāḥ: men, like that, women, in masses | anna pānaiḥ su vihitāḥ: food and drinks, well, pleased. |

TRANSLATION

To that ritual of that great-souled Dasharatha masses of men and women have arrived from different countries, and they are all well-pleased with the sumptuous food and drink supplied. [1-14-16]

VERSE 17

अन्नम् हि विधिवत् स्वादु प्रशन्सन्ति द्विजर्षभाः
अहो तृप्ताः स्म भद्रम् ते इति शुश्राव राघवः

annam hi vidhivat svādu praśansanti dvijarṣabhāḥ
aho tṛptāḥ sma bhadram te iti śuśrāva rāghavaḥ

SYNONYMS

dvijarṣabhāḥ: Brahmans, the eminent | vidhivat = systematically: prepared by perfect cooking | svādu annam praśamśanti: relishable, food, they appreciated | aho rāghavaḥ = oh, ṟaghu's descendent: Dasharatha | tṛptā sma: satisfied, are we | bhadram te: blessed, are you | iti: thus | śuśrava: heard. |

TRANSLATION

"The eminent Brahmans have appreciated the food that is prepared by perfect cooking to be relishable, and it is heard as they said, "oh, Raghava, blessed are you for we are satisfied..." [1-14-17]

VERSE 18

स्वलंकृताः च पुरुषा ब्राह्मणान् पर्यवेषयन्
उपासन्ते च तान् अन्ये सुमृष्ट मणि कुण्डलाः

svalaṃkṛtāḥ ca puruṣā brāhmaṇān paryaveṣayan
upāsante ca tān anye sumṛṣṭa maṇi kuṇḍalāḥ

SYNONYMS

sva alankritāḥ puruṣā: well, decorated, men [caterers] | brahmaṇān paryaveṣayan: to the Brahmans, served food | sumṛṣṭa: having lustre | mani kuṇḍalāḥ: well decorated, gem-studded, earrings [worn by those helpers.] | anye ca: others, also | upāsante tān: helped, them. |

TRANSLATION

Well-decorated men have served food to Brahmans, while others who wore gem-studded and lustrous earrings have helped them. [1-14-18]

VERSE 19

कर्मान्तरे तदा विप्रा हेतुवादान् बहूनपि
प्राहुः सुवाग्मिनो धीराः परस्पर जिगीषया

karmāntare tadā viprā hetuvādān bahūnapi
prāhuḥ suvāgmino dhīrāḥ paraspara jigīṣayā

SYNONYMS

tadā dhīrāḥ viprāḥ: then, intellectual, Brahmans | karma antare: rituals, in interludes | paraspara jigīśaya: each other, to defeat | bahūn hetu vādan = many, intellectual, debates: arts of reasoning | su vāgminaḥ prāhuḥ: good, debaters, have debated. |

TRANSLATION

Those eminent Brahmans that are good debaters have debated many intellectual debates to defeat each other, during the gap-periods of ritual works. [1-14-19]

VERSE 20

दिवसे दिवसे तत्र संस्तरे कुशला द्विजाः
सर्व कर्माणि चक्रुः ते यथा शास्त्रं प्रचोदिताः

divase divase tatra saṃstare kuśalā dvijāḥ
sarva karmāṇi cakruḥ te yathā śāstraṃ pracoditāḥ

SYNONYMS

samstare: in ritual | te kuśalāḥ dvijāḥ: those, expert, Brahmans | divase divase tatra: day by day, there | pra coditāḥ: encouraged by [Vashishta and others] | sarva karmāṇi: all, works | yathā śaśtram: according to, scriptures | cakruḥ: have performed. |

TRANSLATION

Day by day those expert Brahmans have performed all ritual works as encouraged by Vashishta, and others and as contained in scriptures. [1-14-20]

VERSE 21

न अषडङ्ग वित् अत्र आसीत् न अव्रतो न अबहुश्रुतः
सदस्यः तस्य वै राज्ञो न अवाद कुशला द्विजाः

na aṣaḍaṅga vit atra āsīt na avrato na abahuśrutaḥ
sadasyaḥ tasya vai rājño na avāda kuśalā dvijāḥ

SYNONYMS

atra: there | a ṣaḍanga vit: not, in six branches, knower | na asīt: is not, there | a vrataḥ: non-vowed scholar | na: not there | a bahu śrutaḥ: not, in many [scriptures,] one who heard | tasya rājñaḥ sadasyāḥ: that, king's, members of ritual | a vāda kuśalāḥ [vāda a kuśalāḥ]: in debating, inexperts | na vai: not there, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

There is no scholar without the knowledge of the six branches of Vedas, none who is an unavowed scholar, none who heard learnt less scriptures, and none among the members of the ritual of that king Dasharatha is an inexpert in debating, thus all are scholarly Brahmans. [1-14-21]

PURPORT

The six branches of Veda-s are: 1] sikSa - phonetics, 2] vyaakaraNa - grammar, 3] chandas - prosody, 4] nirukta - etymology, 5] jyotiS - astronomy, 6] kalapa - ritual acts.
VERSE 22

प्राप्ते यूपः उच्छ्रये तस्मिन् षड् बैल्वाः खादिराः तथा
तावन्तो बिल्व सहिताः पर्णिनः च तथा अपरे

prāpte yūpaḥ ucchraye tasmin ṣaḍ bailvāḥ khādirāḥ tathā
tāvanto bilva sahitāḥ parṇinaḥ ca tathā apare

SYNONYMS

,23| tasmin: in ritual | yūpa ucchraye prāpte sati: wooden ritual posts, staking time, when neared | ṣaṭ bailvāḥ: six, Bilwa wood stakes [Egle Marmelos] | tathā: like that | bilva sahitāḥ: to Bilwa posts, nearer to | tāvantaḥ: same number of | khādirāḥ: posts of Khadira wood [Mimosa catech] | tatha: like that | parṇiaḥ ca apare: posts of Parnina wood [Butea frondosa,] also, further | [eka] ṣleśmātakamayaḥ [ġorida mykṣa]: [one,] post of Sleshmaataka wood | devadārumayaḥ = posts of ḍevadāru vūd [ūvaria longifolia,] [tvo posts, generally: these posts are staked] | tatra: there | dvau eva bāhu vyasta parigrahou: two, thus, arms, extended, touching [at the length of extended arms] | vihitou diṣṭaḥ: as stipulated, are staked. |

