Ashvamedha begun; Sage Vashishta's arrangements

पुनः प्राप्ते वसन्ते तु पूर्णः संवत्सरोऽभवत् | प्रसवार्थं गतो यष्टुं हयमेधेन वीर्यवान् || १-१३-१

punaH praapte vasante tu puurNaH saMvatsaro.abhavat | prasavaartham gato yaShTum hayamedhena viiryavaan || 1-13-1

On completion of one full year another springtime arrived, and then Dasharatha a determined one to beget progeny by performing Horse Ritual entered the ritual hall. [1-13-1]

अभिवाद्य वसिष्ठं च न्यायतः प्रतिपूज्य च | अब्रवीत्प्रश्रितं वाक्यं प्रसवार्थं द्विजोत्तमम् || १-१३-२

abhivaadya vasiShTham ca nyaayataH pratipuujya ca | abraviit prashritam vaakyam prasavaartham dvijottamam || 1-13-2

Greeting and even adoring the Sage Vashishta customarily Dasharatha said these very humble words to him. [1-13-2]

यज्ञो मे क्रियतां ब्रह्मन् यथोक्तं मुनिपुङ्गव | यथा न विघ्नः क्रियते यज्ञांगेषु विधीयताम् || १-१३-३

yaj~no me kriyataam brahman yathoktam munipu~Ngava | yathaa na vighnaaH kriyante yaj~naaMgeShu vidhiiyataam || 1-13-3

"Let my ritual be performed scripturally, oh eminent Brahman, let it be conducted in such a way that no obstacle occurs even in its ancillary functions. [1-13-3]

भवान्स्निग्धः सुहृन्मह्यं गुरुश्च परमो महान् | वोढव्यो भवता चैव भारो यज्ञस्य चोद्यतः || १-१३-४

bhavaan snigdhaH suhR^in mahyam guruH ca paramo mahaan | voDhavyo bhavataa ca eva bhaaro yaj~nasya ca udyataH || 1-13-4

"You being my very reverent royal priest are friendly and kind-hearted to me, and you alone shall shoulder the burden of the commenced ritual in all good faith and credence. [1-13-4]

तथेति च स राजानमब्रवीत् द्विजसत्तमः | करिष्ये सर्वमेवैतद्भवता यत्समर्थितम् ||१-१३-५

tathaa iti ca sa raajaanam abraviit dvijasattamaH | kariShye sarvam eva etat bhavataa yat samarthitam ||1-13-5

Then that reverent Brahman Vashishta said to king, "Whatever that is requested or decided by you, I will see that all of them are materialised accordingly. [1-13-5]

ततोऽब्रवीत् द्विजान्वृद्धान् यज्ञकर्मसु निष्ठितान् | स्थापत्ये निष्ठितांश्चैव वृद्धान्परमधार्मिकान् || १-१३-६ कर्मान्तिकान् शिल्पकरान् वर्धकीन् खनकानपि | गणकान् शिल्पिनश्चैव तथैव नटनर्तकान् || १-१३-७ तथा शुचीन् शास्त्रविदः पुरुषान्सुबहुश्रुतान् | यज्ञकर्म समीहन्तां भवन्तो राजशासनात् || १-१३-८ इष्टका बहुसाहस्री शीघ्रमानीयतामिति | औपकार्याः क्रियन्तां च राज्ञो बहुगुणान्विताः || १-१३-९

tato.abraviit dvijaan vR^iddhaan yaj~na karmasu niShThitaan | sthaapatye niShThitaam ca eva vR^iddhaan parama dhaarmikaan || 1-13-6 karma antikaan shilpakaaraan vardhakiin khanakaan api | gaNakaan shilpinaH ca eva tathaa eva naTa nartakaan || 1-13-7 tathaa shuciin shaastra vidaH puruShaan su bahu shrutaan | yaj~na karma samiihantaam bhavanto raaja shaasanaat || 1-13-8 iShTakaa bahu saahasrii shiighram aaniiyataam iti | upakaaryaaH kriyantaam ca raaj~no bahu guNaanvitaaH || 1-13-9

