बालकांड
चतुर्दश सर्गः

अथ संवत्सरे पूर्णे तस्मिन् प्राप्ते तुरंगमे ।
सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे राज्ञो यज्ञोsभ्यवर्तत ॥

The aforementioned horse having returned after the completion of one year, the sacrifice then commenced on the northern banks of the river Sarayu.

ऋष्यशृंगं पुरस्कृत्य कर्म चक्रुः द्विजर्षभाः ।
अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे राज्ञोsस्य सुमहात्मनः ॥
कर्मकुर्वंति विधिवत् याजका वेदपारगाः ।
यथाविधि यथान्यायं परिक्रामंति शास्त्रतः ॥

Having placed Rishyasrumga as the head to supervise the sacrifice the foremost of brahmans discharged their duty in performing the sacrifice. The priests officiating at the sacrifice are all well versed in Vedas. They duly performed their duties according the sriptures abiding by the procedure and following the order of sequence prescribed.

प्रवर्ग्यं शास्त्रतः कृत्वा तथैवोपपदं द्विजाः ।
चक्रुश्छ विधिवत् सर्वं अधिकं कर्म शास्त्रतः ॥
अभिपूज्य ततो हृष्टाः सर्वे चक्रुः यथाविधि ।
प्रातस्सवनपूर्वाणि कर्माणि मुनिपुंगवाः ॥

Having gone through the rite called Pravargya as well as through the rite Ishti called Upasada according to the scriptures , the Brahmans performed every rite beyond the injunctions of sastras. Offerring worship to the Gods , full of delight all the eminent sages duly performed all the rites starting from the morning Savana.

इंद्रश्च विधिवद्दत्तो राजा चाभिष्टुतोsनघः ।
माध्यंदिनं च सवनं प्रावर्तत यथाक्रमम् ॥
तृतीयसवनं चैव राज्ञोsस्य सुमहात्मनः ।
चक्रुस्ते शास्त्रतो दृष्ट्वा तथा ब्राह्मणपुंगवाः ॥

The oblation intended for Indra was duly offered to him and the creeper by the name savana too was crushed. And midday Savana was gone through in due order. Ascertaining the procedure by reference to sastras , those jewels among Brahmanas further duly conducted the third Savana on behalf of that noble monarch.

न चाहुतमभूत् तत्र स्खलितं वापि किंचन।
दृश्यते ब्रह्मवत् सर्वं क्षेमयुक्तं हि चक्रिरे ॥
न तेष्व हस्सु श्रांतो वा क्षुधितो वापि दृश्यते ।
नाविद्वान् ब्राह्माणास्तत्र नाशतानुचरस्तथा ॥

There was no oblation that was not offerred . No oblation was offered in the place of another. There were no lapses and everything was done strictly as per scriptures. In that sacrifice there were none who were tired or who were left hungry . There was no brahmin who was not learned . There was no brahmin who did not have followers in hundreds

ब्राह्मणा भुजंते नित्यं नाथवंतश्च भुंजते ।
तापसा भुजंते चापि श्रमणा भुजंते तथा ॥
वृद्धाश्च व्याधिताश्चैव स्त्रियो बालास्तथैव च ।
अनिशं भुंजमानानां न तृप्तिरुपलभ्यते ॥

The Brahmanas took their food every day. So did the servants . The Ascetics too took their food and so did the recluses. The old , disabled , women and children too had their food. All though they were eating all the times there were none who were not satisfied.

दीयतां दीयता मन्नं वासांसि विविधानि च ।
इति संचोदितास्तत्र तथा चक्रुरनेकशः ॥
अन्नकूटाश्च बहवो दृश्यंते पर्वतोपमाः ।
दिवसे दिवसे तत्र सिद्धस्य विधिवत्तदा ॥

With words of 'Give them' 'Give them' ringing , the food and clothes were distributed freely by many. Numerous piles of food preparations resembling mountains and prepared as they should be were seen everyday on those sacrificial grounds.

नानादेश दनुप्राप्ताः पुरुषाः स्त्रीगणास्तथा ।
अन्नपानै स्सुविहितास्तस्मिन् यज्ञे महात्मनः ॥
अन्नं हि विधिवत् स्वादु प्रशंसंति द्विजर्षभाः ।
अहो तृप्ताः स्म भद्रं ते इति शुश्राव राघवः ॥

The men as well as hosts of women who arrived from different lands were fully entertained with wide variety of food preparations and drinks.The noble brahmanas spoke well of the food that was indeed cooked in the proper way and the King Dasaratha heard them saying, ' We are fully sated , may all the good happen to you'.

