May 27,2013.Day 157. Srimad Valmiki Ramayan - The First Epic Poem Of India. (Continued)

                           Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties
                ASHVA-MEDHA BEGUN; SAGE VASHISTA'S ARRAGEMENT

Chapter [Sarga] 13

Introduction

King Dasharatha requests Sage Vashishta, the Royal Priest to commence works for the Vedic ritual. Sage Vashishta instructs all the concerned about the discipline to be observed in executing the works. Sage Vashishta also instructs the minister Sumantra to invite various kings of other countries, and those kings will be received with great hospitality. King Dasharatha along with his wives takes ritual vow and enters ritual hall.

पुनः प्राप्ते वसन्ते तु पूर्णः संवत्सरोऽभवत् |
प्रसवार्थम् गतो यष्टुम् हयमेधेन वीर्यवान् || १-१३-१

1.punaH praapte vasante tu = again, recurred, spring season, but in; puurNa samvatsaraH abhavat = full, year, over; viiryavaan = determined one;prasava artham = progeny, requiring; yaSTum haya medhena = to ritualize, with Horse ritual; gataH =entered [ritual hall.]

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]

The performer of such Vedic rituals has to perform preliminary rituals for a period of one year in order to attain eligibility to perform the final one. Here Dasharatha is said to have completed such preludes as he entering into the Vedic ritual hall in the springtime of the succeeding year to the one referred in last chapter.

अभिवाद्य वसिष्ठम् च न्यायतः प्रतिपूज्य च |
अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् प्रसवार्थम् द्विजोत्तमम् || १-१३-२

2. dwija uittamam vashiSTam abhivaadya = to that Brahman, the best, to Vashishta, on greeting; nyayataH pratipuujya cha = customarily, adoring him, also; abraviit pra shritam prasavaartham vaakyam = said, very, humble, words.

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

यज्ञो मे क्रियताम् ब्रह्मन् यथोक्तम् मुनिपुङ्गव |
यथा न विघ्नाः क्रियन्ते यज्ञांगेषु विधीयताम् || १-१३-३

3. muni pungavaH = sage, the eminent; braahman = oh, Brahman; me yaj~naH yatha uktam kriyataam = ritual, of, mine, as said [in scriptures] be performed; yajna angeSu = ritual's, ancillary functions; yathaa na vighnaH kriyate = as to how, no, obstacles, be occurred; that way; vidhiiyataam = be conducted.

"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]

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