TRANSLATION

When the time came to stake wooden ritual posts, six posts of bilwa wood, six posts of khadira wood, and further the same number of posts of parnina wood are staked. One post of sleshmaataka wood and two of devadaaru wood as stipulated are staked. Then the distance between each post is maintained at the length of extended arms. [1-14-22,23]

VERSE 24

कारिताः सर्व एवैते शास्त्रज्ञैः यज्ञकोविदैः
शोभाअर्थम् तस्य यज्ञस्य कांचन अलंकृत अभवन्

kāritāḥ sarva evaite śāstrajñaiḥ yajñakovidaiḥ
śobhāartham tasya yajñasya kāṃcana alaṃkṛta abhavan

SYNONYMS

śāstrajñaiḥ yajñma kovidaiḥ kāritāḥ: authorities on scriptures, by ritual, scholars, they are made | te sarve eva: they, all, thus | tasya yajñasya: of that, ritual | śobha artham: for elegance, purpose | kāncana alankṛta abhavan: gold-pleated, decorated, they are [posts,] became. |

TRANSLATION

All of those the posts are made by the authorities on scriptures and ritual scholars, and they are gold-pleated and decorated for the purpose of elegance to that ritual. [1-14-24]

VERSE 25

एक विंशति यूपाः ते एक विंशत् अरत्नयः
वासोभिः एक विंशद्भिः एकैकम् समलंकृताः

eka viṃśati yūpāḥ te eka viṃśat aratnayaḥ
vāsobhiḥ eka viṃśadbhiḥ ekaikam samalaṃkṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

eka vimśat aratnayaḥ = having one and tventy, cubits: elbow to fingertip measure in height | eka vimśat yūpāḥ te: one and twenty [twenty-one,] posts, they are | eka vimśadbhi vāsobhiḥ: with twenty-one, cloths | eka ekam alankṛtaḥ sama: one to each post, decorated, they are. |

TRANSLATION

They are altogether twenty-one posts, each post is twenty-one cubits in height, and each is decoratively clothed with each cloth. [1-14-25]

VERSE 26

विन्यस्ता विधिवत् सर्वे शिल्पिभिः सुकृता दृढाः
अष्ट आस्रयः सर्व एव श्लक्ष्ण रूप समन्विताः

vinyastā vidhivat sarve śilpibhiḥ sukṛtā dṛḍhāḥ
aṣṭa āsrayaḥ sarva eva ślakṣṇa rūpa samanvitāḥ

SYNONYMS

sarve: all of them | śilpibhiḥ su kṛtā: by carpenters, well carved | dhṛḍhā: strongly built | aṣṭa āsrayaḥ: are with octahedral surfaces | ślakṣṇa rūpa samanvitāḥ: smoothened, surface shapes, having | sarve eva: all, thus | vinyasthā vidhivat: implanted, procedurally. |

TRANSLATION

Carpenters have carved all the posts well, and built them strongly with octahedral surfaces that are smoothened, and thereby they are implanted procedurally. [1-14-26]

VERSE 27

आच्छादिताः ते वासोभिः पुष्पैः गन्धैः च पूजिताः
सप्त ऋषयो दीप्तिमन्तो विराजन्ते यथा दिवि

ācchāditāḥ te vāsobhiḥ puṣpaiḥ gandhaiḥ ca pūjitāḥ
sapta ṛṣayo dīptimanto virājante yathā divi

SYNONYMS

vāsobhiḥ ācchāditāḥ: with cloths, draped | te: them | puśpaiḥ gandhaiḥ ca pūjitāḥ: with flowers, with perfumery, worshipped | te dīptimantaḥ: they, having irradiance | divi sapta ṛṣayaḥ yathā: in sky, Seven Sages, as with | virājante: they shone forth. |

TRANSLATION

Those posts draped in cloths and worshipped with flowers and perfumery are irradiant, and they shone forth like the constellation of Seven Sages in the sky. [1-14-27]

PURPORT

The Seven Sages is the constellation of stars in the Ursa Major - The Great Bear, and is called sapta R^ishi maNDala . The Indian names of the Seven Sages are 1] atri , 2] angiirasa , 3] pulastya , 4] pulaha , 5] kratu , 6] mariichi , 7] vashiSTha .
VERSE 28

इष्टकाः च यथा न्यायम् कारिताः च प्रमाणतः
चितो।अग्निः ब्राह्मणैः तत्र कुशलैः शिप्लकर्मणि

iṣṭakāḥ ca yathā nyāyam kāritāḥ ca pramāṇataḥ
cito|agniḥ brāhmaṇaiḥ tatra kuśalaiḥ śiplakarmaṇi

SYNONYMS

tatra: in that ritual | yathā nyāyam pramāṇataḥ ca: according to, rules, according to standard measurements, also | iṣṭakāḥ kāritāḥ: bricks, are made | śilpa karmaṇi: by architects [particular priest-architects of Vedic rituals | or sulba karmanai: by those that calculate the area of altar with a single-stranded thread called shulba ] | kuśalaiḥ brāhmaṇaiḥ agniḥ citaḥ: by expert, Brahmans, Altar of Fire, layered. |

TRANSLATION

The bricks for Altar of Fire are well designed and made according to rules and standard measurements. The Brahmans who are experts in the architecture of laying Fire Altar, by calculating the ritual field with a one-ply rope and decide where and how the that shall be, the Altar of Fire is layered well with bricks in that ritual. [1-14-28]

PURPORT

The construction of Fire Altar itself is a ritual, called iSTikaa chayana , where each brick is to be consecrated with hymns. On completion of the layering of bricks to the required shape, i.e., that of an eagle-like platform for a garuDa yaj~na vedi etc., then Holy head bath abhiSeka is performed to the brick-work of the Altar by pouring milk and other sacred liquids to the chanting of Vedic hymns.
VERSE 29

