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Baala Kaanda - Sarga 14
The city. The king. The people. The times. The predicament. The solution. The preparation. A smooth flow by Vālmeeki, thus far, if you had noticed.
In this Sarga, it is the event. Vālmeeki recorded a snapshot of those times and how they conducted themselves in this Sarga. This Sarga has only 57 Ṡlōkas. I wish there were hundreds of Ṡlōkas and more detail, to quench the thirst of people like you and me, who are interested in knowing the times, ways, manners, values and activities of our ancestors.
The times were certainly the best and even ideal in many ways, no matter whether from the perspective of material wealth and capabilities or aesthetic sensitivities or social etiquette or spiritual connections.
One thing is for sure. They had a great time. What amazes me is that they lived such a vivacious life, not at the expense of the environment, as it is happening today, but in harmony with it! Isn't there a part of us that longs for it?
1.14.1
அத ஸம்வத்ஸரே பூர்ணே தஸ்மிந் ப்ராப்தே துரங்கமே ।
ஸரய்வாஸ்சோத்தரே தீரே ராஜ்ஞோ யஜ்ஞோऽப்யவர்தத ॥
atha saṃvatsarē pūrṇē tasmin prāptē turaṅgamē ।
sarayvāṡcōttarē tīrē rājñō yajñō'bhyavartata ॥
A year passed by. The horse that was
released earlier, returned.
The Yajña of the king started on
the northern banks of river Sarayu.
1.14.2
ருஸ்யஸ்ருஙகம் புரஸ்க்ருத்ய கர்ம சக்ருர்த்விஜர்ஷபா: ।
அஸ்வமேதே மஹாயஜ்ஞே ராஜ்ஞோऽஸ்ய ஸுமஹாத்மந: ॥
ṛṡyaṡṛṅagaṃ puraskṛtya karma cakrurdvijarṣabhāḥ ।
aṡvamēdhē mahāyajñē rājñō'sya sumahātmanaḥ ॥
The eminent Brāhmaṇas performed the great
Aṡwa Mēdha Yajña of the great king led by Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga.
1.14.3
கர்ம குர்வந்தி விதிவத்யாஜகா வேதபாரகா: ।
யதாவிதி யதாந்யாயம் பரிக்ராமந்தி ஸாஸ்த்ரத: ॥
karma kurvanti vidhivadyājakā vēdapāragāḥ ।
yathāvidhi yathānyāyaṃ parikrāmanti ṡāstrataḥ ॥
The Yājakas that knew Vēdas from end to end
performed the rituals in strict conformance
with the procedures laid out in the Ṡāstras.
Yājakas are priests who have specialized in performing various rituals that are part of the Yajña.
1.14.4
ப்ரவர்க்யம் ஸாஸ்த்ரத: க்ருத்வா ததைவோபஸதம் த்விஜா: ।
சக்ருஸ்ச விதிவத்ஸர்வமதிகம் கர்ம ஸாஸ்த்ரத: ॥
pravargyaṃ ṡāstrataḥ kṛtvā tathaivōpasadaṃ dvijāḥ ।
cakruṡca vidhivatsarvamadhikaṃ karma ṡāstrataḥ ॥
Brāhmaṇas performed the rituals like
Upasada and Pravarga that were part of the Yajña
according to the procedures laid out in the Ṡāstras.
1.14.5
அபிபூஜ்ய ததோ ஹ்ருஷ்டா: ஸர்வே சக்ருர்யதாவிதி ।
ப்ராத:ஸவநபூர்வாணி கர்மாணி முநிபுங்கவா: ॥
abhipūjya tatō hṛṣṭāḥ sarvē cakruryathāvidhi ।
prātaḥsavanapūrvāṇi karmāṇi munipuṅgavāḥ ॥
The delighted and eminent Munis,
performed Pūja to the invited Dēvas.
Then they started the full array of rituals
starting from the morning Savana.
Havis is any offering to Dēvas given through Fire god, by dropping it on the fire in the Hōma Kuṇḍa.
Hōma Kuṇḍa is like a 'fire pit', a small enclosure of bricks, in which fire is ignited for making offerings.
These Ṡlōkas describe the offering done in the morning, mid-day and evening, called Savanas.
1.14.6
ஐந்த்ரஸ்ச விதிவத்தத்தோ ராஜா சாபிஷ்டுதோऽநக: ।
மாத்யந்திநம் ச ஸவநம் ப்ராவர்தத யதாக்ரமம் ॥
aindraṡca vidhivaddattō rājā cābhiṣṭutō'naghaḥ ।
mādhyandinaṃ ca savanaṃ prāvartata yathākramam ॥
Havis was offered to Indra as per the customs.
Juice was extracted from a pristine Soma plant.
