Preparing for the Ashwamedha Yagna
Balakanda - Sarga 12
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Balakanda - Sarga 12
After a long time, as the charming spring season arrived, King Dasaratha felt a strong desire to perform a sacrifice. He approached the effulgent brahmin (priest) Rsyasringa, bowing his head in respect. The king requested Rsyasringa to conduct a sacrifice to ensure the continuity of his dynasty by granting him a son.
Rsyasringa, honored by the king's request, agreed to perform the sacrifice. He instructed Dasaratha:
Procure the necessary materials for the ritual
Release the sacrificial horse
King Dasaratha then called upon his chief minister, Sumantra, and ordered him to summon the following priests:
Suyajna
Vamadeva
Jabali
Kashyapa
Vasishtha (the family priest)
Other learned brahmins well-versed in the Vedas (ancient sacred texts)
Sumantra swiftly carried out the king's order, bringing all the requested priests to the court. King Dasaratha, known for his virtuous nature, paid respects to the assembled priests and addressed them with words full of dharma (righteousness) and artha (purpose).
Dasaratha expressed his sorrow to the priests, saying:
"I am overwhelmed with grief as I have no son. There is no happiness for me without an heir. Therefore, I intend to perform a horse sacrifice (Ashwamedha Yagna) according to the prescribed rituals. With the grace of the sage Rsyasringa, I hope to fulfill my desire for a son."
The assembled brahmins, led by Vasishtha, praised the king's decision, exclaiming, "Well said!" They then instructed the king:
Procure the necessary sacrificial articles
Release the sacrificial horse
The priests, headed by Rsyasringa, assured the king:
"You will surely be blessed with four sons of immense prowess. Your righteous thought of wanting children will bear fruit."
Overjoyed by the priests' words, King Dasaratha issued the following orders to his ministers:
Quickly gather all materials required for the sacrifice.
Release the horse, accompanied by warriors and the chief priest for protection.
Construct the sacrificial pavilion on the northern bank of the Sarayu River.
Perform all rituals according to the prescribed methods in the scriptures.
Ensure no mistakes or omissions occur during the sacrifice.
The king warned:
Learned brahmarakshasas (celestial beings turned into demons) would be looking for flaws in the sacrifice.
If the sacrifice is damaged, the performer would face immediate destruction.
Dasaratha emphasized the importance of following the scriptures precisely and relied on his ministers' expertise to ensure the successful completion of the sacrifice.
The ministers honored the king's words and carried out his orders. The brahmins praised Dasaratha for his righteousness and, with his permission, returned to their homes. After the departure of the priests, the glorious King Dasaratha dismissed his ministers and retired to his palace.
This concludes the twelveth chapter (sarga) of Balakanda, the first book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.