सचित्यो राज सिंहस्य संचितः कुशलैः द्विजैः
गरुडो रुक्मपक्षो वै त्रिगुणो अष्टा दशात्मकः

sacityo rāja siṃhasya saṃcitaḥ kuśalaiḥ dvijaiḥ
garuḍo rukmapakṣo vai triguṇo aṣṭā daśātmakaḥ

SYNONYMS

kuśalaiḥ dvijaiḥ: by experts, Brahmans | rukma pakśaḥ: eagle [shaped,] with golden, wings | tri guṇaḥ: three times more [ than usual] triple sized | aṣṭa daśātmakaḥ = , eightīn in number: having eighteen separators | garuḍaḥ: eagle fire altar | saḥ rāja simhasya: of that, king, the lion's | samcitaḥ: ever with fire | cityaḥ: the fire laid on such an altar of fire layered as above. |

TRANSLATION

That Altar of Fire of that King, the Lion, is layered by expert Brahmans in the shape of an eagle with golden wings, with its size being three folds bigger than the altars of other rituals, thus it has eighteen separators, and fire is laid on it. [1-14-29]

PURPORT

The garuDa , the Divine Eagle is the vehicle of Vishnu with an all-pervading vision and fastest wings. He is the only one who once brought amrita, the Divine Elixir, for the release of his mother from slavery. Hence, the Altar of Fire is given the shape of this Divine Eagle, with its wings and tail outstretched, head turned downward, and the eyes looking eastward. yaj~na is also termed as suparNa i.e., su good, parNa winged; carrier of the oblations with his golden wings to heavens. Or its wings are glittering with gold sahasram hiraNya shakalaiH prati dinam agnim prokShati - shruti meaning every day with thousands of gold chips oblate the fire... scriptures say so. So the Altar of fire is glittering with thousands of gold chips sprinkled every day. This altar is laid threefold bigger than the usual one.
VERSE 30

नियुक्ताः तत्र पशवः तत् तत् उद्दिश्य दैवतम्
उरगाः पक्षिणः च एव यथा शास्त्रम् प्रचोदिताः

niyuktāḥ tatra paśavaḥ tat tat uddiśya daivatam
uragāḥ pakṣiṇaḥ ca eva yathā śāstram pracoditāḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: in that ritual | yathā śāstram pracoditam: as per the scriptural, directives | paśavaḥ uragāḥ pakśinaḥ ca eva: animals, serpents, birds, also, thus | tat tat daivatam uddiśya: that and that, deity, designated to | niyuktāḥ: are readied. |

TRANSLATION

In that ritual animals, serpents and birds designated to such and such deities are readied according to the scriptural directives. [1-14-30]

VERSE 31

शामित्रे तु हयः तत्र तथा जलचराः च ये
ऋषिभिः सर्वम् एवै तन् नियुक्तम् शास्त्रतः तदा

śāmitre tu hayaḥ tatra tathā jalacarāḥ ca ye
ṛṣibhiḥ sarvam evai tan niyuktam śāstrataḥ tadā

SYNONYMS

śrāmite tu: in animal sacrifices, but | tatra: there | hayaḥ tathā ye jala carāḥ: horse, like that, those, water, animals [are to be there, them] | sarva evai tan: all, of them | tadā: then | ṛṣibhiḥ niyuktam śāśtraḥ: by sages, arranged,. as per scriptures. |

TRANSLATION

The sages have arranged those animals that are to be there in animal sacrifices, like horse and other aquatic animals, in that ritual according to scriptures. [1-14-31]

PURPORT

Many animals are sacrificed in Horse ritual. But they will be segregated as forest animals and village animals. In them many of the forest animals will be let off by taking them round the fire on to their right in salutation to fire, agni paradakshiNa namaskara . The animals pertaining to village will be sacrificed in ritual. Hence it is up to the priests to decide which is to be retained or let off.
VERSE 32

पशूनाम् त्रिशतम् तत्र यूपेषु नियतम् तदा
अश्व रत्नः उत्तमम् तस्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य ह

paśūnām triśatam tatra yūpeṣu niyatam tadā
aśva ratnaḥ uttamam tasya rājño daśarathasya ha

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | tatra: in that ritual | tri śatam paśūnām: three, hundred, animals | tasya rājñaḥ asva ratna uttamam: that, king Dasharatha's, horse, gemlike, best one | yūpeṣu niyatam: to wooden posts, arranged [tied.] |

TRANSLATION

Three hundred animals are tied to the ritual posts, along with the gemlike best ritual horse of that King Dasharatha. [1-14-32]

VERSE 33

कौसल्या तम् हयम् तत्र परिचर्य समंततः
कृपाणैः विशशासः एनम् त्रिभिः परमया मुदा

kausalyā tam hayam tatra paricarya samaṃtataḥ
kṛpāṇaiḥ viśaśāsaḥ enam tribhiḥ paramayā mudā

SYNONYMS

tatra: in that ritual | kausalyā: Queen Kausalya | tam hayam: that, horse | samantataḥ paricarya: all around, on making circumambulations | paramayā mudā: with great, delight | tribhi kṛpāṇaiḥ: with three, knives | viśaśāsaḥ enam = killed, that one: the horse. |

TRANSLATION

With great delight coming on her Queen Kausalya reverently made circumambulations to the horse, and symbolically killed the horse with three knives. [1-14-33]

PURPORT

Here Kausalya did not butcher the horse as queens do not butcher animals in rituals, but the horse is already sacrificed. It is a symbolical act of queens to pierce with three golden knives like needles. The scripture says that all the eligible wives of the performer of ritual have to pierce that way. sauvarNiibhi suuciibhiH patnayoH ashvasya asipathaan kalayanti - shruti / scripture. So all the three queens have performed that symbolic act by piercing that horse, which is already dead, with golden needle-like knives. Govindaraja.
VERSE 34