All the rituals of mid-day Savana were performed in proper sequence.
1.14.7
த்ருதீயஸவநம் சைவ ராஜ்ஞோऽஸ்ய ஸுமஹாத்மந: ।
சக்ருஸ்தே ஸாஸ்த்ரதோ த்ருஷ்ட்வா ததா ப்ராஹ்மணபுங்கவா: ॥
tṛtīyasavanaṃ caiva rājñō'sya sumahātmanaḥ ।
cakrustē ṡāstratō dṛṣṭvā tathā brāhmaṇapuṅgavāḥ ॥
Similarly, the eminent Brāhmaṇas performed
the rituals of the third (evening) Savana
of the king's Yajña as dictated by the Ṡāstras.
1.14.8
ந சாஹுதமபூத்தத்ர ஸ்கலிதம் வாபி கிஞ்சந ।
த்ருஸ்யதே ப்ரஹ்மவத்ஸர்வம் க்ஷேமயுக்தம் ஹி சக்ரிரே ॥
na cāhutamabhūttatra skhalitaṃ vāpi kiñcana ।
dṛṡyatē brahmavatsarvaṃ kṣēmayuktaṃ hi cakrirē ॥
Every single Hōma was performed without
errors, mistakes, omissions or accidents.
Everything was done according to the Vēdas.
Hōma is a process of making offerings to the Dēvas through fire.
When there are people, there is fun. When every one of them is happy, the mood is festive. We cannot have it every day. But when it is there, two eyes are not enough to see, two ears are not enough to hear, and hundreds of Ṡlōkas are not enough to describe it. Vālmeeki is attempting to describe the festive atmosphere in less than fifty Ṡlōkas here. 'Wish it went on endlessly!
1.14.9
ந தேஷ்வஹஸ்ஸு ஸ்ராந்தோ வா க்ஷுதிதோ வாபி த்ருஸ்யதே ।
நாவித்வாந் ப்ராஹ்மணஸ்தத்ர நாஸதாநுசரஸ்ததா ॥
na tēṣvahassu ṡrāntō vā kṣudhitō vāpi dṛṡyatē ।
nāvidvān brāhmaṇastatra nāṡatānucarastathā ॥
No single Brāhmaṇa could be seen there
who was not an eminent scholar,
who was tired or hungry or not surrounded
by at least a hundred followers.
1.14.10
ப்ராஹ்மணா புஞ்ஜதே நித்யம் நாதவந்தஸ்ச புஞ்ஜதே ।
தாபஸா புஞ்ஜதே சாபி ஸ்ரமணா புஞ்ஜதே ததா ॥
brāhmaṇā bhuñjatē nityaṃ nāthavantaṡca bhuñjatē ।
tāpasā bhuñjatē cāpi ṡramaṇā bhuñjatē tathā ॥
Brāhmaṇas ate as they pleased.
So did the servitors, Tapasvis and Samnyāsis.
Samnyāsis are those who are in the fourth Āṡrama of renunciation.
1.14.11
வ்ருத்தாஸ்ச வ்யாதிதாஸ்சைவ ஸ்த்ரியோ பாலாஸ்ததைவ ச ।
அநிஸம் புஞ்ஜமாநாநாம் ந த்ருப்திருபலப்யதே ॥
vṛddhāṡca vyādhitāṡcaiva striyō bālāstathaiva ca ।
aniṡaṃ bhuñjamānānāṃ na tṛptirupalabhyatē ॥
Children, women, elderly people and
even the ailing were feasting every day.
The food was good and plentiful.
Palates were seeking more even after stomachs were full.
1.14.12
தீயதாம் தீயதாமந்நம் வாஸாம்ஸி விவிதாநி ச ।
இதி ஸஞ்சோதிதாஸ்தத்ர ததா சக்ருரநேகஸ: ॥
dīyatāṃ dīyatāmannaṃ vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca ।
iti sañcōditāstatra tathā cakruranēkaṡaḥ ॥
"Serve varieties of foods and
give away varieties of clothing!"
Thus was everyone told and they did accordingly.
1.14.13
அந்நகூடாஸ்ச பஹவோ த்ருஸ்யந்தே பர்வதோபமா: ।
திவஸே திவஸே தத்ர ஸித்தஸ்ய விதிவத்ததா ॥
annakūṭāṡca bahavō dṛṡyantē parvatōpamāḥ ।
divasē divasē tatra siddhasya vidhivattadā ॥
Every single day, like clock work, multiple mounds
of food that resembled mountains, were made ready.
