Sarga 13: The Sacrifice Begins
Yajna Arambha
Vasishtha organizes the vast logistics of the horse-sacrifice and summons kings from across the earth; on an auspicious day, Dasaratha and his queens enter the sacrificial ground as the rite formally begins.
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व्यादिशत्पुरुषांस्तत्र राज्ञामानयने शुभान्। स्वयमेव हि धर्मात्मा प्रययौ मुनिशासनात्।।1.13.31।।
Meaning
He directed devout envoys there to bring the kings, and being virtuous, himself set out personally at the sage's command.
सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितो भूत्वा समानेतुं महीक्षित:। ते च कर्मान्तिकास्सर्वे वसिष्ठाय च धीमते।।1.13.32।।
Meaning
Sumantra hastened to fetch the rulers of the earth, while all the artisans reported to the wise Vashishtha.
सर्वं निवेदयन्ति स्म यज्ञे यदुपकल्पितम्। तत:प्रीतो द्विजश्रेष्ठस्तान् सर्वानिदमब्रवीत्।।1.13.33।।
Meaning
They reported to him everything accomplished for the ritual. Then that pleased and eminent brahmin spoke to all of them.
अवज्ञया न दातव्यं कस्यचिल्लीलयाऽपि वा। अवज्ञया कृतं हन्याद्दातारं नात्र संशय:।।1.13.34।।
Meaning
"Nothing is to be given to anyone with disrespect or carelessly; a gift given disrespectfully harms the giver, without doubt."
तत: कैश्चिदहोरात्रैरुपयाता महीक्षित:। बहूनि रत्नान्यादाय राज्ञो दशरथस्य वै।।1.13.35।।
Meaning
Within a few days and nights many kings arrived, bringing many precious gems for King Dasharatha.
ततो वसिष्ठस्सुप्रीतो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्। उपयाता नरव्याघ्र राजानस्तव शासनात्।।1.13.36।।
Meaning
Then the well-pleased Vashishtha said to the king: "O tiger among men, the kings have arrived at your command,"
मयापि सत्कृता: सर्वे यथार्हं राजसत्तमा:। यज्ञीयं च कृतं सर्वं पुरुषैस्सुसमाहितै:।।1.13.37।।
Meaning
"and all these great kings have been honored by me according to their rank; and all the ritual works have been completed by the assembled men."
निर्यातु च भवान्यष्टुं यज्ञायतनमन्तिकात्। सर्वकामैरुपहृतैरुपेतं च समन्तत:।।1.13.38।।
Meaning
"You may now proceed to the nearby ritual hall to perform your sacrifice; it is furnished on every side with all that is needed."
द्रष्टुमर्हसि राजेन्द्र मनसेव विनिर्मितम्। तथा वसिष्ठवचनादृश्यशृङ्गस्य चोभयो:।।1.13.39।।
Meaning
"It is fit for you to see, O best of kings, that hall built as if by mere thought." Then, on the word of both Vashishtha and Rishyasringa,
शुभे दिवसनक्षत्रे निर्यातो जगतीपति:। ततो वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमा:।।1.13.40।।
Meaning
on an auspicious day and star, the lord of the world set forth; then Vashishtha and all the eminent brahmins,