पतत्रिणा तदा सार्धम् सुस्थितेन च चेतसा
अवसत् रजनीम् एकाम् कौसल्या धर्म कांयया

patatriṇā tadā sārdham susthitena ca cetasā
avasat rajanīm ekām kausalyā dharma kāṃyayā

SYNONYMS

kausalyā: Queen Kausalya | susthitena ca cetasā = vith composed: impassively | dharma kāmāyā = dharma, desiring: for achieving results | patatriṇā sārtham: with horse, for results | [vhere patatri: also means a bird, one that swiftly flew away like a bird | the sacrificed ritual horse is equated vith the ḍivine Eagle: garuDa - that conducts the oblations | ekām rajanīm avasat: one, night, she resided with that horse that flew away. |

TRANSLATION

Queen Kausalya desiring the results of ritual disconcertedly resided one night with that horse that flew away like a bird. [1-14-34]

VERSE 35

होता अध्वर्युः तथ उद्गाता हस्तेन समयोजयन्
महिष्या परिवृत्त्या अथ वावाताम् अपराम् तथा

hotā adhvaryuḥ tatha udgātā hastena samayojayan
mahiṣyā parivṛttyā atha vāvātām aparām tathā

SYNONYMS

atha: then | hotā adhvaryuḥ tathā udgātā: hotaa, adhwaryu, thus, udgaataa, [the three officiating priests of the ritual] | mahiṣyā parivṛttyā: crowned queen, neglected wife of king | vāvātām ca: concubine of king, also | aparam tathā: next, thus | hastena samyojayan: by hand, took. |

TRANSLATION

Thus, the officiating priests of the ritual, namely hota, adhwaryu and udgaata have received in their hand the Crowned Queen, the neglected wife, and a concubine of the king, next as a symbolic donation in the ritual by the performer, the king. [1-14-35]

PURPORT

There will be four officiating priests for these Vedic rituals. 1. brahma , 2. hota , 3. adhvaryu , 4. udgaata , to whom the king has to donate his inner core properties like wives, lands etc. By practice a king has to marry four wives. The four women of the king are 1. mahiSi = Queen, 2. parivR^itti = neglected women, 3. vaavaata = concubine, 4. paalaakali = goblet-maid. The order of donation is that the Queen to brahma , concubine to hota , neglected woman to udgaata , and the goblet-maid to the adhwaryu . Here, though the brahma ritvik is not cited along with paalaakali , goblet-maid, they are implied. The donation is symbolic and later bartering with some valuable items that is redeemed. Govindaraja. There is another way of translating this. For the wording, hastena samayojayan the priests took these wives by hand to bring them in contact with the dead horse.
VERSE 36

पतत्रिणः तस्य वपाम् उद्धृत्य नियतेइन्द्रियः
ऋत्विक् परम संपन्नः श्रपयामास शास्त्रतः

patatriṇaḥ tasya vapām uddhṛtya niyateindriyaḥ
ṛtvik parama saṃpannaḥ śrapayāmāsa śāstrataḥ

SYNONYMS

udhṛtya niyata indriyaḥ: took up, one with controlled senses | patatriṇaḥ tasya vapām: horse's, fat [omentum] | ṛtvik parama sampannaḥ: ritwik, priest, very, wealthy in knowledge | śrapayamāsa śāstrataḥ: cooked, as per scriptures. |

TRANSLATION

Then the priest, one with controlled senses and rich in scriptural wealth, took up the omentum [fat] of the horse and cooked it as per scriptures while dropping into the altar of fire to bake as a food to the celestials. [1-14-36]

PURPORT

Some more scholars give a non-violent touch to this act and they say that a medicinal plant ,is offered in altar and its smell is smelt. That plant is substituted for omentum of the horse, and the wording is read differently. When the sequence is running on horse and horse's body parts how a medical plant is brought in, is unclear. And some say that a horse will not have omentum according to Vedic texts.
VERSE 37

धूम गन्धम् वपायाः तु जिघ्रति स्म नराधिपः
यथा कालम् यथा न्यायम् निर्णुदन् पापम् आत्मनः

dhūma gandham vapāyāḥ tu jighrati sma narādhipaḥ
yathā kālam yathā nyāyam nirṇudan pāpam ātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

narādhipaḥ: King | yathā kālam yathā nyāyam: as per time, as per procedure | nirṇudan pāpam ātmanaḥ: to cleanse, sin, his own | dhūma gamdham vapāya tu: smoke's, smell, of fat [omentum being cooked] | jighrati sma: smelling, he is. |

TRANSLATION

The king Dasharatha smelt the smell of smoke as per time and procedure to cleanse his own sin. [1-14-37]

VERSE 38

हयस्य यानि च अंगानि तानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणाः
अग्नौ प्रास्यन्ति विधिवत् समस्ताः षोडश ऋत्विजः

hayasya yāni ca aṃgāni tāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇāḥ
agnau prāsyanti vidhivat samastāḥ ṣoḍaśa ṛtvijaḥ

SYNONYMS

hayasya yāni angāni: of horse, which, body-parts are there | tāni sarvāṇi: they, all of them | samastāḥ ṛtvijaḥ: all, priests | śodaśa brāhmanaḥ: sixteen, Brahmans | vidhivat agnou prāsyanti: procedurally, in fire, oblated. |

TRANSLATION

Those remaining body parts that horse are there, the sixteen officiating priests have procedurally oblated all of them into fire. [1-14-38]

VERSE 39

प्लक्ष शाखासु यज्ञानाम् अन्येषाम् क्रियते हविः
अश्व मेधस्य यज्ञस्य वैतसो भागः इष्यते

plakṣa śākhāsu yajñānām anyeṣām kriyate haviḥ
aśva medhasya yajñasya vaitaso bhāgaḥ iṣyate

SYNONYMS

anyeṣām yajñānām: in other, rituals, haviH plakSa shaakhaasu kriyate = oblation, with plaksha [Ficus Venosa,] tree, on its branches, will be done | asvamedhasya yajñasya bhāgaḥ: Horse sacrifice, of ritual, oblation | vaitasaḥ iṣyate: Vaitasa creepe, is to be done. |

