aśvamedha

aśvamedha m. (-dhaḥ) The actual or emblematic sacrifice of a horse.

E. aśva and medha sacrifice; this sacrifice is one of the highest order, and performed a hundred times, entitles the sacrificer to the dominion of Svarga or paradise: it appears to have been originally typical; the horse, and other animals being simply bound during the performance of certain ceremonies; the actual sacrifice is an introduction of a later period. See As. R. Vol. viii. p. 442, COLEBROOKE on the Vedas.

aśva-medha (dhaḥ) 1. m. The sacrifice of a
horse. A hundred such entitles
to the sovereignty of heaven.

aśva-medhá, m. horse-sacrifice.

aśvamedhá m. horse-sacrifice.

1. aśva—medhá m. the horse-sacrifice (a celebrated ceremony, the antiquity of which reaches back to the Vedic period; the hymns, RV. i, 162 and 163 [= VS. xxii seqq.], referring to it, are however of comparatively late origin; in later times its efficacy was so exaggerated, that a hundred such sacrifices entitled the sacrificer to displace Indra from the dominion of Svarga; kings who engaged in it spent enormous sums in gifts to the Brāhmans; it is said that the horse was sometimes not immolated, but kept bound during the ceremony), VS. xviii, 22; TS.; Ragh. &c., (cf. arkāśvamedhá)

2. áśva—medha (áśva-), m. N. of a descendant of Bharata, RV. v, 27, 4-6.

aśvamedha

m. (-dhaḥ) The actual or emblematic sacrifice of a horse.

E. aśva and
medha sacrifice; this sacrifice is one of the highest order, and performed
a hundred times, entitles the sacrificer to the dominion of Swarga
or paradise: it appears to have been originally typical; the horse,
and other animals being simply bound during the performance
of certain ceremonies; the actual sacrifice is an introduction of a
later period. See As. R. Vol. viii. p. 442, COLEBROOKE on the Vedas.

aśvamedha aśvamedha m. (medh) sacrifice du cheval, une des plus anciennes cérémonies âryennes.

aśvamedhika et aśvamedhīya m. le cheval du sacrifice.

1. aśvamedhá (a° + me°) m. Rossopfer, nicht ein bloss allegorisches oder erst in später Zeit eingeführtes, sondern im höchsten Alter ganz gewöhnliches Opfer, dessen Kraft und Wirkung nur nachmals in's Wunderbare gesteigert und für welches eben darum unerschwinglicher Aufwand und Vorbereitung gefordert wurde. Zu dem Opfer diente z. B. das Lied ṚV. 1, 162. VS. 22 - 25. ĀŚV. ŚR. 10, 6. fgg. VS. 18, 22. ŚAT. BR. 6, 6, 1, 1. 10, 1, 5, 3. 6, 5, 7 (= BṚH. ĀR. UP. 1, 2, 7). 11, 2, 5, 1. fgg. KĀTY. ŚR. 20, 8, 19. 20. 21, 1, 14. yathāśvamedhaḥ kraturāṭsarvapāpāpanodanaḥ M. 11, 260. aśvemedhena yaj 5, 53. 11, 74. N. 5, 43. 12, 9. R. 1, 1, 91. aśvamedhayājín ŚAT. BR. 13, 1, 2, 3. 14, 6, 3, 2 (= BṚH. ĀR. UP. 3, 3, 2). rājasūyāśvamedhānāṃ kratūnām N. 12, 32. INDR. 1, 15. Vgl. LIA. I, 542, N. 3. 700. II, 982. aśvamedhatrirātra m. MAŚ. S. 6, 6 in Verz. d. B. H. 73. aśvamedhakāṇḍa heisst das 13te Buch des ŚAT. BR.

2. áśvamedha (wie eben) m. N. pr. ein Bhārata nach ṚV. ANUKR. ṚV. 5, 27, 4-6.

— Vgl. āśvamedha .

1. aśvamedha TS. 5, 4, 12, 3. ŚAT. BR. 13, 3, 3, 6.

áśva-medha, m., Eigenname eines Mannes [ursprünglich Ross-opfer s. médha].

-āya {381,4}.

-asya dā́nās {381,5}.

-e {381,6}.

1. aśvamedhá m. Rossopfer. °aśvamedhavat Adv. wie beim R. KĀTY. ŚR. 21,1,14. °tvá n. Nom.abstr. ŚAT. BR. 10,6,5,7. °yājín Adj. aśvamedhakāṇḍa n. Titel des 13ten Buches im ŚAT. BR. aśvamedhatrirātra m.