1.14.14
நாநாதேஸாதநுப்ராப்தா: புருஷா: ஸ்த்ரீகணாஸ்ததா ।
அந்நபாநை: ஸுவிஹிதாஸ்தஸ்மிந் யஜ்ஞே மஹாத்மந: ॥
nānādēṡādanuprāptāḥ puruṣāḥ strīgaṇāstathā ।
annapānaiḥ suvihitāstasmin yajñē mahātmanaḥ ॥
In that Yajña of the great king
men and women from every where
were gratified with plenty of food and drinks.
1.14.15
அந்நம் ஹி விதிவத்ஸ்வாது ப்ரஸம்ஸந்தி த்விஜர்ஷபா: ।
அஹோ த்ருப்தா: ஸ்ம பத்ரம் த இதி ஸுஸ்ராவ ராகவ: ॥
annaṃ hi vidhivatsvādu praṡaṃsanti dvijarṣabhāḥ ।
ahō tṛptāḥ sma bhadraṃ ta iti ṡuṡrāva rāghavaḥ ॥
Daṡaratha, the descendent of Raghu
could hear the Brāhmaṇas saying
"The food is delicious!
It is prepared and served systematically!
We are very pleased and contented!
May all bode well for you!"
What more would a host want?
1.14.16
ஸ்வலங்க்ருதாஸ்ச புருஷா ப்ராஹ்மணாந் பர்யவேஷயந் ।
உபாஸதே ச தாநந்யே ஸும்ருஷ்டமணிகுண்டலா: ॥
svalaṅkṛtāṡca puruṣā brāhmaṇān paryavēṣayan ।
upāsatē ca tānanyē sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalāḥ ॥
The men serving the Brāhmaṇas
were all dressed well and were neat.
Even the men assisting them were
well decorated with diamond studded earrings.
Doesn't this Ṡlōka remind us of the servers in uniform in a luxury restaurant at a seven star hotel serving dignitaries?
1.14.17
கர்மாந்தரே ததா விப்ரா ஹேதுவாதாந் பஹூநபி ।
ப்ராஹு: ஸ்ம வாக்க்மிநோ தீரா: பரஸ்பரஜிகீஷயா ॥
karmāntarē tadā viprā hētuvādān bahūnapi ।
prāhuḥ sma vāggminō dhīrāḥ parasparajigīṣayā ॥
In the brief breaks here and there in between the rituals
eloquent Brāhmaṇas could be seen picking up
discussions to impress upon each other.
Perfect festive atmosphere - people get into discussions about everything under the sun.
1.14.18
திவஸே திவஸே தத்ர ஸம்ஸ்தரே குஸலா த்விஜா: ।
ஸர்வகர்மாணி சக்ருஸ்தே யதாஸாஸ்த்ரம் ப்ரசோதிதா: ॥
divasē divasē tatra saṃstarē kuṡalā dvijāḥ ।
sarvakarmāṇi cakrustē yathāṡāstraṃ pracōditāḥ ॥
Day after day, the motivated and talented Brāhmaṇas
performed all the rituals of the Yajña
exactly as laid out in the Ṡāstras.
1.14.19
நாஷடங்கவிதத்ராஸீந்நாவ்ரதோ நாபஹுஸ்ருத: ।
ஸதஸ்யாஸ்தஸ்ய வை ராஜ்ஞோ நாவாதகுஸலா த்விஜா: ॥
nāṣaḍaṅgavidatrāsīnnāvratō nābahuṡrutaḥ ।
sadasyāstasya vai rājñō nāvādakuṡalā dvijāḥ ॥
There was none among the Brāhmaṇas
that filled the court of the king that did
not know the six Vēdāngas
or have knowledge of many Ṡāstras,
or did not observe their respective daily rituals,
or was not eloquent in discussions.
1.14.20-21
ப்ராப்தே யூபோச்ச்ரயே தஸ்மிந் ஷட்பைல்வா: காதிராஸ்ததா ।
தாவந்தோ பில்வஸஹிதா: பர்ணிநஸ்ச ததாऽபரே ॥
ஸ்லேஷ்மாதகமயஸ்த்வேகோ தேவதாருமயஸ்ததா ।
த்வாவேவ தத்ர விஹிதௌ பாஹுவ்யஸ்தபரிக்ரஹௌ ॥
prāptē yūpōcchrayē tasmin ṣaḍbailvāḥ khādirāstathā ।
tāvantō bilvasahitāḥ parṇinaṡca tathā'parē ॥
ṡlēṣmātakamayastvēkō dēvadārumayastathā ।
dvāvēva tatra vihitau bāhuvyastaparigrahau ॥
It was then time to set up the sacrificial posts.
Six posts made of Bilva wood,
an identical number of posts made of Khadira wood,
some others made of Parṇi wood,
one made of Slēshmātaka wood and
two made of Dēvadāru wood were erected
standing two outstretched hand lengths apart from each other.