TRANSLATION

In other rituals the oblations will be offered into sacrificial fire with spoon-like sticks of plaksha tree, but in Horse-sacrifice ritual they are offered through the vetasa creeper, a rattan plant, cane. [1-14-39]

VERSE 40

त्र्यहो।अश्व मेधः संख्यातः कल्प सूत्रेण ब्राह्मणैः
चतुष्टोमम् अहः तस्य प्रथमम् परिकल्पितम्

tryaho|aśva medhaḥ saṃkhyātaḥ kalpa sūtreṇa brāhmaṇaiḥ
catuṣṭomam ahaḥ tasya prathamam parikalpitam

SYNONYMS

brāhmanaiḥ: by penultimate parts of Veda-s | kalpa sūtreṇa: according to kalpa, rules | tri ahaḥ: for three, days | asvamedhaḥ samkhyātaḥ: Horse ritual, is said [ to be performed] | tasya prathamam ahaḥ catuṣṭomaḥ parikalpitam: its, first one, is said to be, chatuhSToma, is arranged. |

TRANSLATION

The Horse Ritual is to be performed for three days as laid down in kalpa sutra -s, the rules governing such rituals, and by brahmaNa -s, the penultimate parts of Veda-s, and the one performed on the first day is called chatuhSToma ritual. [1-14-40]

VERSE 41

उक्थ्यम् द्वितीयम् संख्यातम् अतिरात्रम् तथोत्तरम्
कारिताः तत्र बहवो विहिताः शास्त्र दर्शनात्

ukthyam dvitīyam saṃkhyātam atirātram tathottaram
kāritāḥ tatra bahavo vihitāḥ śāstra darśanāt

SYNONYMS

dvitīyam ukthyam: second one, is ukthyam | tatha uttaram atirātram samkhyātam: likewise, later one, is atiraatra, said to be as | tatra: in that ritual | śāśtra darśanāt: as scriptures, have envisaged | vihitāḥ bahavaḥ kāritāḥ: as ordained, many, have been performed. |

TRANSLATION

The ritual on the second day is called ukthyam , and the next one performed on third day is called atiraatra . These apart many of the preordained rituals are performed there in that ritual as envisaged in scriptures. [1-14-41]

PURPORT

The horse-ritual is conducted only for three days. But Dasharatha got it performed with more variously connected rituals, in all his eagerness to appease gods for progeny.
VERSE 42

ज्योतिष्टोम आयुषी च एवम् अतिरात्रौ विनिर्मितौ
अभिजित् विश्वजित् च एवम् अप्तोर्यामो महाक्रतुः

jyotiṣṭoma āyuṣī ca evam atirātrau vinirmitau
abhijit viśvajit ca evam aptoryāmo mahākratuḥ

SYNONYMS

jyothiṣṭoma āyuṣī: jyothiSToma, fire ritual, aayu yaaga, Longevity rituals | evam: like that | atirātrou vinirmitou: atiraatri rituals, performed | abhijit viśvajit evam: abhijit ritual, vishwajit rituals, thus | aptoryāma mahā kratuḥ: aptoryaama, great, ritual are conducted. |

TRANSLATION

The rituals called jyothiSToma, aayuSi, and atiraatra rituals are performed. And also rituals of great kind like abhijit, vishwajit, aptoryaama are performed. [1-14-42]

VERSE 43

प्राचीम् होत्रे ददौ राजा दिशम् स्वकुल वर्धनः
अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीम् तु ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणाम् दिशम्

prācīm hotre dadau rājā diśam svakula vardhanaḥ
adhvaryave pratīcīm tu brahmaṇe dakṣiṇām diśam

SYNONYMS

,44| sva kula vardhanaḥ: self, dynasty, developer [to promote his own dynasty] | rājā: king | hotre prācīm diśam dadau: to hota, east, side, donated | adhvaryane patīcīm tu: to adhvaryu, west [side,] and | brahmaṇe dakśiṇa diśām: to Brahma, southward, direction | tathā: thus | udgātre udīcīm: to udgaataa, northern side gave away | purā svayambhū vihite: earlier, by the Self-Created Brahma, as ordained | asvamedhe mahā yajñe: in aswamedha, great ritual | eṣā dakśiṇa vinirmitā: this way, donation, built [stipulated]. |

TRANSLATION

As the promoter of his own dynasty that king Dasharatha donated eastern side to hota , western to adhvaryu , and southern to brahma . And to udgaata northern side is given in donation. These were the donations stipulated in that great ritual, ashwamedha , by the Self-Created Brahma from earlier times. [1-14-44,43]

VERSE 45

क्रतुं समाप्य तु तदा न्यायतः पुरुषर्षभः
ऋत्विग्भ्यो हि ददौ राजा धराम् ताम् कुलवर्धनः

kratuṃ samāpya tu tadā nyāyataḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
ṛtvigbhyo hi dadau rājā dharām tām kulavardhanaḥ

SYNONYMS

purśarṣabha rājā = man, the best, king: Dasharatha | kula vardhana: dynasty, promoter of | kratum samāpya: ritual, on completing | tadā nyāyataḥ: then, justifiably | tām dharām ṛtvigbhyaḥ dadou: those, lands, to ritwiks, donated. |

TRANSLATION

On completing the ritual thus that best man Dasharatha justifiably donated those lands to the officiating priests, called ritwiks, to promote of his dynasty. [1-14-45]

VERSE 46

एवम् दत्त्वा प्रहृष्टो अभूत् श्रीमान् इक्ष्वाकु नन्दन
ऋत्विजः तु अब्रुवन् सर्वे राजानम् गत किल्बिषम्

evam dattvā prahṛṣṭo abhūt śrīmān ikṣvāku nandana
ṛtvijaḥ tu abruvan sarve rājānam gata kilbiṣam

