Chapter 45 - Horse-Sacrifice

Brahmā said:

1. O excellent brahmins, after thinking like this the king made the preliminary arrangements for the propitiation of Viṣṇu.

2-6. He called for experts in astronomical calculations and the masters of astrology. He got a spot of land sanctified. With great assiduity and joy he consulted the wise brahmins who had mastered the Vedas and scriptures, the ministers, counsellors and those who were experts in the science of architecture. On an auspicious day, at an auspicious hour when the combination of the moon and the constellation was good and when there was favourable beneficial influence of planets the king offered libation with faith and concentrated mind. There were shouts of victories. Auspicious sounds were raised by charming musical instruments, the chanting sounds of the Vedic Mantras and sweet vocal songs. Flowers, fried grains and raw rice grains (were scattered). Sweet scents were offered. People accompanied him with sacred lamps and pots filled with water.

7. After duly offering libation, the king Indradyumna called the heroic rulers of Kaliṅga, Utkala and Kosala and said:

The king said:

8-9. With great concentration you go together for the collection of rocks and slabs. Take with you chiefs of sculptors and artisans expert in rocks to the extensive Vindhya Mountains splendid with many caves and caverns. Examine the ridges and peaks and get the splendid rocks chopped off. Let them be brought here on carts. Do not delay”.

10. After commanding them to proceed, Indradyumna spoke to the ministers and priests.

The king said:

11-12. Let messengers go in haste, to each and every corner of the earth where there are kings and let them proclaim my order, “At the behest of Indradyumna may the kings start together with their priests, ministers and four divisions of the army, viz. elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers.

Brahmā said:

13. Thus the messengers who were commanded by the noble king went to different kings and proclaimed the words of that monarch to them.

14. On hearing the words of messengers the kings came there in a hurry accompanied by their armies.

15-17. Those who had been staying in the eastern, southern, western and northern quarters, those who lived at the outskirts and border lands, the residents of the adjacent territories, the dwellers of the mountain regions and the inhabitants of all islands came there. O brahmins, on hearing the command of Indradyumna, they came with their chariots, elephants, infantry and cavalry in elaborate and extensive array.

18. On observing that the various kings had arrived with their ministers and priests, the delighted king announced the weighty task on hand.

19-21. Listen, O leading kings, to what I am going to say. My mind is worried as to how I shall be able to perform the great Horse Sacrifice in this auspicious and excellent holy centre that yields worldly pleasures and salvation and to build a palace pertaining to Viṣṇu. O excellent kings, if you all assist me I shall carry out these things with collaboration and cooperation of all of you.

Brahmā said:

22-33. When the intelligent king of kings announced this, they were delighted. At his behest they offered the requisite things in cash and kind. They showered coins and jewels, gold pieces and pearls. They presented blankets, deerskins, auspicious antelope skin coverings, diamonds, lapis lazulis, rubies, emeralds and saphires. They supplied elephants, horses and the chariots. Innumerable materials of worship and articles of utility high and low, were supplied by them in plenty. Hundreds of jars and vessels were filled with rice grains, barleys, pulses of various kinds, gingely seeds, mustard seeds, Bengal grams, wheat, Masoor dals, rice of various kinds such as Śyāmāka, Nīvāra, Madhūka and horse gram. Other grains and foodstuffs grown in villages or forests and heaps of rice were supplied by them. Hundreds and thousands of jars were filled with ghee and various foodstuffs and unguents and whatever was needed for the holy rites. On seeing that every thing necessary for the sacrifice had been gathered, the brahmins conversant with the rules of holy rites assembled. On seeing the brahmins who had mastered the Vedas and Vedāṅgas and who were experts in the scriptural texts and the performance of holy rites, the sages, great sages, celestial sages and ascetics, religious students, householders, forest dwellers and recluses, the newly initiated brahmins and others strictly adhering to the performance of Agnihotras, preceptors, venerable teachers and others who regularly recited the Vedic passages and performed penance, and many other holy personages who were present as members of the assembly watching the proceedings—on seeing all these the glorious king spoke to his preceptor.

34. Let learned brahmins who have mastered the Vedas go about and find out a place worthy of being used for successfully concluding the horse-sacrifice.