1.14.22
காரிதா: ஸர்வ ஏவைதே ஸாஸ்த்ரஜ்ஞைர்யஜ்ஞகோவிதை: ।
ஸோபார்தம் தஸ்ய யஜ்ஞஸ்ய காஞ்சநாலங்க்ருதா பவந் ॥
kāritāḥ sarva ēvaitē ṡāstrajñairyajñakōvidaiḥ ।
ṡōbhārthaṃ tasya yajñasya kāñcanālaṅkṛtā bhavan ॥
Those posts prepared by artisans
with complete understanding of the Ṡāstras
were covered with gold
to embellish the setting of the Yajña.
1.14.23
ஏகவிம்ஸதி யூபாஸ்தே ஏகவிம்ஸத்யரத்நய: ।
வாஸோபிரேகவிம்ஸத்பிரேகைகம் ஸமலங்க்ருதா: ॥
ēkaviṃṡati yūpāstē ēkaviṃṡatyaratnayaḥ ।
vāsōbhirēkaviṃṡadbhirēkaikaṃ samalaṅkṛtāḥ ॥
The twenty one sacrificial posts,
each measuring twenty one Aratnis in height,
were wrapped with twenty one drapes, one for each.
Aratni is about eighteen inches.
1.14.24
விந்யஸ்தா விதிவத்ஸர்வே ஸில்பிபி: ஸுக்ருதா த்ருடா: ।
அஷ்டாஸ்ரய: ஸர்வ ஏவ ஸ்லக்ஷ்ணரூபஸமந்விதா: ॥
vinyastā vidhivatsarvē ṡilpibhiḥ sukṛtā dṛḍhāḥ ।
aṣṭāṡrayaḥ sarva ēva ṡlakṣṇarūpasamanvitāḥ ॥
Those strong posts, well chiseled by sculptors
with octagonal cross section and fine finish
were erected according to specifications in the Ṡāstras.
1.14.25
ஆச்சாதிதாஸ்தே வாஸோபி: புஷ்பைர்கந்தைஸ்ச பூஜிதா: ।
ஸப்தர்ஷயோ தீப்திமந்தோ விராஜந்தே யதா திவி ॥
ācchāditāstē vāsōbhiḥ puṣpairgandhaiṡca pūjitāḥ ।
saptarṣayō dīptimantō virājantē yathā divi ॥
Those posts, with decorative drapes,
and adorned with flowers and Gandha,
were shining like the Sapta Ṛshis in the sky.
Gandha refers to perfume, made especially from Sandal Wood.
Sapta Ṛshis refers to the constellation of seven stars
that is also known as the 'Big Dipper".
1.14.26
The science and art of building Hōma Kuṇḍa is elaborate and there are people who have specialized in them. The Hōma Kuṇḍas are to be built in different shapes for different purposes. Some are made in geometrical shapes such as square, triangle, circle, semi-circle and octagon. Some are made in the shape of lotus, birds, fish or turtle, depending on the specific type of Yajña.
1.14.26
இஷ்டகாஸ்ச யதாந்யாயம் காரிதாஸ்ச ப்ரமாணத: ।
சிதோऽக்நிர்ப்ராஹ்மணைஸ்தத்ர குஸலை: ஸுல்பகர்மணி ॥
iṣṭakāṡca yathānyāyaṃ kāritāṡca pramāṇataḥ ।
citō'gnirbrāhmaṇaistatra kuṡalaiḥ ṡulbakarmaṇi ॥
The bricks for the Hōma were made as per
the specifications and measurements.
The Brāhmaṇas that were skilled and specialists in
the techniques of measurements
laid out the bricks for many Hōma Kuṇḍas.
1.14.27
ஸ சித்யோ ராஜஸிம்ஹஸ்ய ஸஞ்சித: குஸலைர்த்விஜை: ।
கருடோ ருக்மபக்ஷோ வை த்ரிகுணோऽஷ்டாதஸாத்மக: ॥
sa cityō rājasiṃhasya sañcitaḥ kuṡalairdvijaiḥ ।
garuḍō rukmapakṣō vai triguṇō'ṣṭādaṡātmakaḥ ॥
The Hōma Kuṇḍa for Daṡaratha was made
by very skilled Brāhmaṇas with three times as many,
i.e., eighteen rows of bricks
in the shape of an eagle, with the wings covered in gold.
1.14.28
நியுக்தாஸ்தத்ர பஸவஸ்தத்ததுத்திஸ்ய தைவதம் ।
உரகா: பக்ஷிணஸ்சைவ யதாஸாஸ்த்ரம் ப்ரசோதிதா: ॥
niyuktāstatra paṡavastattaduddiṡya daivatam ।
uragāḥ pakṣiṇaṡcaiva yathāṡāstraṃ pracōditāḥ ॥
Various creatures like snakes, birds and animals
meant to appease various Dēvas
were procured and tied down as specified in the Ṡāstras.