स्वलंकृताश्च पुरुषा ब्राह्मणान् पर्यवेषयन् ।
उपासते च तानन्ये सुमृष्टमणिकुंडलाः ॥
कर्मांतरे तदा विप्रा हेतुवादान् बहूनपि ।
प्राहुः स्म वाग्मिनो धीराः परस्प जिगीषया ॥

Men richly adorned served food to the Brahmanas while others with decked with rich earrings with pearls waited on the former. During the interval between the Savanas , intelligent and higly eloquent Brahmans participated in well reasoned discussions to get the better of each other.

दिवसे दिवसे तत्र संस्तरे कुशलाद्विजाः ।
सर्व कर्माणि चक्रुस्ते यथा शास्त्रं प्रचोदिताः ॥
ना षडंगविदत्रासीन्नाव्रतो नाबहुश्रुतः ।
सदस्यास्तस्य वै राज्ञो नावादकुशला द्विजाः ॥

Every day in that sacrifice experienced Brahmans discharged their duties as prescribed in the Sastras and as directed by elders. In that congregation there were none who did not know the six Vedangas , there were none that were not well read, there were none that were not expert in skilled arguments.

प्राप्ते यूपोच्छ्रये तस्मिन् षड्बॆल्वाः खादिरस्तथा ।
तावंतो बिल्वसहिताः पर्णिनश्च तथापरे ॥
श्लेष्मातकमय स्त्वेको देवदारुमयस्तथा ।
द्वावेव विहितौ तत्र बाहुव्यस्तपरिग्रहौ ॥

When the time came for erecting the sacrificial pillars , then six pillars of Bilwa wood and an equal number of Khadiras each by the side of Bilwa and six more of another type were erected . One of `Sleshmataka' and another two of 'Devadaru' were also erected. Between two pillars there is a fixed measure of distance.

कारिताः सर्वएवैते शास्त्रज्ञैर्यज्ञकोविदैः ।
शोभार्थं तस्य यज्ञस्य कांचनालंकृताभवन् ॥
एकविंशतियूपास्ते एकविंशत्यरत्नयः ।
वासोभिरेकविंशद्भिः एकैकं समलंकृताः ॥

All of these have been got ready for the sacrifice under guidance of experts in performing sacrifices and were plated with gold to grace the occassion. Twenty one pillars were twenty one spans high and those twenty one were adorned with many adornments.

विन्यस्ता विधिवत् सर्वे शिल्पिभिः सुकृता दृढाः ।
अष्टाश्रयस्सर्व एव श्लक्षरूपसमन्विताः ॥
आच्छादिता स्ते वासोभिः पुष्पैर्गंधैश्च भूषिताः ।
सप्तर्षयो दीप्तिमंतो विराजंते यथा दिवि ॥

Shaped as they were by the artisans, they were strong and well constructed. They were all octogonal and and with smooth surface. Fixed as per scriptures , covered with cloth and adorned with flowers and sandal paste the pillars were shining like the constellation of seven Rishis in the sky.

इष्टकाश्च यथा न्यायं कारिताश्च प्रमाणतः ।
चितोग्निर्ब्राहमणै स्तत्र कुशलैः शुल्बकर्मणि ॥
स चित्यो राजसिंहस्य संचितः कुशलैर्द्विजैः ।
गरुडो रुक्मपक्षो वै त्रिगुणोsस्टादशात्मकः ॥

The bricks were prepared as specified and as per scriptures . The sacrifical altar for fire was constructed as per scriptures by experienced Brahmans.That sacrificial fire meant for that altar and to be worshipped by Dasaratha , a lion among kings , resembled the figure of Garuda with wings of gold and it is three times the normal size with eighteen sacrificial fires.

नियुक्तास्तत्र पशवः तत्तदुद्दिश्य दैवतम् ।
उरगाः पक्षिणश्चैव यथा शास्त्रं प्रचोदिताः ॥
शामित्रे तु हयस्तत्र तथा जलचराश्च ये।
ऋत्विग्भिस्सर्वमेवैतन्नियुक्तं शास्त्रतस्तदा ॥
पशूनां त्रिशतः तत्र यूपेषु नियतं तदा ।
अश्वरत्नोत्तमं तत्र राज्ञो दशरथस्य च ॥

Beasts , serpents, and birds too were tied down to be offerred to particular gods as per scriptures. The sacrificial horse as well as other aquatic creatures that had been brought there for the sacrifice were all at that moment bound by the seers according to the scriptural procedures. Three hundred beasts were tied down at that time to the aforesaid pillars. In that the foremost of the best of horses of King Dasaratha were also included.

