Bala Kanda, Sarga 13

Meaning

The vernal season having appeared again, one year* got completed and the powerful monarch Daśaratha called on Visiṣṭha with a view to commencing the horse-sacrifice for the sake of a male progeny. (1)

Meaning

Having greeted Vasiṣṭha and his wife, Arundhatī, and offering homage to them according to the scriptural ordinance, he addressed the following humble prayer to Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of the Brāhmaṇas, with the object of obtaining a son : (2)

Meaning

“Let the sacrifice intended to be performed by me, O holy one, be commenced as enjoined by the scriptures, O jewel among sages, and steps may be taken to ensure that no obstacles may be thrown by the ogres etc., in the way of items forming part of the sacrifice. (3)

Meaning

“You are my selfless well-wisher as well as my supreme preceptor and an exalted soul too. The whole burden of the sacrifice that has come to me is to be borne by you alone.” (4)

Meaning

“Amen !” said that jewel among the Brāhmaṇas to the emperor, and added, “I shall undoubtedly do all that, which has been sought for by you.” (5)

Meaning

The sage Vasiṣṭha then spoke to elderly Brāhmaṇas well-versed in ritual acts as well as to elderly and most pious Brāhmaṇas, skilled in architecture relating to sacrifices, as also to servants engaged for the whole sacrificial session, artists, carpenters, those entrusted with the work of digging the sacrificial pits, astronomers and artisans, nay, even to actors and dancers and likewise to pure-minded men well-versed in sacred lore and to those whose knowledge extended over a very wide range of subjects : “Undertake you your respective duties connected with the sacrifice under orders of His Majesty. (6—8)

Meaning

“Let bricks be speedily brought in many thousands and palaces befitting a monarch and equipped with many articles of food and drink etc., built. (9)

Meaning

“And good houses for the Brāhmaṇas, strongly built and well provided with manifold edibles (such as fruits) and articles of food and drink be provided in abundance. (10)

Meaning

“Similarly, spacious dwellings and wells etc., should be constructed for the citizens too and mansions should be built separately for feudatory princes expected to arrive from long distances. (11)

Meaning

“Similarly, stables should be erected for the horses and stalls for the elephants of royal visitors and dormitories for the public and big houses for warriors belonging to other states as well as for those of our own territory. (12)

Meaning

“The houses should all be provided with abundant edibles and equipped with all desired objects and excellent food should be provided to the citizens as well as to those hailling from the countryside, respectfully in accordance with the scriptural ordinance, but never in a wanton way, so that members of all the grades of society may receive hospitality with due honour. (13-14)

Meaning

“And no disrespect should be shown to anyone even under the impulse of passion and anger. Nay, hospitality should be shown in a special degree in order of seniority to those men and artisans who may remain engrossed with their duties connected with the sacrifice. See that everything connected with all those who are duly honoured with riches (gifts of money) and food is fully accomplished and nothing remains undone. Therefore, with a mind full of love, act you all in such a way as to ensure this.” (15—17)

Meaning

Approaching Vasiṣṭha, they all thereupon spoke to him as follows : “Everything will be duly executed as desired by you; nothing will remain undone. (18)

Meaning

“We shall do it as enjoined by you and nothing will be wanting.” Summoning Sumantra, Vasiṣṭha then spoke to him as follows : (19)

Meaning

“Invite kings, nay, whoever on earth are pious, as well as Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras in thousands. (20)

Meaning

“Bring together men (other than those specified in the foregoing verse) from all lands, treating them with honour. Nay, bring yourself with great respect from Mithilā the celebrated and highly blessed Janaka, the heroic and truthful king of Mithilā, first of all. I make this suggestion to you, knowing him to be a predetermined relation of the Emperor, as the prospective father-in-law of his sons. (21-22)

Meaning

“Also bring personally the friendly and god-like ruler of the kingdom of Kāśī, who ever speaks kindly, they say, and possesses a noble character. (23)

Meaning

“Similarly, bring here the celebrated and extremely pious king of the Kekayas, the aged father-in-law of Daśaratha, a very lion among kings, as well as his son. (24)

Meaning

“Also bring here with great respect King Romapāda, the ruler of the Aṅgas, a well-known friend of our lion-like sovereign and the wielder of a mighty bow, alongwith his son. (25)

Meaning

“Likewise, bring most respectfully Bhānumān, the king of Kosala, and with due honour Prāptijña, the heroic and supremely large-hearted ruler of Magadha, the foremost among men and well-versed in all sacred lore. Taking the orders of His Majesty, invite the eminent rulers of the eastern territories as well as the monarchs of the Sindhusauvīra and Saurāṣṭra. (26-27)

Meaning

“Further bring all the rulers of the south and duly get together apace whatever other friendly monarchs there are on the surface of the earth, alongwith their followers and relations, get these through highly distinguished ambassadors under orders of His Majesty.” (28-29)

Meaning

Hearing the aforementioned command of Vasiṣṭha on that occasion, Sumantra hastily charged capable men with the aforesaid duty of bringing monarchs. (30)

Meaning

Nay, under orders of the sage the highly intelligent Sumantra, whose mind was given to piety, personally departed with haste to bring with honour those who had been specially marked out by Vasiṣṭha for being brought personally by Sumantra. (31)

Meaning

Nay, all those who had been employed to work for the sacrifice till the end reported to the eminent sage, Vasiṣṭha, whatever had been accomplished in connection with the sacrifice. (32)

Meaning

Pleased with their report, the sage Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of the Brāhmaṇas, then said to them all, “No gift should be made to anyone with disrespect or even with irreverence. (33)

Meaning

“A gift made with contumely brings ruin to the donor: there is no doubt about it.” Some days after the departure of Sumantra and others a number of kings arrived with many valuable presents in the form of jewels, pearls, articles of wearing apparel, ornaments etc., for Emperor Daśaratha: so the tradition goes. Highly pleased at their arrival, Vasiṣṭha spoke to the king as follows : (34-35)

Meaning

“Kings have arrived at your command, O tiger among men! Nay, all have been received with hospitality according to their deserts by me, O jewel among monarchs ! Moreover, everything connected with the sacrifice has been got ready by your men with great attention. Therefore, proceed you to the sacrificial hall close by to commence the sacrifice. (36-37)

Meaning

“Be pleased, O king of kings, to inspect the hall, which is furnished on every side with all the desired objects got together by your men and looks as if provided by your mere wish.” (38)

Meaning

On the recommendation of both the sages, Vasiṣṭha and Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Daśaratha, the ruler of the earth, accordingly proceeded to the sacrificial hall on a day marked with a propitious constellation. (39)

Meaning

Having reached the sacrificial hall in a body, placing Ṛṣyaśṛṅga ahead, all the foremost Brāhmaṇas with Vasiṣṭha as their leader (Ācārya) then commenced the sacrifice according to the scriptural ordinance in the prescribed order the same day. Nay, the glorious Emperor with his consorts went through the ceremony of consecration in order to qualify themselves for the sacrificial performance. (40-41)