Ṡāstra in this context means an operational manual.
Sacrificing animals to appease gods seems to be a common theme, built into human psyche, across many civilizations. It took various forms in various places.
Vedic ceremonies elevated them from the simple indiscriminate or delirious killing to the central and solemn rituals as part of elaborate and demanding Yajñas and endowed them with sophisticated and subtler meaning.
1.14.29
ஸாமித்ரே து ஹயஸ்தத்ர ததா ஜலசராஸ்ச யே ।
ருத்விக்பி: ஸர்வமேவைதந்நியுக்தம் ஸாஸ்த்ரதஸ்ததா ॥
ṡāmitrē tu hayastatra tathā jalacarāṡca yē ।
ṛtvigbhiḥ sarvamēvaitanniyuktaṃ ṡāstratastadā ॥
When it was time for the sacrifice,
the Ṛtviks tied horses and aquatic animals
to the sacrificial posts as per the Ṡāstras.
1.14.30
பஸூநாம் த்ரிஸதம் தத்ர யூபேஷு நியதம் ததா ।
அஸ்வரத்நோத்தமம் தத்ர ராஜ்ஞோ தஸரதஸ்ய ச ॥
paṡūnāṃ triṡataṃ tatra yūpēṣu niyataṃ tadā ।
aṡvaratnōttamaṃ tatra rājñō daṡarathasya ca ॥
On the whole, three thousand animals were tied
to the sacrificial posts including Daṡaratha's
horse, which was a jewel among horses.
1.14.31
கௌஸல்யா தம் ஹயம் தத்ர பரிசர்ய ஸமந்தத: ।
க்ருபாணைர்விஸஸாஸைநம் த்ரிபி: பரமயா முதா ॥
kausalyā taṃ hayaṃ tatra paricarya samantataḥ ।
kṛpāṇairviṡaṡāsainaṃ tribhiḥ paramayā mudā ॥
Kousalyā did Pradakshiṇa to that horse with delighted heart
and relieved it of its life, using three swords.
1.14.32
பதத்ரிணா ததா ஸார்த்தம் ஸுஸ்திதேந ச சேதஸா ।
அவஸத்ரஜநீமேகாம் கௌஸல்யா தர்மகாம்யயா ॥
patatriṇā tadā sārddhaṃ susthitēna ca cētasā ।
avasadrajanīmēkāṃ kausalyā dharmakāmyayā ॥
She stayed with the horse one night
with her mind completely focused on
her legitimate desire.
1.14.33
ஹோதாத்வர்யுஸ்ததோத்காதா ஹஸ்தேந ஸமயோஜயந் ।
மஹிஷ்யா பரிவ்ருத்த்யா ச வாவாதாமபராம் ததா ॥
hōtādhvaryustathōdgātā hastēna samayōjayan ।
mahiṣyā parivṛttyā ca vāvātāmaparāṃ tathā ॥
(Brahma,)Hōta, Adhvaryu and Udgāta accepted
Mahishi, Parivṛtti and Vāvāta (and Pālākalee) respectively
by symbolically touching them with their hands.
Brahma, Hōta, Adhvaryu and Udgāta are four different roles played by four different priests, as part of performing the Yajña. Note that this meaning of Brahma is different from Brahma, the creator.
Mahishi is the queen. Parivṛtti is wife. Vāvāta is mistress. Pālākalee serves drinks to the king.
The privileges and responsibilities of each one of them differ, with respect to the king and to the palace establishment.
As part of the Yajña, the king had to give away the queen to Brahma, the Parivṛtti to Hōta, the Vāvāta to Adhvaryu and the Pālākalee to Udgāta and then would take them back after compensating them with a token or substantial remuneration.
1.14.34
பதத்ரிணஸ்தஸ்ய வபாமுத்த்ருத்ய நியதேந்த்ரிய: ।
ருத்விக் பரமஸம்பந்ந: ஸ்ரபயாமாஸ ஸாஸ்த்ரத: ॥
patatriṇastasya vapāmuddhṛtya niyatēndriyaḥ ।
ṛtvik paramasampannaḥ ṡrapayāmāsa ṡāstrataḥ ॥
The Ṛtvik, highly knowledgeable in Ṡāstras and
with full mastery over his senses,
removed the Vapa from the fallen horse
and cooked it according to the Ṡāstras.
Vapa is variedly interpreted as fat, marrow and a
small piece of meat from a specific part of the stomach.