Brahmā said:

35-37. Thus ordered, the royal priest carried out the behest of the king. He gladly accompanied the ministers, architects and carpenters. Keeping the brahmins who were experts in the holy rites of sacrifice in front, the intelligent brahmin (the priest) converted the Fishermen’s village into sacrificial chamber with lofty pinnacles and bylanes.

38. (All round the sacrificial chamber) hundreds of palaces were built. They were beautiful and they resembled the abode of Indra. They were bedecked in gold and jewels. Excellent gems enhanced their beauty.

39-40. The columns were wonderfully built of gold. There were many big ornamental gateways in and near the surroundings of the shrine of sacrifice. Solid and pure gold was used for them. The righteous king erected harems for the kings who had come from different lands.

41. He got constructed many comfortable houses and residences for the Brahmins and Vaiśyas who had come there from different lands.

42. Due to their love and affection for that king (Indradyumna), the excellent kings and their womenfolk assembled there during the festivities, bringing with them precious stones and jewels (as presents).

43. As those noble persons enjoyed themselves in their respective camps; their sound reached heaven like that of the rumbling sea.

44. O excellent sages, the king gave specific orders that food, beverages and items of bedding should be duly supplied to the visitors.

45. Delicious foodstuffs of various kinds prepared with rice, sugarcane, barley milk and milk products were served to guests. The excellent king himself approached them and ordered for the immediate supply of things they wanted.

46-49. There were many expounders of Brahman in that sacrifice. Noble and excellent brahmins came there accompanied by their disciples. The king greeted them all lovingly. He followed them to their camps. Eschewing all arrogance, the king of great splendour (did everything to their honour). The artisans and sculptors finished their work in regard to the holy altar of sacrifice and informed the king. On hearing that everything was complete the alertful unerring king experienced a joyful horripilation along with his ministers.

Brahmā said:

50-57. When the sacrifice began to function eloquent expounders of syllogisms discussed the causes and arguments, desirous of defeating one another.

O brahmins, everything was arranged for the guests by the lion among kings in a manner befitting even the lord of Devas. The ornamental gateways were made of gold. The various items of bedstead and seats were studded with jewels. There were chambers of crystal and pots and dishes of peculiar shape and workmanship. The king did not find any of these pots not made of gold. But the sacrificial pots were made of wood because it had been prescribed in the scriptures. Of course they were embellished with gold. O brahmins, the animals of the land and water were duly offered at the proper time. The kings saw the animals of excessive splendour present there. He saw cows, buffaloes and old ladies too. There were aquatic animals, birds and beasts of prey. There were oviparous, viviparous, sweat-born and vegetation. They also saw the mountainous people and the subsidiary grains. Thus every body was gay and jolly, due to the presence of milk animals and food-grains.

58-65. On seeing the sacrificial chamber the visiting kings were struck with wonder. Much of sweet and cooked rice was distributed among the brahmins and the vaiśyas. While a full hundred thousand brahmins were taking food there, the Dundubhi (drum) produced loud sound frequently like the rumbling sounds of the cloud. At the close of every day it was sounded many times. Thus the royal horse sacrifice increased and flourished. O brahmins, the surplus quantities of the cooked rice were scattered about. There were canals of curds and eddies of milk. The entire population of Jambūdvīpa was present there along with the people of other islands. Brahmins were seen in large numbers in that great sacrifice. O excellent brahmins, thousands of men wearing ear-rings of finished gold took the vessels with them and served the brahmins, and announced what they were serving. Other men who followed served beverages. The people gave the brahmins those of cooked food usually enjoyed by the monarch.

66-67. The king honoured the brahmins who were conversant with the Vedas and the kings, lords of the earth, who had come there as visitors. He distributed wealth by way of gifts. He welcomed kings who were great fighters in battles and who had come there from different quarters. He welcomed the actors, dancers and others who were experts in music and dance.