Then Sage Vashishta then summoned and spoke to elderly Brahman scholars, and elderly architects who are all proficient and elderly experts in conducting the construction of the ritual hall etc. Then summoned are the construction supervisors, brick-makers, carpenters, earth-diggers, accountants, and sculptors. So also the actors and dancers are summoned. Thus flawless scholars in scriptures and those men who are well read in Veda-s, are called and he addressed them saying, "Performance of the ritual be organised by the order of the king. Bricks in many thousands be brought quickly and royal palaces as temporary guesthouses be built for the kingly guests, with very many facilities included in them. [1-13-6,7,8,9]

ब्राह्मणावसथाश्चैव कर्तव्याः शतशः शुभाः | भक्ष्यान्नपानैर्बहुभिः समुपेताः सुनिष्ठिताः ||१-१३-१०

aavaasaa bahu bhakShyaa vai sarva kaamaiH upasthitaaH | tathaa paurajansya api janasya bahu shobhanam || 1-13-13

"Like that, for accommodating Brahmans hundreds of sanctified houses be built, well endowed and well established with very many eatables, foods, and potables. [1-13-10]

तथा पौरजनस्यापि कर्तव्याश्च सुविस्तराः | आगतानां सुदूराच्च पार्थिवानां पृथक् पृथक् || १-१३-११

daatavyam annam vidhivat satkR^itya na tu liilayaa | sarve varNaa yathaa puujaam praapnuvanti susatkR^itaaH || 1-13-14 na ca avaj~naa prayoktavyaa kaama krodha vashaat api |

"So also, accommodation is to be given for city dwellers too, in very spacious housing, and severally for the kings arriving from distant places.[1-13-11]

वाजिवारणशलाश्च तथा शय्यागृहाणि च | भटानां महदावास वैदेशिकनिवासिनाम् || १-१३-१२

yaj~na karmasu ye vyagraaH puruShaaH shilpinaH tathaa || 1-13-15 teShaam api visheSheNa puujaa kaaryaa yathaa kramam | ye syuH saMpuujitaa sarve vasubhiH bhojanena ca || 1-13-16

"For horses stables, reposing stalls for elephants, like that great billets for soldiers may be built for those foreign-country dwellers arriving in here on their horses and elephants along with their soldiers. [1-13-12]

आवासा बहुभक्ष्या वै सर्वकामैरुपस्थिताः | तथा पौरजनस्यापि जनस्य बहुशोभनम् || १-१३-१३

yathaa sarvam suvihitam na kiMcit parihiiyate | tathaa bhavantaH kurvantu priiti yuktena cetasaa || 1-13-17

"These lodgings are to be arranged with many foods and utilities for the people of this city and for others coming from distant countries, and a very grand food be given in all of them. [1-13-13]

दातव्यमन्नं विधिवत्सत्कृत्य न तु लीलया | सर्वे वर्णा यथा पूजां प्राप्नुवन्ति सुसत्कृताः || १-१३-१४ न चावज्ञा प्रयोक्तव्या कामक्रोधवशादपि |

tataH sarve samaagaMya vasiShTham idam abruvan | yatheShTam tat suvihitam na kiMcit parihiiyate || 1-13-18 yathoktam tat kariShyaamo na kiMcit parihiiyate |

"Food is to be given dutifully treating all of them well but not just illusively, and the people of all the castes shall be well honoured as they would get their due respect, and no disrespect be shown, even when overcome by passion or anger at anyone. [1-13-14, 15a]

यज्ञकर्मसु ये व्यग्राः पुरुषाः शिल्पिनस्तथा || १-१३-१५ तेषामपि विशेषेण पूजा कार्या यथाक्रमम् | ये स्युः संपूजिता सर्वे वसुभिर्भोजनेन च || १-१३-१६

tataH sumaMtram aahuuya vasiShTho vaakyam abraviit || 1-13-19 nimaMtrayasva nR^ipatiin pR^ithivyaam ye ca dhaarmikaaH | braahmaNaan kShatriyaan vaishyaan shuudraam ca eva sahasrashaH || 1-13-20 samaanayasva satkR^itya sarva desheShu maanavaan |

"Exceptionally respectable are those men and architects that are preoccupied in the works of the ritual as they deserve, and those men involved in these works shall be well-treated with funds and food. [1-13-15b, 16]

यथा सर्वं सुविहितं न किंचित्परिहीयते | तथा भवन्तः कुर्वन्तु प्रीतियुक्तेन चेतसा || १-१३-१७

tathaa kaashii patim snigdham satatam priya vaadinam | sad vR^ittam devasaMkaasham svayam eva anayasva ha || 1-13-23

"Thus, as to how all this be well organised without least negligence, thus you all shall administer in all your cooperation and good spirit." Thus Sage Vashishta spoke to the organisers. [1-13-17]

ततः सर्वे समागम्य वसिष्ठमिदमब्रुवन् | यथेष्टं तत्सुविहितं न किंचित्परिहीयते || १-१३-१८ यथोक्तं तत्करिष्यामो न किंचित्परिहास्यते |

tathaa kekaya raajaanam vR^iddham parama dhaarmikam | shvashuram raaja siMhasya saputram tvam iha aanaya || 1-13-24

Then all of them collectively replied to Sage Vashishta "As desired, all the well ordered works will not be neglected in the least, and they will be done as ordered, and not the least of them will be slighted." So said the artisans to Sage Vashishta. [1-13-18, 19a]

ततः सुमंत्रमाहूय वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत् || १-१३-१९ निमंत्रयस्व नृपतीन्पृथिव्यां ये च धार्मिकाः | ब्राह्मणान् क्षत्रियान् वैश्यान् शूद्रांश्चैव सहस्रशः || १-१३-२० समानयस्व सत्कृत्य सर्वदेशेषु मानवान् |

a~Ngeshvaram maheShvaasam romapaadam su satkR^itam | vayasyam raaja siMhasya saputram tam iha aanaya || 1-13-25

"Then on calling for Sumantra, Sage Vashishta said these words to him, "Let all those kings of the earth that are righteous be invited, and let all the people from all the kingdoms, say Brahmans, Kshatriya-s, Vaisya-s, Shudra-s be invited in scores duly honouring them." So said Vashishta to Sumantra. [1-13-19b, 20, 21a]

मिथिलाधिपतिं शूरं जनकं सत्यवादिनम् || १-१३-२१ तमानय महाभागं स्वयमेव सुसत्कृतम् | पूर्वसंबन्धिनं ज्ञात्वा ततः पूर्वं ब्रवीमि ते || १-१३-२२

praaptij~nam paramodaaram susatkR^itam puruSharShabham | raaj~naH shaasanam aadaaya chodayasva nR^iparShabhaan | praaciinaan sindhu sauviiraan sauraaShThreyaam ca paarthivaan || 1-13-27

"You personally invite Janaka the king of Mithila, a valiant one and an advocate of truth, honouring his well and duly bearing in mind that he is a long-time associate of our King Dasharatha, hence I am telling you in the first instance. [1-13-21b,22]

तथा काशीपतिं स्निग्धं सततं प्रियवादिनम् | सद् वृत्तं देवसंकाशं स्वयमेवानयस्व ह || १-१३-२३

vasiShTha vaakyam tat shrutvaa sumaMtraH tvaritaH tadaa | vyaadishat puruShaan tatra raaj~naam aanayane shubhaan || 1-13-30

"Thus that King of Kaashi who is always a friendly, affectionate and a cordial one, indeed he shall be invited by you personally. [1-13-23]

तथा केकयराजानं वृद्धं परमधार्मिकम् | श्वशुरं राजसिंहस्य सपुत्रं त्वमिहानय || १-१३-२४

svayam eva hi dharmaatmaa prayaato muni shaasanaat | sumaMtraH tvarito bhuutvaa samaanetum mahaamatiH || 1-13-31

"Likewise, King of Kekaya, an elderly, very virtuous, and also the father-in-law of our Lion-King Dasharatha, you personally invite him along with his sons. [1-13-24]

अङ्गेश्वरं महेष्वासं रोमपादं सुसत्कृतम् | वयस्यं राजसिंहस्य समानय यशस्विनम् || १-१३-२५

te ca karmaantikaaH sarve vasiShThaaya ca maharShaye | sarvam nivedayanti sma yaj~ne yat upakalpitam || 1-13-32

"Romapada, the lord of Anga kingdom and the user of great bow, let that illustrious one be invited well honoured, for he is the friend of our lion-king Dasharatha. [1-13-25]

तथा कोसलराजानं भानुमंतं सुसत्कृतम् | मगधाधिपतिं शूरं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम् || १-१३-२६

tataH priito dvija shreShThaH taan sarvaan munir abraviit | avaj~nayaa na daatavyam kasya cit liilayaa api vaa || 1-13-33 avaj~nayaa kR^itam hanyaat daataaram na atra saMshayaH |

"Like that King of Kosala namely Bhanumanta, and the King of Magadha, a brave one and a profound one in all scriptural knowledge, let them be honoured well and be invited. [1-13-26]

प्राप्तिज्ञं परमोदारं सत्कृतं पुरुषर्षभम् | राज्ञः शासनमादाय चोदयस्व नृपर्षभान् | प्राचीनान् सिन्धुसौवीरान् सौराष्ट्रेयांश्च पार्थिवान् || १-१३-२७

tataH kaishcit aho raatraiH upayaataa mahiikShitaH || 1-13-34 bahuuni ratnaani aadaaya raaj~no dasharathasya ha |

"And Praaptijna, the king of Magadha, the kind-hearted and best one among kings, be well honoured and invited. Further, taking the orders of King Dasharatha and motivated by those orders, the kings of Sindhu, Sauviira and Sauraastra kingdoms may also be invited. [1-13-27]

दाक्षिणात्यान्नरेन्द्रांश्च समस्तानानयस्व ह | सन्ति स्निग्धाश्च ये चान्ये राजानः पृथिवीतले || १-१३-२८ तानानय यथा क्षिप्रं सानुगान् सहबान्धवान् | एतान् दूतैर्महाभागैरानयस्व नृपाज्ञया || १-१३-२९

tato vasiShThaH supriito raajaanam idam abraviit || 1-13-35 upayaataa nara vyaaghra raajaanaH tava shaasanaat | mayaa api satkR^itaaH sarve yathaa arham raaja sattama || 1-13-36

"All of the kings of southern kingdoms be invited, and should there be any other friends and other friendly kings on the surface of the earth, they too shall be invited as early as possible with all their followers, relatives through highly illustrious envoys, of course with the orders of our king." Thus Sage Vashishta said to minister Sumantra. [1-13-28, 29]

वसिष्ठवाक्यं तच्छ्रुत्वा सुमंत्रस्त्वरितस्तदा | व्यादिशत्पुरुषांस्तत्र राज्ञामानयने शुभान् || १-१३-३०

sarvakaamaiH upahR^itaiH upetam vai samantataH | draShTum arhasi raajendra manaseva vinirmitam || 1-13-38

On hearing that word of Vashishta, Sumantra expeditiously ordered devout envoys to invite all those kings to their kingdom. [1-13-30]

स्वयमेव हि धर्मात्मा प्रयातो मुनिशासनात् | सुमंत्रस्त्वरितो भूत्वा समानेतुं महीक्षितः || १-१३-३१

tathaa vasiShTha vacanaat R^iShyashR^ingasya ca ubhayoH | divase shubha nakshatre niryaato jagatiipatiH || 1-13-39