1.14.35
தூமகந்தம் வபாயாஸ்து ஜிக்ரதி ஸ்ம நராதிப: ।
யதாகாலம் யதாந்யாயம் நிர்ணுதந் பாபமாத்மந: ॥
dhūmagandhaṃ vapāyāstu jighrati sma narādhipaḥ ।
yathākālaṃ yathānyāyaṃ nirṇudan pāpamātmanaḥ ॥
The king smelled the scent of the smoke from the Vapa
in an appropriate manner and at the appropriate time
to rid of all his Pāpas.
1.14.36
ஹயஸ்ய யாநி சாங்காநி தாநி ஸர்வாணி ப்ராஹ்மணா: ।
அக்நௌ ப்ராஸ்யந்தி விதிவத்ஸமந்த்ரா: ஷோடஸர்த்விஜ: ॥
hayasya yāni cāṅgāni tāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇāḥ ।
agnau prāsyanti vidhivatsamantrāḥ ṣōḍaṡartvijaḥ ॥
Sixteen Ṛtviks offered all
the various body parts of the horse
to the fire, chanting Mantras
as per procedure.
1.14.37
ப்லக்ஷஸாகாஸு யஜ்ஞாநாமந்யேஷாம் க்ரியதே ஹவி: ।
அஸ்வமேதஸ்ய யஜ்ஞஸ்ய வைதஸோ பாக இஷ்யதே ॥
plakṣaṡākhāsu yajñānāmanyēṣāṃ kriyatē haviḥ ।
aṡvamēdhasya yajñasya vaitasō bhāga iṣyatē ॥
The Havis was treated on the branches
of the Plaksha tree in the case of other Yajñas.
But in Aṡwa Mēdha Yajña it was treated on Vaitasa creeper.
1.14.38-40
த்ர்யஹோऽஸ்வமேத: ஸங்க்யாத: கல்பஸூத்ரேண ப்ராஹ்மணை: ।
சதுஷ்டோமமஹஸ்தஸ்ய ப்ரதமம் பரிகல்பிதம் ॥
உக்த்யம் த்விதீயம் ஸங்க்யாதமதிராத்ரம் ததோத்தரம் ।
காரிதாஸ்தத்ர பஹவோ விஹிதா: ஸாஸ்த்ரதர்ஸநாத் ॥
ஜ்யோதிஷ்டோமாயுஷீ சைவமதிராத்ரௌ விநிர்மிதௌ ।
அபிஜித்விஸ்வஜிச்சைவமாப்தோர்யாமோ மஹாக்ரது: ॥
tryahō'ṡvamēdhaḥ saṅkhyātaḥ kalpasūtrēṇa brāhmaṇaiḥ ।
catuṣṭōmamahastasya prathamaṃ parikalpitam ॥
ukthyaṃ dvitīyaṃ saṅkhyātamatirātraṃ tathōttaram ।
kāritāstatra bahavō vihitāḥ ṡāstradarṡanāt ॥
jyōtiṣṭōmāyuṣī caivamatirātrau vinirmitau ।
abhijidviṡvajiccaivamāptōryāmō mahākratuḥ ॥
According to the Brāhmaṇas of Kalpa Sutra,
Aṡwa Mēdha was a three day long Yajña.
The first day was called Catusthōma.
The second was Ukthya and the third day was Atirātra.
Many other rituals were performed during those days
as laid out in the Ṡāstras including
Jyōtishthōma, Āyushee, two Atirātras,
Abhijit, Viṡwajit and a bigger ritual known as Āptōryāma.
1.14.41-42
ப்ராசீம் ஹோத்ரே ததௌ ராஜா திஸம் ஸ்வகுலவர்த்தந: ।
அத்வர்யவே ப்ரதீசீம் து ப்ரஹ்மணே தக்ஷிணாம் திஸம் ॥
உத்காத்ரே வை ததோதீசீம் தக்ஷிணைஷா விநிர்மிதா ।
ஹயமேதே மஹாயஜ்ஞே ஸ்வயம்பூவிஹிதே புரா ॥
prācīṃ hōtrē dadau rājā diṡaṃ svakulavarddhanaḥ ।
adhvaryavē pratīcīṃ tu brahmaṇē dakṣiṇāṃ diṡam ॥
udgātrē vai tathōdīcīṃ dakṣiṇaiṣā vinirmitā ।
hayamēdhē mahāyajñē svayambhūvihitē purā ॥
For begetting offspring to continue his lineage and
as laid out by Brahma for the Aṡwa Mēdha Yajña,
the king gave all the land to the east to Hōta,
all the land to the west to Adhvarya,
all that was to the south to Brahma and
all of it to the north to Udgāta.
It is, indeed, difficult to part with everything that we have. But as part of the Yajña, the king is required to do that. It is a test for his mental composure and detachment.
Think of giving 'power of attorney' to somebody regarding all your assets even for a day. Then you would get a sense of what Daṡaratha was asked to do as part of the Yajña.
This one aspect in the Yajña is perhaps much more difficult than all other aspects combined. This perhaps, is the real and supreme 'sacrifice'.
1.14.43
க்ரதும் ஸமாப்ய து ததா ந்யாயத: புருஷர்ஷப: ।
ருத்விக்ப்யோ ஹி ததௌ ராஜா தராம் தாம் க்ரதுவர்த்தந: ॥
kratuṃ samāpya tu tathā nyāyataḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ ।
ṛtvigbhyō hi dadau rājā dharāṃ tāṃ kratuvarddhanaḥ ॥
The mighty among men (Daṡaratha)
gave away all the lands to the priests
after completing the Yajña
in pursuance of performing it in its fullness.
1.14.44-47a
ருத்விஜஸ்சாப்ருவந் ஸர்வே ராஜாநம் கதகல்மஷம் ।
பவாநேவ மஹீம் க்ருத்ஸ்நாமேகோ ரக்ஷிதுமர்ஹதி ॥
ந பூம்யா கார்யமஸ்மாகம் ந ஹி ஸக்தா: ஸ்ம பாலநே ।
ரதா: ஸ்வாத்யாயகரணே வயம் நித்யம் ஹி பூமிப ॥
நிஷ்க்ரயம் கிஞ்சிதேவேஹ ப்ரயச்சது பவாநிதி ।
மணிரத்நம் ஸுவர்ணம் வா காவோ யத்வா ஸமுத்யதம் ॥
தத்ப்ரயச்ச நரஸ்ரேஷ்ட தரண்யா ந ப்ரயோஜநம் ।
ṛtvijaṡcābruvan sarvē rājānaṃ gatakalmaṣam ।
bhavānēva mahīṃ kṛtsnāmēkō rakṣitumarhati ॥
na bhūmyā kāryamasmākaṃ na hi ṡaktāḥ sma pālanē ।
ratāḥ svādhyāyakaraṇē vayaṃ nityaṃ hi bhūmipa ॥
niṣkrayaṃ kiñcidēvēha prayacchatu bhavāniti ।
maṇiratnaṃ suvarṇaṃ vā gāvō yadvā samudyatam ॥
tatprayaccha naraṡrēṣṭha dharaṇyā na prayōjanam ।
The Ṛtviks said to the king, who was now free of all Pāpas:
You alone are capable of protecting all the earth.
We are not capable of taking care of the earth.
Our interest is in pursuing our respective subjects of study.
Give us something that is equivalent in the form
of precious stones, gold, cows or whatever is readily available.
What would we do with lands?
To be able to reject such a windfall and insist on continuing with their own interest is possible only if one knows exactly what one wants. Salutations to their clarity of mind and purpose.
Brāhmaṇas are esteemed and exalted by the Indic culture, not without a reason. Even when riches rained on them, it did not mean much to them. Their focus remained on studies.
If you have a similar mindset, call yourself a Brāhmaṇa, and please accept my humble salutations!
1.14.47b-48
ஏவமுக்தோ நரபதிர்ப்ராஹ்மணைர்வேதபாரகை: ।
கவாம் ஸதஸஹஸ்ராணி தஸ தேப்யோ ததௌ ந்ருப: ॥
ஸதகோடீஸ்ஸுவர்ணஸ்ய ரஜதஸ்ய சதுர்குணம் ॥
ēvamuktō narapatirbrāhmaṇairvēdapāragaiḥ ।
gavāṃ ṡatasahasrāṇi daṡa tēbhyō dadau nṛpaḥ ॥
ṡatakōṭīssuvarṇasya rajatasya caturguṇam ॥
As those Brāhmaṇas, who knew the Vēdas from end to end
had intended, the king then gave them ten lakh cows,
hundred crores of gold and four times that of silver.
One Lakh is one hundred thousand. One Crore is one hundred Lakhs.
1.14.49
ருத்விஜஸ்து தத: ஸர்வே ப்ரதது: ஸஹிதா வஸு ।
ருஸ்யஸ்ருங்காய முநயே வஸிஷ்டாய ச தீமதே ॥
ṛtvijastu tataḥ sarvē pradaduḥ sahitā vasu ।
ṛṡyaṡṛṅgāya munayē vasiṣṭhāya ca dhīmatē ॥
The Ṛtviks, in turn, gave all of it to
the Muni Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga and the wise Vasishṭha.