SYNONYMS

evam dattvā: thus, having given | śrīmān ikśvāku nandana: that glorious one, in Ikshvaku dynasty, on born in | prahṛṣṭaḥ abhūt: gladdened, he became | tu: but | sarve ṛtvijaḥ: all, officiating priests | rājānam gata kilbiṣam: to king, who by now is rid of, sin | abruvan: said. |

TRANSLATION

Thus on giving away the vast expanses of his kingdom he that glorious one born in Ikshvaku dynasty is gladdened, but all the officiating priests said to the king who by now is rid of his sins. [1-14-46]

VERSE 47

भवान् एव महीम् कृत्स्नाम् एको रक्षितुम् अर्हति
न भूंया कार्यम् अस्माकम् न हि शक्ताः स्म पालने

bhavān eva mahīm kṛtsnām eko rakṣitum arhati
na bhūṃyā kāryam asmākam na hi śaktāḥ sma pālane

SYNONYMS

bhavān ekaḥ eva: you, alone, only | kṛtsnām mahīm rakṣitum arhati: in its entirety, earth, to protect, are capable | asmākam bhūmyā na kāryam: for us, with lands, no, work | na pālane śaktā sma: not, in ruling, capable, we are. |

TRANSLATION

"You alone are capable to protect the earth in its entirety, and there is no use for us with these lands, and we are not capable to rule it, either." Thus the priests are addressing the king. [1-14-47]

VERSE 48

रताः स्वाध्याय करणे वयम् नित्यम् हि भूमिप
निष्क्रयम् किंचित् एव इह प्रयच्छतु भवान् इति

ratāḥ svādhyāya karaṇe vayam nityam hi bhūmipa
niṣkrayam kiṃcit eva iha prayacchatu bhavān iti

SYNONYMS

vayam nityam: we, always | svādhyāya karaṇe: in self study of teachings | ratāḥ: preoccupied | bhavān: you | bhūmi pa = oh, land, ruler of: king | iha: in this aspect | kimcit niṣkrayam: something, price [ay modest thing] | prayacchatu iti: now, be given, by thus. |

TRANSLATION

"We are always preoccupied with self-study and teaching of scriptures, oh, king, thus you may give us something else in barter, any modest thing. " [1-14-48]

VERSE 49

मणि रत्नम् सुवर्णम् वा गावो यद् वा समुद्यतम्
तत् प्रयच्छ नरश्रेष्ट धरण्या न प्रयोजनम्

maṇi ratnam suvarṇam vā gāvo yad vā samudyatam
tat prayaccha naraśreṣṭa dharaṇyā na prayojanam

SYNONYMS

nara śreṣṭa: man, the best | maṇi ratnam suvarṇam vā: gems, best, gold, or | gāvaḥ yat vā samudyatam: cows, whatever, else, [whatever that is,] available | tat pra yaccha-: that, you may give | dharaṇyā prayojanam na: with vast expanses, what is the use, none. |

TRANSLATION

"Let best gems, gold, or cows or anything else that is available you may give us, what is the use of these vast expanses to us." So said the scholars. [1-14-49]

VERSE 50

एवम् उक्तो नरपतिः ब्राह्मणैः वेद पारगैः
गवाम् शत सहस्राणि दश तेभ्यो ददौ नृपः

evam ukto narapatiḥ brāhmaṇaiḥ veda pāragaiḥ
gavām śata sahasrāṇi daśa tebhyo dadau nṛpaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 51a| narapatiḥ: people's lord | nṛpaḥ: that king veda paaragaaH braahmaNaiH = by Vedic scholars, Brahmans | evam uktaḥ = thus, one vho is said so: the king | tebhyaḥ: to them | gavām daśa śata sahasrāṇi: cows, hundred, thousand, ten [ten lakhs i.e., 10,00,000, a million] | suvarnasya: of gold [coins] | daśa kotiḥ: ten of, ten million | rajatasya catur guṇam: silver [coins,] four, times [of gold coins] | dadau: he gave. |

TRANSLATION

The king Dasharatha, the lord of people, thus requested by the scholarly Vedic Brahmans gave them millions of cows, ten of ten million gold coins, and the silver four times thereof. [1-14-50, 51a]

PURPORT

Silver is prohibited for donation in such rituals, but here it is being given as barter for the lands earlier donated, hence it is an acceptable item.
VERSE 51

ऋत्विजः च ततः सर्वे प्रददुः सहिता वसु

ṛtvijaḥ ca tataḥ sarve pradaduḥ sahitā vasu

SYNONYMS

b, 52a| tataḥ ritvijaḥ sarve sahitā: then, officiating priests, all, collectively | vasu: that wealth | ṛṣyasṛngāya munaye vaśiṣṭhāya ca dhīmate: to Rishyasringa, to Sage Vashishta, also, enlightened | pradaduḥ: they gave. |

TRANSLATION

Then all those officiating priests collectively gave that wealth to sage Rishyasringa and to the enlightened sage Vashishta. [1-14-51b, 52a]

VERSE 52

ततः ते न्यायतः कृत्वा प्रविभागम् द्विजोत्तमाः

tataḥ te nyāyataḥ kṛtvā pravibhāgam dvijottamāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 53a| tataḥ: then | su prīta manasaḥ: well, satisfied, at heart | te dvijottamāḥ: those, Brahmans, best ones | sarve: all of them | nyāyataḥ: justifiably | pra vibhāgam kṛtvā: dividends, on distributing [among themselves] | bhṛśam muditāḥ: highly, gladdened [we are] | prati ūcuḥ: they said. |

TRANSLATION

Then all of those Brahmans are well satisfied at heart and distributed among themselves the wealth passed on by Rishyasringa and Vashishta, and then they said, "We are highly gladdened." [1-14-52a, 53a]

VERSE 53

ततः प्रसर्पकेभ्यस्तु हिरण्यम् सुसमाहितः

tataḥ prasarpakebhyastu hiraṇyam susamāhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 54a| tataḥ: thereafter | tada: then | susamāhitaḥ: sincerly [the king] | prasarpakebhyaḥ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: to those who have come to see the ritual, to Brahmans | koti samkhyam: one crore [ten million,] in number | jāmbūnadam: [the gold that has come out] of Jambu river | hiraṇyam: coins | dadau: donated. |