कौसल्या तं हयं तत्र परिचर्य समंततः ।
कृपाणैर्विशशासैनं त्रिभिः परमया मुदा ॥
पतत्त्रिणा तदा सार्थं सुस्थितेन च चेतसा ।
अवसद्रजनीमेकां कौसल्या धर्मकाम्यया ॥

Consecrating the horse meant for sacrifice on all sides , with great joy queen Kausalya touched it three times with a sword. With intent of acquiring religious merit queen Kausalya spent one night with the horse with a perfectly composed mind

होताsध्वर्युस्तथोद्गाता हस्तेन समयोजयन् ।
महिष्या परिवृत्या च वावातां तथापराम् ॥
पतत्त्रिणस्तस्य वपामुद्दृत्य निअयतेंद्रियः।
ऋत्विक् परमसंपन्नः श्रपयामास शास्त्रतः ॥
धूमगंधं वपायास्तु जिघ्रतिस्म नराधिपः ।
यथाकालं यथान्यायं निर्णुदन् पापमात्मनः ॥

The three officiating priests Hota Adhvaryu and Udgata then made the queens Mahishi, Privrytya, and Vavata touch the sacrifcial horse with their hands. The chief priest who had controlled his senses,and possessed great skill in performing sacrifical rites cooked the edible part of that plant. King Dasaratha too smelt the odour of the steam of that plant at the proper time according to sacrificial rites thereby driving away his sins.

हयस्य यानि चांगानि तानि सर्वाणि ब्राह्मणाः ।
अग्नौ प्रास्यंति विधिवत् समंत्राः षोडशर्त्विजः ॥
प्लक्ष शाखासु यज्ञानां अन्येषांक्रियते हविः ।
अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य वैतसो भाग इष्यते ॥
त्य्रहोsश्वमेथ स्संख्यातः कल्पसूत्रेण ब्राह्मणैः ।
चतुष्टोमम् अहस्तस्य प्रथमं परिकल्पितम् ॥
उक्थ्यं द्वितीयं संख्यातं अतिरात्रं तथोत्तरम् ।
कारितास्तत्र बहवो विहिताः शास्त्र दर्शनात् ॥

All the sixteen Brahmana priests as body cast into the fire with due ceremoney all the articles that needed to be consigned to the fire according to the scriptures. In other sacrifices the offerings to be made are placed on the boughs of a Plaksha tree. The offerings to be made in Aswamedha sacrifice are placed on a mats of cane. The Kalpasutras which are part of scriptural brahmanas declare that Aswamedha sacrifice as having three days for Savana rite. Chatustoma is the name given to the Savana rite to be performed on the first day.The second days Savana rite has been named as Ukthya and the third days Savana has been named as Atiratri. Many other sacrifiecs as enjoined by the scriptures were performed by King Dasaratha.

ज्योतिष्टोमायुषी चैवम् अतिरात्रौ विनिर्मितौ ।
अभिजिद्विश्वजिच्चैवम् आप्तोर्यामो महाक्रतुः ॥

Jyotistoma, Ayustoma , two rounds of Atiratra , Abhujit , Viswajit , two rounds of Aptoryama - these were the great sacrifices performed on that occassion.

प्राचीं होत्रे ददौ राजा दिशं स्वकुलवर्धनः ।
अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं तु ब्राह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम् ॥
उद्गात्रे च तथोदीचीं दक्षिणैषा विनिर्मिता ।
अश्वमेथे महयज्ञे स्वयंभूविहिते पुरा ॥
क्रतुं समाप्य तु तदा न्यायतः पुरुषर्षभः ।
ऋत्विग्भ्यो हि ददौ राजा तां धरां क्रतुवर्धनः ॥

The King , the promoter of his race gave away the eastern part of the earth to Hotru, western part to Adhvaryu , Southern part to Brahman and the northern part to Udgatru. Such is the dakshina prescribed for the great Aswamedha Sacrifice which was performed for the first time by Brahma himself . Having concluded the sacrifice according to scriptural rites, the King a jewel among men and promoter of his race actually gave away to the priests the earth itself on that occassion.

