Summary
King Dasharatha requests the Sages to conduct the Vedic ritual for which the sages indent [formally agree] paraphernalia [articles of equipment or sacrifice], which the ministers are ordered to supply forthwith.
Chapter [Sarga] 12 in Detail
After a lapse some time when spring season has come the king Dasharatha desired to perform the Vedic ritual. [1-12-1]
Then bowing his head before that Brahman Rishyasringa, who has deity [God] like glow, and beseeched [to request earnestly] him to conduct the Vedic ritual to beget [get] unending progeny [children] in his dynasty. [1-12-2]
The well-honored sage Rishyasringa said to the king, "So it shall be, let the paraphernalia [articles of sacrifice] for ritual be garnered [collected] and let your ritual horse be released." [1-12-3]
The King Dasharatha said to his best minister Sumantra, "Let the Vedic scholars and ritual conductors like Sages Suyajna, Vamadeva, Jabali, and Kashyapa, along with the family priest Vashishta, and those other Vedic Brahmans who are there, they all be invited swiftly." [1-12-4, 5]
Then Sumantra being a quickest person went quickly and fetched all those Vedic scholars and clergymen [a group ordained to religious functions]. [1-12-6]
The virtuous king Dasharatha having offered due worships to all the sages and saints brought in by Sumantra, uttered these words which are with virtue and meaningful in an impressible manner. "My mind is tumultuous [confused] without quietude for I have no sons, and hence I am thinking of performing the Vedic Horse Ritual. [1-12-7, 8]
"Therefore I wish to perform the ritual as enshrined [cherished as sacred] in the scriptures and by the divine influence of the Sage's son Rishyasringa I will get my desires fulfilled. [1-12-9]
Then "Splendid, Splendid is this idea," said the Brahman scholars blessing the king. The Sage Vashishta along with all other important personalities have applauded the idea came out of the king's voice. Other Vedic scholars and clergymen keeping Rishyasringa to helm [head or lead] of affairs said the king in appreciation "Let the paraphernalia [articles of sacrifice] be garnered [collected] and your ritual horse be released."[1-12-10, 11]
"To whom such a virtuous thinking of begetting sons through Vedic ritual has come, such as you are, you will by all means get four sons with boundless valor." The Vedic seers [one that predicts events] thus blessed Dasharatha. [1-12-12]
Then the king is gladdened to hear the blessing advises of the Vedic scholars, he that king spoke to the other ministers of his court, with happiness derived from those good words. [1-12-13]
The king said, "As advised by my Vedic teachers the paraphernalia [article of sacrifice] for my ritual be procured. Let the ritual horse be well guarded in its journey by gallant men and also followed by religious teachers be released, as per tradition. Let the ritual place be decided on the northern banks of Sarayu River. Let the peace invocations be prevailing and prospering as ordained [defined] in the scriptures and tradition. All the kings on this earth would have performed this Horse Ritual, if only they can perform this without a mistake. Thus, this is a great and difficult ritual The Brahma-Rakshasas will be hunting for the faults performed in the rituals. Further, the performer of the ritual also gets ruined if there were be to be faults. That is why this ritual shall be conducted faultlessly till its conclusion, and with absolute adherence to the scriptures, since all of you assembled here are efficient ones in conducting ritual without faults. [1-12-14,15,16,17,18, 19]
"It will be done like that only," said all the ministers in reply to the words of the king, and in appreciation to his orders, and they have carried out works as ordered. [1-12-20]
Then all the Brahmans applauded the virtuous king and who is like a Sacred Bull among the kings for his virtuous endeavor [to work with set purpose] of undertaking the Vedic ritual, and with his permission all of them returned from there as they have come. [1-12-21]
On the departure of the prominent Brahmans, King Dasharatha sent off those ministers who are still available there for further orders from the king, and then he the great resplendent [shining brilliantly] king has entered his own palace. [1-12-22]
Thus, this is the 12th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate
