ततोऽब्रवीद्विजान्वृद्धान्यज्ञकर्मसु निष्ठितान्। स्थापत्ये निष्ठितांश्चैव वृद्धान्परमधार्मिकान्।।1.13.6।।
Meaning
Then Vashishtha summoned elderly brahmins skilled in ritual works, and elderly, virtuous architects skilled in construction.
Word-by-word (pada-artha)
| Word | Devanagari | Meaning | Grammatical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| tataḥ abravīt dvijān vṛddhān | ततः अब्रवीत् द्विजान् वृद्धान् | then he addressed elder Brahmins | Verb (imperfect) |
| yajña-karmasu niṣṭhitān | यज्ञ-कर्मसु निष्ठितान् | skilled in sacrificial rites | Accusative plural |
| sthāpatye niṣṭhitān ca eva | स्थापत्ये निष्ठितान् च एव | and also skilled in architecture | Accusative plural |
| vṛddhān parama-dhārmikān | वृद्धान् परम-धार्मिकान् | elders of supreme righteousness | Accusative plural |
Scholar commentary
valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes
The source describes what a Vedic ritual ground actually required: a very large, architecturally planned site with an unroofed homa kunda (fire altar) at its center, so the smoke of ghee and sandalwood oblations could rise unobstructed to the heavens, surrounded by huge sheds for thousands of participants and onlookers, plus separate kitchens and dining halls to feed everyone for the ritual's duration -- explaining why the list of summoned tradesmen (architects, brick-makers, carpenters, diggers, accountants, sculptors, actors, dancers) is so extensive.
1 of 16 traditions have commentary on this shloka. Traditions without a verse-specific commentary here are omitted rather than filled in.
Reference: 1.13.6 · Bāla Kāṇḍa