68-74. The king had a thousand one hundred charming wives who had plump and elevated breasts. Their eyes resembled the petals of blue lotus. Their faces resembled the autumnal moon. They were of noble birth and endowed with qualities. The beauty of the sacrificial chamber was enhanced by his excellent wives who wore garlands studded with jewels. They had necklaces of precious stones that spread the divine lustre of the moon. The chamber was beautified by flagstaffs and banners. The elephants were drenched in ichor and were pleasing to look at. They were huge, like mountains. Hundreds and crores of tuskers bedecked in ornaments beautified the sacrificial hall. The crores of excellent horses beautified the holy place. They had the velocity of the wind. They were of excellent breed hailing from the Sindhu region. They were white in colour with dark coloured cars. There were innumerable foot soldiers. They were ready to face all eventualities with different weapons lifted up. They were comparable to the sons of Devas. The king surveyed the entire sacrificial chamber (and the surroundings). He derived joy. The delighted king spoke thus.

The king said:

75-77. O Princes of good restraint, bring you, the excellent horse marked with auspicious traits. Take it all over the Earth. May the sacrifice be performed here by the learned conversant with holy rites and piety. May there be brought elephants sixty years old, black antelope, birds, bulls and cows along with the persons who tend them.

78-82. After bringing various objects along with gold plattus the king gave them to the brahmins in accordance with the injunctions and in great faith. The lord duly presented the kings residing in different lands with cash, elephants, horses, good garments and lands. He propitiated the brahmins with different sorts of jewels along with foodstuffs and edibles. He delighted the poor and the helpless persons by giving them various things they desired. The excellent king attaining gifts of their choice returned to their respective native lands.

He delighted his own family including house servants both male and female by giving them whatever they desired. Thus, the king felt contented due to the successful performance of horse-sacrifìce. He felt he was blessed.

Extra verses Between verses 77 and 78

[May the sacrifices function and may the place pertaining to Viṣṇu (be started). Whatever the Brahmins desire in their mind may be given to them, even if the objects be women, jewels, villages and cities. Let the fertile lands or fields be given to the suppliants. So also other beautiful things be given to those who ask for them. The words “not available”, should never be uttered. Let this sacrifice function as long as the ancient lord becomes visible to me, very near the venue of sacrifice.

O brahmins, after saying thus, Indradyumna the most powerful of long arms made gifts of the following articles:—Masses of gold, crores of ornaments, a hundred thousand elephants, hundred thousands of horses, a hundred million bulk, cows with their horns wrapped in gold, beautiful milch cows along with the vessels for milking made of bellmetal. He gifted these articles to the brahmins who understood the Vedas, He was glad to do this.

In that great sacrifice he gave valuable clothes, deer skin-coverings white in colour and pure in quality, and excellent corals and jewels. He gave away different sorts of jewels such as diamond, lapis lazuli, ruby, pearl, etc. He presented the brahmins with five hundred pure virgins bedecked in ornaments and eyes resembling lotuses. Many beautiful mature women were given as ladies of love to the brahmins and others who sought them. Those ladies had heavy breasts. They had covered their breasts by their bodice. They were so slender-waisted that they appeared as though they did not have the waist at all. They had good buttocks. Their eyes were as large as the petals of lotus; by bending their necks they exhibited their emotional fervour and amorous gestures. Many of them were bedecked in bangles. They wore anklets on their feet. They were clad in silk garments. O excellent brahmins, they were gifted to everyone of the suppliants among the brahmins at the horse-sacrifice. The dishes prepared were full and delicious with different ingredients appropriately added. There were many delicacies prepared from candid sugar, savouries prepared after frying them in oil, baked breads made of flour, other items of edibles prepared neatly, confectionery items fried in ghee, sweets and salted dishes, sweet pies and well cooked rice. In order to please everybody the cooked food was served again and again. There was no end to the wealth already gifted or going to be gifted.

On seeing this great sacrifice Devas, Daityas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Siddhas, Sages, and Prajāpatis were struck with great wonder. The excellent sacrifice was very splendid. The priests, ministers and king Indradyumna were all delighted. There was no dirty person there. There was no one wretched or hungry person left. There was no calamity or casuality; there was neither mental agony nor physical ailments. There was no premature death. There was no death due to poisonous bites; there was no evil influence of adverse planets. The people were well nourished and jolly during the great festival of that king. The sages richly endowed with austerities and power of penance who had been staying there for a long time said that there had never been such a sacrifice before with the lavish display of wealth and food-grains.

Thus, O excellent brahmins, the king concluded the excellent sacrifice called Aśvamedha].