---
title: "Bala Kanda, Sarga 12"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/bala-kanda/sarga-12"
lang: "en"
---

# Bala Kanda, Sarga 12

> ततः काले बहुतिथे कस्मिंश्चित् सुमनोहरे।  
> वसन्ते समनुप्राप्ते राज्ञो यष्टुं मनोऽभवत्॥ १॥

Afterwards, when a considerable time had elapsed since the arrival of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, and an unusually charming spring set in, an urge was felt by the Emperor to undertake a sacrifice for being blessed with a son. (1)

> ततः प्रणम्य शिरसा तं विप्रं देववर्णिनम्।  
> यज्ञाय वरयामास संतानार्थं कुलस्य च॥ २॥

Touching the ground with his head he sought the help of the aforesaid Brāhmaṇa, Rṣyaśṛṅga, who possessed the splendour of a god, for conducting a sacrifice with a view to the propagation of his race as well as to the attainment of heaven. (2)

> तथेति च स राजानमुवाच वसुधाधिपम्।  
> सम्भाराः सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्॥ ३॥  
> सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम्।  
> ततोऽब्रवीन्नृपो वाक्यं ब्राह्मणान् वेदपारगान्॥ ४॥  
> सुमन्त्रावाहय क्षिप्रमृत्विजो ब्रह्मवादिनः।  
> सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम्॥ ५॥  
> पुरोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमाः।  
> ततः सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रमः॥ ६॥  
> समानयत् स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान् वेदपारगान्।  
> तान् पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा॥ ७॥  
> धर्मार्थसहितं युक्तं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्।  
> मम तातप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थं नास्ति वै सुखम्॥ ८॥

The sage accordingly said to the king, who ruled over the entire globe, “Requisites for the sacrifice may be got ready and your horse let loose. And let a sacrificial ground be prepared on the northern bank of the Sarayū.” The king then spoke to Sumantra as follows : “Sumantra, speedily call Brāhmaṇas who are masters of the Vedas and priests who are capable of expounding the Vedas, viz., Suyajña and Vāmadeva, Jābāli and Kāśyapa, Vasiṣṭha, my family priest, and whoever other jewels among Brāhmaṇas there may be. Proceeding hastily, the celebrated Sumantra, who walked with quick paces, brought together in a body the aforesaid Brāhmaṇas, who were all masters of the Vedas. Receiving them with reverence, King Daśaratha, whose mind was given to piety, then addressed to them the following words, which were reasonable and sweet and full of piety and purpose : “Really there is no joy to me, who have been suffering great agony for want of a son all these years. (3—8)

> पुत्रार्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामीति मतिर्मम।  
> तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि हयमेधेन कर्मणा॥ ९॥

“I shall accordingly propitiate the Lord with a horse-sacrifice : such is my resolve. I, therefore, intend to worship God through a sacrificial performance called Aśwamedha (a horse-sacrifice). (9)

> ऋषिपुत्रप्रभावेण कामान् प्राप्स्यामि चाप्यहम्।  
> ततः साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणाः प्रत्यपूजयन्॥ १०॥  
> वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखाच्च्युतम्।  
> ऋष्यशृङ्गपुरोगाश्च प्रत्यूचुर्नृपतिं तदा॥ ११॥

“And I shall certainly attain all my desired ends through the influence (spiritual power) of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga.” Thereupon, saying “Amen !” all the Brāhmaṇas with Vasiṣṭha as their leader acclaimed the aforesaid proposal that had emanated from the lips of the king. And those headed by Ṛṣyaśṛṅga then replied to the king as follows : (10-11)

> सम्भाराः सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्।  
> सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम्॥ १२॥

“Let all the requisites for the sacrifice be got together and your horse be released and let a sacrificial ground be prepared on the northern bank of the Sarayū. (12)

> सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रांश्चतुरोऽमितविक्रमान्।  
> यस्य ते धार्मिकी बुद्धिरियं पुत्रार्थमागता॥ १३॥

“You, to whom such a pious idea has occurred for securing a son, shall at all events secure four sons possessed of immense prowess.” (13)

> ततः प्रीतोऽभवद् राजा श्रुत्वा तु द्विजभाषितम्।  
> अमात्यानब्रवीद् राजा हर्षेणेदं शुभाक्षरम्॥ १४॥

The king was really pleased to hear the acclamation of the Brāhmaṇas. The monarch then joyfully spoke to the ministers in sweet words as follows : (14)

> गुरूणां वचनाच्छीघ्रं सम्भाराः सम्भ्रियन्तु मे।  
> समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वः सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम्॥ १५॥

“Let the requisites for the sacrifice be got together apace according to the instructions of my elders. And let the sacrificial horse be let loose under the superintendence of four hundred Kṣatriya princes capable of guarding and controlling it, alongwith the chief-priest. (15)

> सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम्।  
> शान्तयश्चाभिवर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि॥ १६॥

“Nay, let a sacrificial ground be prepared on the northern bank of the Sarayū and let propitiatory rites (intended to avert evils) be elaborately gone through in proper order of sequence and in accordance with the scriptural ordinance. (16)

> शक्यः कर्तुमयं यज्ञः सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता।  
> नापराधो भवेत् कष्टो यद्यस्मिन् क्रतुसत्तमे॥ १७॥

“This horse-sacrifice is capable of being accomplished by any and every monarch provided there is no grievous transgression (in the shape of omission of certain essential rites) made in the course of this pre-eminent sacrificial performance. (17)

> छिद्रं हि मृगयन्त्येते विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसाः।  
> विधिहीनस्य यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति॥ १८॥

“For Brāhmaṇas that have attained the form of an ogre due to the omission of Mantras and rites, though learned (well-versed in the science of ritual acts) are on the look-out even for a minor transgression (in order to get an opportunity to spoil the sacrifice and thereby get the share of the gods) and he who undertakes a sacrificial performance bereft of the prescribed procedure forthwith perishes. (18)

> तद् यथा विधिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते।  
> तथा विधानं क्रियतां समर्थाः करणेष्विह॥ १९॥

“Therefore steps may be taken to ensure that this sacrificial undertaking of mine is concluded in accordance with the prescribed procedure; for you are capable of doing all this.” (19)

> तथेति च ततः सर्वे मन्त्रिणः प्रत्यपूजयन्।  
> पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद् वाक्यं यथाऽऽज्ञप्तमकुर्वत॥ २०॥

Thereupon all the counsellors of the king acclaimed the aforesaid command of the Emperor with the words “Let it be so”, and did as they were enjoined to do. (20)

> ततो द्विजास्ते धर्मज्ञमस्तुवन् पार्थिवर्षभम्।  
> अनुज्ञातास्ततः सर्वे पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम्॥ २१॥

Those Brāhmaṇas next glorified the Emperor, who knew what was right. Then, being permitted by the Emperor, all returned as they had come. (21)

> गतेषु तेषु विप्रेषु मन्त्रिणस्तान् नराधिपः।  
> विसर्जयित्वा स्वं वेश्म प्रविवेश महामतिः॥ २२॥

Sending away the said counsellors when those Brāhmaṇas had dispersed, the highly intelligent monarch entered his gynaeceum. (22)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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