TRANSLATION

Then to the other Brahmans who arrived there to see the ritual, King Dasharatha sincerly donated ten million gold coins. [1-14-53b, 54a]

VERSE 54

दरिद्राय द्विजाय अथ हस्त आभरणम् उत्तमम्

daridrāya dvijāya atha hasta ābharaṇam uttamam

SYNONYMS

b, 55a| atha: then | rāghava nandana: Raghava's descendent | yācamānāya kasmaiḥ daridrāya dvijāya: one who is beseeching, someone, impoverished, Brahman | uttamam hasta ābharaṇam dadau: excellent, hand's, ornament, gave. |

TRANSLATION

That descendent of Raghava dynasty gave an excellent hand ornament to someone who is an impoverished Brahman and who is beseeching. [1-14-54a, 55a]

VERSE 55

ततः प्रीतेषु विधिवत् द्विजेषु द्विज वत्सलः

tataḥ prīteṣu vidhivat dvijeṣu dvija vatsalaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 56a| tataḥ: then | dvija vatsalaḥ = Brahmans, patron of: Dasharatha | dvijeṣu prīteṣu satsu: Brahmans, while happy, they are becoming | harṣa vyākula indriyaḥ: with happiness [coming on,] fluttering, senses | teṣām vidhivat praṇāmam akarot: to them, dutifully, veneration, he made. |

TRANSLATION

While those Brahmans are becoming happy then that king and the patron of Brahmans venerated them dutifully with his senses fluttering with happiness. [1-14-55b, 56a]

VERSE 56

तस्य आशिषो।अथ विविधा ब्राह्मणैः समुदाहृताः

tasya āśiṣo|atha vividhā brāhmaṇaiḥ samudāhṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 57a| atha: then | udārasya nṛ vīrasya: benevolent, king, valiant one | dharaṇyām patitasya: on ground, who is prostrating | tasya: for him | brāhmaṇaiḥ vividhā āśiṣaḥ sam udīritāḥ: by Brahmans, various, blessings, are chanted. |

TRANSLATION

Then that benevolent and valiant King Dasharatha prostrated on ground venerating the Brahmans, and the Brahmans too chanted various blessing hymns on that prostrating king. [1-14-56b, 57a]

PURPORT

The blessings are also Vedic hymns and particular parts of Vedic hymns are chanted for particular occasion called aashiirwachana hymns. To date this practice is continued where a Brahmin priest is commissioned to perform even a domestic ritual. In effect, it shall be construed that these are not the blessings of the Brahmin priests who are chanting, but it is the blessing of Veda itself.
VERSE 57

ततः प्रीत मना रजाअ प्राप्य यज्ञम् अनुत्तमम्

tataḥ prīta manā rajāa prāpya yajñam anuttamam

SYNONYMS

b, 58a| tataḥ rājā: then, king | pāpa apaham svar nayanam: sin, removing, to heaven, leading | parthiva rṣabhaiḥ dustaram: by kings, best ones, impossible to undertake | anuttamam yajñam: excellent, ritual | prāpya: having achieved | prīta manā: gladdened, at heart, [abhavat = he became.] |

TRANSLATION

Then that king is gladdened at heart for the successful achievement of the completion of that excellent ritual that removes sin and that leads to heaven as well, and that which cannot be undertaken by many of the best kings. [1-14-57b, 58a]

VERSE 58

ततो।अब्रवीत् ऋश्य्शृंगम् राजा दशरथः तदा

tato|abravīt ṛśyśṛṃgam rājā daśarathaḥ tadā

SYNONYMS

b, 59a| tataḥ: thereafter | rājā daśaratha: king, Dasharatha | tadā: then | ṛṣyasṛngam abravīt: to Rishyasringa, said | su vrata: oh, one with best vows | tvam tu: you, alone | kulasya vardhanam: dynasty's, expansion [oriented ritual] | kartum arhasi: to perform, it is apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter king Dasharatha said to sage Rishyasringa thus, "oh, sage with best vows, you alone are eligible to perform the ritual for the expansion of my dynasty." [1-14-58b, 59a]

VERSE 59

तथेति च स राजानम् उवाच द्विजसत्तमः
भविष्यन्ति सुता राजन् चत्वारः ते कुलोद्वहाः

tatheti ca sa rājānam uvāca dvijasattamaḥ
bhaviṣyanti sutā rājan catvāraḥ te kulodvahāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, c| dvija sattamaḥ: Brahmin, the best | tathā iti: like that only | rājānam uvāca: to king, said | rājan: oh, king | te kula udvahaḥ: your, dynasty, to ennoble | catvāraḥ sutā bhaviṣyanti: four, sons, there will be. |

TRANSLATION

That best Brahman Rishyasringa saying yes to the proposal, said this to king Dasharatha, "oh, king, there will be four sons to you that ennoble your dynasty. [1-14-59b, c]

VERSE 60

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बाल काण्डे चतुर्दशः
सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādikāvye bāla kāṇḍe caturdaśaḥ
sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tasya vākyam madhuram niśamya: he [the king,] his [Sage's,] words, sweet ones, on hearing | saḥ nṛp indra: he, that king, of kings | jagāma harṣam paramam mahātmā: went into, gladness, very much, great-souled | praṇamya tasmai prayataḥ: venerating, to him, again | tam ṛṣyaśṛṅgam punaḥ api uvāca: to him, to Rishyasringa, again said. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing the sweet words of Sage Rishyasringa, he that king of kings Dasharatha went into a state of ecstasy and venerating that great soul, Rishyasringa, again said this to him. [1-14-60]