1.14.50
ததஸ்தே ந்யாயத: க்ருத்வா ப்ரவிபாகம் த்விஜோத்தமா: ।
ஸுப்ரீதமநஸஸ்ஸர்வே ப்ரத்யூசுர்முதிதா ப்ருஸம் ॥
tatastē nyāyataḥ kṛtvā pravibhāgaṃ dvijōttamāḥ ।
suprītamanasassarvē pratyūcurmuditā bhṛṡam ॥
Then it was divided among all the Brāhmaṇas in a fair manner.
They all felt very happy and expressed their pleasure.
1.14.51
தத: ப்ரஸர்பகேப்யஸ்து ஹிரண்யம் ஸுஸமாஹித: ।
ஜாம்பூநதம் கோடிஸங்க்யம் ப்ராஹ்மணேப்யோ ததௌ ததா ॥
tataḥ prasarpakēbhyastu hiraṇyaṃ susamāhitaḥ ।
jāmbūnadaṃ kōṭisaṅkhyaṃ brāhmaṇēbhyō dadau tadā ॥
With all earnestness (the king) then
gave one Crore gold coins to the Brāhmaṇas
who came to witness the Yajña.
1.14.52
தரித்ராய த்விஜாயாத ஹஸ்தாபரணமுத்தமம் ।
கஸ்மைசித்யாசமாநாய ததௌ ராகவநந்தந: ॥
daridrāya dvijāyātha hastābharaṇamuttamam ।
kasmaicidyācamānāya dadau rāghavanandanaḥ ॥
The descendent of Raghu (Daṡaratha)
gave away a nice bracelet to a poor Brāhmaṇa
who came beseeching.
1.14.53
தத: ப்ரீதேஷு ந்ருபதிர்த்விஜேஷு த்விஜவத்ஸல: ।
ப்ரணாமமகரோத்தேஷாம் ஹர்ஷபர்யாகுலேக்ஷண: ॥
tataḥ prītēṣu nṛpatirdvijēṣu dvijavatsalaḥ ।
praṇāmamakarōttēṣāṃ harṣaparyākulēkṣaṇaḥ ॥
The king that had always been affectionate to Brāhmaṇas
offered his salutations to those pleased Brāhmaṇas,
as tears of joy and happiness filled his eyes.
1.14.54
தஸ்யாஸிஷோऽத விதிவத்ப்ராஹ்மணை: ஸமுதாஹ்ருதா: ।
உதாரஸ்ய ந்ருவீரஸ்ய தரண்யாம் ப்ரணதஸ்ய ச ॥
tasyāṡiṣō'tha vidhivadbrāhmaṇaiḥ samudāhṛtāḥ ।
udārasya nṛvīrasya dharaṇyāṃ praṇatasya ca ॥
The Brāhmaṇas showered various blessings on the
King, who was generous and valiant among people,
as he prostrated on the ground in front of them.
1.14.55
தத: ப்ரீதமநா ராஜா ப்ராப்ய யஜ்ஞமநுத்தமம் ।
பாபாபஹம் ஸ்வர்நயநம் துஷ்கரம் பார்திவர்ஷபை: ॥
tataḥ prītamanā rājā prāpya yajñamanuttamam ।
pāpāpahaṃ svarnayanaṃ duṣkaraṃ pārthivarṣabhaiḥ ॥
The king felt happy and contented
having completed the most difficult
and the best of the Yajñas that
would remove all his Pāpas and
would lead him to heaven in the end.
1.14.56
ததோऽப்ரவீத்ருஸ்யஸ்ருங்கம் ராஜா தஸரதஸ்ததா ।
குலஸ்ய வர்த்தநம் த்வம் து கர்துமர்ஹஸி ஸுவ்ரத ॥
tatō'bravīdṛṡyaṡṛṅgaṃ rājā daṡarathastadā ।
kulasya varddhanaṃ tvaṃ tu kartumarhasi suvrata ॥
Then the king Daṡaratha told the methodical Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga
that he alone could do the required,
for him to be blessed with offspring.
1.14.57
ததேதி ச ஸ ராஜாநமுவாச த்விஜஸத்தம: ।
பவிஷ்யந்தி ஸுதா ராஜம்ஸ்சத்வாரஸ்தே குலோத்வஹா: ॥
tathēti ca sa rājānamuvāca dvijasattamaḥ ।
bhaviṣyanti sutā rājaṃṡcatvārastē kulōdvahāḥ ॥
The eminent Brāhmaṇa, then said to the king:
You will, indeed, be blessed with four sons
that would ennoble your dynasty!
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
ஸ்ரீமத்பாலகாண்டே சதுர்தஸ: ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ṡrīmadbālakāṇḍē caturdaṡaḥ sargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the fourteenth Sarga
in Bāla Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
We completed reading 505 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.