Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam BALAKANDAM Sarga 13 The horse-sacrifice commenced: The arrival of the season of spring, the season with the pleasurable heat indicated completion of one year; the powerful emperor Dasaratha talked to the saintly Vasistha, to commence the horse sacrifice as enjoined in the scriptures; Vasistha assured compliance. Thereafter sage Vasistha spoke to the elderly Brahmans skilled and trained in holy rites; to men trained in lore; to those skilled in planning, design and construction of halls relating to sacrifices, to actors and all connected with the sacrifice to undertake their respective duties without dereliction. Great stress was laid on hospitality to be met with due deference; it was also highlighted that no disrespect should be shown to anyone even under the whim of enthusiasm and irritation. Summoning Sumantra Vasistha spoke to him to invite in countless thousands lords, priests, warrior, merchants and the toiling class. Sumantra was urged by Vasistha to personally bring with great deference the celebrated and highly blessed Janaka, the heroic and truthful king of Mithila, this suggestion to Sumantra is made knowing Janaka to be predestined relation of emperor Dasaratha, as the prospective father-in-law of his son Also to Sumantra was given the task of bringing the pious, celebrated, aged father-in-law of Dasaratha; king of Kekayas, as well as his son, and the Anga king Romapada. Sumantra without delay assigned the task of invitations and dispatched the envoys and attended in person the tasks assigned to him personally. All those engaged in the work till the end reported to the eminent sage Vasistha on whatever had been accomplished in connection with the sacrifice. Pleased with the report sage Vasistha then said to all of them, “I implore upon all of that nothing done is muddled, you do not give; give not even one gift in contempt; that is no gift should be made to anyone with disrespect or even with impertinence, a gift made with contempt brings ruin to the donor. In other words not even one gift shall be given in scorn, for whenever a scorn attends a gift; great sin is his who offends.” After the arrival of the invitees the sage Vasistha reported to the emperor, “all arrangements for the ritual are completed with diligence and the ritual is to commence.” On the recommendation of sages; with Rsyasrnga at the head and Vasistha the leader, on a day marked with propitious constellations, Dasaratha proceeded to the hall and went through the ceremony of consecration.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 06:20:41 +0000
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