एवम् दत्वा प्रहृष्ठो अभूत् इक्ष्वकुनंदनः ।
ऋत्विज स्त्वब्रुवन् सर्वे राजानं गतकल्मषम् ॥
भवानेव महीं कृत्स्नाम् एको रक्षितुमर्हति ।
न भूम्या कार्य मस्माकं न हि शक्ताः स्म पालने ॥
रताः स्वाध्यायकरणे वयं नित्यं हि भूमिप ।
निष्क्रियं किंचिदेवेह प्रयच्छतु भवानिति ॥
मणिरत्नं सुवर्णं वा गावो यद्वा समुद्यतम् ।
तत्प्रयच्छ नरश्रेष्ठ धरण्या न प्रयोजनम् ॥

Having thus given away everything that scion of Ikshwaku felt extremely delighted. However all the priests spoke to the sinless king as follows. ' You alone are able to protect the entire globe. We have nothing to do with this earth nor are we able to maintain it , as we are constantly devoted to prosecution of the study of vedas. O King ! You may give us anything what so ever by way of consideration at this moment. Bestow on us some superb gem , gold or cows, or whatever may be available. O Jewel among men and protector of earth we have no use for the earth !'

एवमुक्तो नरपतिः ब्राह्मणै र्वेदपारगैः ।
गवां शतसहस्राणि दश तेभ्यो ददौ नृपः ।
दशकोटी स्सुवर्णस्य रजतस्य चतुर्गुणम् ॥
ऋत्विजश्च ततः सर्वे प्रददु स्सहिता वसु ।
ऋष्यशृंगाय मुनये वसिष्ठाय च धीमते ॥
ततस्ते न्यायतः कृत्वा प्रविभागं द्विजोत्तमाः ।
सुप्रीतमनसः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुः मुदिता भृशम् ॥

Thus told by the brahmanas who are masters of vedas, the King who acknowledged none as his own ruler bestowed on them ten lakh cows, a hundred million gold coins and four times as many silver coins, There upon all the priests handed over the wealth to Rishyasrumga and the wise Vasisitha . Having had the wealth equitably distributed, all the eminet brahmanas now felt much delighted at heart and said " We are very much delighted"

ततः प्रसर्पकेभ्यस्तु हिरण्यं सुसमाहितः ।
जांबूनदं कोटिसंख्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ तदा ॥
दरिद्राय द्विजायाथ हस्ताभरणमुत्तमम् ।
कस्मैचिद्याचमानाय ददौ राघवनंदनः ॥
ततः प्रीतेषु नृपतिः द्विजेषु द्विजवत्सलः ।
प्रणामम् अकरोत् तेषां हर्षपर्याकुलेक्षणः ॥
तस्याशिषोsथ विधिवत् ब्राह्मणैः समुदीरितः ।
उदारस्य नृवीरस्य धरण्यां प्रणतस्य च ॥

There after Dasaratha gave away crores of pure gold coins to the Brahmanas who came to see the sacrifice.
When a Brahman without wealth came to him with expectation , Dasaratha gave away the bracelet worn on his hand.
Thus with abundance of gifts received , all the Brahmans were very much satisfied. The king too shed tears of happiness paying obeisance to them. Then the Brahmanas blessed the king who has prostrated before them chanting appropriate Vedas.

ततः प्रीतिमना राजा प्राप्य यज्ञमनुत्तमम् ।
पापापहं स्वर्नयनं दुष्करं पार्थिवर्षभैः ॥
ततोsब्रवीत् ऋष्यशृंगं राजा दशरथस्तदा ।
कुलस्य वर्धनं त्वं तु कर्तुम् अर्हसि सुव्रत ॥

Then the king was very much pleased having performed the Aswamedha sacrifice, which is a sacrifice meant for attaining heaven through progeny as well as destroying sins and which is a sacrifice difficult for ordinary kings . Then the king spoke sage Rishyasrumga as follows . 'O best of Ascetics only you are cable of performing the ceremony for obtaining the children', and requested him to do so.

तथेति स राजानं उवाच द्विजोत्तमम् ।
भविष्यंति सुता राजं श्चत्वार स्ते कुलोद्वाहाः ॥

The best of the Brahmansa agreed and said " O King you will get four sons who will enhance the prestige of the line of Ikshwakus"

स तस्य वाक्यं मथुरं निशम्य
प्रणम्य तस्मै प्रयतो नृपेंद्र ।
जगामहर्षं परमं महात्मा
तं ऋष्यश्रुंगं पुनरप्युवाच ॥

Hearing those sweet words of Sage Rishyasrumga the king was delighted and with a mind free of worries made obeisance to him. Then again he requested the sage to perform the appropriate rites .

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये
बालकांडे चतुर्दशस्सर्गः ॥
समाप्तं ॥

So ends the chapter 14 of Balakanda in Valmiki Ramayan.
|| om tat sat ||

|| om tat sat ||