That virtuous Sumantra became brisk upon sage's words and personally journeyed to fetch all the rulers on the earth. [1-13-31]

ते च कर्मान्तिकाः सर्वे वसिष्ठाय महर्षये | सर्वं निवेदयन्ति स्म यज्ञे यदुपकल्पितम् || १-१३-३२

tato vasiShTha pramukhaaH sarva eva dvijottamaaH | R^iShyashR^ingam puraskR^itya yaj~na karma aarabhan tadaa || 1-13-40

All those artisans engaged in ritual works have reported Vashishta, the details of all those ritual works that are accomplished. [1-13-32]

ततः प्रीतो द्विजश्रेष्ठस्तान्सर्वान्मुनिरब्रवीत् | अवज्ञया न दातव्यं कस्यचिल्लीलयापि वा || १-१३-३३ अवज्ञया कृतं हन्याद्दातारं नात्र संशयः |

yaj~na vaaTam gataaH sarve yathaa shaastram yathaa vidhi | shriimaan cha saha patniibhii raajaa diikshaam upaavishat || 1-13-41

Then, that satisfied saint and eminent Brahman Vashishta, spoke this way to all of them, "nothing is to be endowed to anyone either with disrespect or deceptively, the deeds done with disrespect will kill the donor and there is no doubt about it." [1-13-33, 34a]

ततः कैश्चिदहोरात्रैरुपयाता महीक्षितः || १-१३-३४ बहूनि रत्नान्यादाय राज्ञो दशरथस्य ह |

Then in some days and nights many kings have arrived taking precious gems with them as gifts for Dasharatha. [1-13-34b, 35a]

ततो वसिष्ठः सुप्रीतो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् || १-१३-३५ उपयाता नरव्याघ्र राजानस्तव शासनात् | मयापि सत्कृताः सर्वे यथार्हं राजसत्तमाः || १-१३-३६

Then the well pleased Sage Vashishta said this to King Dasharatha "the kings from distant kingdoms have arrived at your behest, oh, tigerly-man, and these best kings are well honoured by me also as per their status. [1-13-35b, 36]

यज्ञीयं च कृतं सर्वं पुरुषैः सुसमाहितैः | निर्यातु च भवान्यष्टुं यज्ञायतनमन्तिकात् || १-१३-३७

"All the ritual works are also completed by the well coalescent men, thus you may start towards the ritual place that is nearby, to perform your ritual." Said Sage Vashishta to King Dasharatha. [1-13-37]

सर्वकामैरुपहृतैरुपेतं वै समन्ततः | द्रष्टुमर्हसि राजेन्द्र मनसेव विनिर्मितम् || १-१३-३८

"All the desirable paraphernalia is arranged and made available everywhere, and it is apt of you see ritual hall that is as though built by your mere wish. [1-13-38]

तथा वसिष्ठवचनादृष्यशृङ्गस्य चोभयोः | शुभे दिवसनक्षत्रे निर्यातो जगतीपतिः || १-१३-३९

Thus, on a good day while the ruling star of the day is favourable, King Dasharatha came forth towards the ritual hall according to the advice of both the sages Vashishta and Rishyasringa. [1-13-39]

ततो वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमाः | ऋष्यशृङ्गं पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञकर्मारभंस्तदा || १-१३-४०

Then Sage Vashishta and other eminent Brahmans keeping the Sage Rishyasringa ahead of them entered the ritual hall, to commence the ritual works thus. [1-13-40]

यज्ञवाटं गताः सर्वे यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि | श्रीमांश्च सह पत्नीभी राजा दीक्षामुपाविशत् || १-१३-४१

When all have entered the ritual hall as per canons and custom, that glorious king Dasharatha along with his wives undertook vow of ritual. [1-13-41]