PURPORT

Vedic yajna-s are the rituals of many kinds. Mainly there are 21 types of these yajna-s, 1] sapta paaka yajna-s are 7; 2] sapta havir yajna-s are 7; 3] sapta soma yajna-s are 7. Apart from these rituals, there are rituals for the overall development of society at large, called abhyudayaka yajna-s and under them categorised are: 1] ashvanmedha , 2] raajasuuya , 3] paunDariika , 4] bR^ihaspati sava , and some more are there. These grand scale rituals require a great patronage and support, not only of money but also of a variety of paraphernalia that go into the ritual. Hence only kings and emperors of yester years could conduct them. The yaaga shaala The Hall of Vedic ritual will be erected with platforms containing areas 1] yuupa stambha-s wooden posts to which the animals are tied. There will be 21 such posts, staked in the Vedic ritual hall, along with a half post staked near at the main altar; 2] uttara vedi , posterior platform; 3] dasha pada , platform for scholars; 4] havirdhaana , place for oblatory paraphernalia; 5] sadas , place for assemblages; 6] agnihotra shaala , place of sacrificial fire; 7] vedi , main Altar of Fire; 8] patnii shaala , place for the wife / wives of the performer and other females. The main activity of the ritual is around the vedi , the 7th item as above, where a garuDa vedi , an Eagle shaped Alter of Fire will be constructed with bricks, where the brick laying and paving itself is a ritual, called iSTikaa chayana . Into this yajna vedi , Altar of Fire, all the oblations are poured. The Hindu temples will be built in accordance with the layout of yajna shaala , since the daily puuja , at home or in a temple, is a micro-yajna, equable to Vedic Ritual itself. The layout of the temple is comparable to the above layout of yajna shaala . 1] dhavaja sthambha , flag post; 2] bali griha , sacrificial house; 3] bali piiTtha sacrificial platform, where usually the fruits, coconuts, prasada , food items etc., are presented to the deity firstly, before the devotee partakes them, as a kind of sacrifice; 4] havirdhana , preparatory places for havis , the food for sacrifice, usually in north-east or south-west corners; 5] mandapa open hall, where Vedic recitations are chanted; 6] garbha griha , sanctum sanctorum, in this there are two places one is, 7] pratishtha , the place where the picturesque idol is installed, and the other, 8] shakti sthaana , where the power of the installed deity will be installed, in the form of an yantra , a geometrical layout or other form. [For more information, please turn to The cultural Heritage of India, Vol IV, Religion.] The next epitome of yajna , is human body. It is said that deho devalayaH proktaH ‘human body itself is a temple...’ The above places of Ritual Hall or a Temple are located on body as this: 1] sthuupi [kalasha] , the top most golden pot of flagpoist of temple; 2] mahaa nashi the right nostril and kshudra nasi , left nostril; 3] shikhara , temple tower; 4] ghaTa , neck like structure; 5] prastaaram , shoulder like structure of temple; 6] paada , trunk of temple; 7] adhiSTaana , elevation; 8] upa piiTha , secondary seating. This is compared with human body as: Item 1] to human pate with hair-locks; 2] eye - on right and nose on left [for humans have one-eyed vision of God, where God is Omniscient; 3] face; 4] neck; 5] shoulders; 6] arms; 7] leg and thigh; 8] foot. ‘A temple is not a home of god but it is the form of god... the temple layout is the extended form of the rhythm of the innerspace of humans, called dahara aakaasha similar to cosmos of the universe...' [cf. What is a temple? What is its significance? Ganapathi Sthapati, Vaastu Vedic Research Foundation, Chennai, India.] Thus human body itself is identified with the temple, and the temple in turn with Vedic yajna shaala , and therefore it is said to keep the body clean and mind pure... which again is a Vedic import. The grand scale yajna-s as described in these epics like Ramayana and Maha Bharata are non-existent. But in recent times, such types of yajna-s were conducted on two occasions, once in 1975 and again in 1990. Here are some excerpts from The Indian Express, daily newspaper, published during May 1990: ‘Prof. Frits Staal, with financial assistance from several American funding agencies including the Smithsonian Institute and the Rockefeller Foundation, organized the agni chayana ritual in 1975. In spite of innumerable hurdles, Staal succeeded in persuading the elderly nambudri-s [scholarly priests of Vedic lore] to put together a team of ritualists old and young, give them through training, hold rehearsals for several months and finally put up performance for filming and documentation. Staal followed this up with the publication of his book called Agni ...' Readers who are interested to know more about yajna , the Vedic ritual, may please look for the works of Prof. Frits Staal, Indologist, at whose instance such rituals were conducted in Southern India. The two-volume book of Prof. Frits Staal: AGNI: The Vedic Ritual of the Fire Altar , running over some two thousand pages. Another book is The Mantra, which is an attempt to analyse the Vedic Hymns, published by State University of New York Press, State University Plaza, Albany, N.Y., 12246, also now available with Indian Book Centre, Delhi According to Staal, a Vedic ritual is very different from a health cure, a psychoanalyst session, an anthropological meeting or a religious service. Staal maintains that a Vedic ritual follows its own principles and leads a life of its own. He points out that a Vedic ritual requires very detailed and specific knowledge. He estimates that the extent of specialised knowledge needed to put the sacrificial altar together ritually is on a par with the extent of technical knowledge required to build an aeroplane. ‘The bird shaped altar is in fact a kind of aeroplane…’ says Stall ‘only it takes off in a different way…’ Scientific evaluations were also made on the changes occurred on physical and metaphysical levels on the individuals who performed the ritual, by experts from Canada and in association with Prague Institute of Czechoslovakia. Kirlion photography was also undertook by Mrs. Rose Mary Steel from London to record aura or the Electro-magnetic radiation around the human organism and hundreds of pictures of not only the performers but also of the visiting people and of their finger tips are recorded. Usually at the end of any Vedic ritual the Hall of Ritual, a thatched shed, will be put to fire. This called puurNa aahuti , complete oblation into fire. And then a rain occurs. It used to rain every time when the ritual is totally offered as an oblation into fire at the conclusion of such a ritual. ‘The association between the yajna and rain is indelible. Did it rain on [the day of puurNa aahuti ] i.e., May 9, 1990? It did...’ The Illustrated Weekly of India, May 27, 1990.