2. áśvamedha m. N.pr. eines Mannes.

aśvamedhá m. Rossopfer.

aśvamedha m. (ex aśva et medha m. sacrificium) equi sacrifi-

cium. ^(*)

[Footnote] (*) Wils. ad hanc vocem: „The actual or emblematic sa-

crifice of a horse. This sacrifice is one of the highest or-

der, and performed a hundred times, entitles the sacrificer

to the domination of Swerga or paradise: it appears to

have been originally typical; the horse and other animals

being simply bound during the performation of certain ce-

remonies; the actual sacrifice is an introduction of a later

period. See AS. R. Vol. 8, 442. Colebrooke, on the Védas.

aśvamedha pu0 aśvaḥ pradhānatayā medhyate hiṃsyate'tra medha—hiṃsane
ghañ . yajñabhede sa ca śata0 brā0 13 kāṇḍe pañcabhira-
dhyāyairuktaḥ . yaju0 24 a0 tadīyayūpaśuviśeṣā vihitā
yathā . tatrādyamantropodghāte yaju0 ve0 dī0 uktam a-
śvamedhe ekaviṃśatiryūpā santi tatra madhyamoyūpo'gni-
ṣṭhasaṃjñaḥ tatra saptadaśa paśavoniyojanīyāḥ aśvaḥ 1
tuparaḥ 2 (śṛṅgotpattikāle'tīte'pi śṛṅgahonaḥ chāgaḥ)
gomṛgaḥ gavayaḥ 3 . dvau cāgneyau 4 ekādaśāvayavayuktau .
agnimamantre vakṣyamāṇā rohitādayaḥ dvādaśa gāva iti
saptadaśa paśavomadhyamayūpe bandhanīyāḥ . dvayorekādaśāvayavāśca
madhye kṛṣṇagrīvaḥ, aśvasya rarāṭe purastāt lalāṭe hanvoradha-
stāt meṣī, adhobhāge śuklau chāgau, bāhvoraśvasya pūrvvapādayo
rekaikaḥ . aśvasya nābhyāṃ śyāmaśvetakṛṣṇaromā'jaḥ śvetaḥ
chāgaḥ dakṣiṇapārśve, vāme kṛṣṇaḥ . bahuromapuṣpakau
chāgau paścāt pādayorekaikaḥ . aśvasya pucche śvetaḥ, vehat
garbhaghātinī, vāmanaḥ kharvvaḥ paśuḥ pucche evam ekā-
daśānāmaśvāvayavatayā kalpayitvā tathāvidhau ekādaśi
nau dvau madhyayūpe bandhanīyau anyeṣu ekeka iti bhedaḥ
pṛṣatītyādīnāṃ śvetāḥ sauryyā ityantānāṃ śatatrayasakhyakānāṃ
paśūnāṃ madhye pañcadaśa paśavaḥ ekaikasmin aśvādayastrayaḥ
ete dvādaśa ca ityete paryyaṅga ucyante . atrāśvasya śarīraṃ
tumbīphalavat rajjvā gusphanīyam . tataḥ kṛṣṇagrīva
ityādayaḥ aśvasya śarīre yathoktasthāne saṃbaddhvā rajjvā
bandhanīyāḥ tato rohitādayaḥ vakṣyamāṇā dvādaśa niyojyāḥ
itareṣu viṃśatau yūpeṣu pañcadaśa pañcadaśa paśavaḥ pratyekamekā-
daśinaḥ itiṣoḍaśa iti bhedaḥ” .

aśvādipaśubhedāḥ devasahitāḥ yaju a0 24 uktā yathā

“aśvastūparo gomṛgaste prājāpatyāḥ kṛṣṇagrīva āgneyo
rarāṭe . purastātsārasvatī meṣyadhastāddhanvorāśvināvadhorā-
maubāhvoḥ saumāpauṣṇaḥ, śyāmonābhyāṃ, sauryyayāmau śretaśca
kṛṣṇaśca, pārśvayostvāṣṭrau lomaśasakthau, sakthyorvāyavyaḥ
śvetaḥ, pucchaindrāya svapasyāya, vehadvaiṣṇavovāmanaḥ 1 . rohi-
todhūmrarohitaḥ karkandhurohitaste somyā, babhruraruṇababhruḥ
śukababhruste vāruṇāḥ, śitirandhro'nyataḥ śitirandhraḥ samanta
śitirandhraste sāvitrāḥ, śitibāhuranyataḥśitibāhuḥ
samantaśitibāhuste vārhaspatyāḥ, pṛṣatī kṣudrapṛṣatī sthūla
pṛṣatī tā maitrāvaruṇyaḥ 2 . śuddhabālaḥ sarvaśuddhabālo
maṇibālastaāśvināḥ, śyetaḥ śyetākṣo'ruṇaste rūdrāya
paśupataye, karṇāyāmā avaliptā raudrānabhorūpāḥ pārja-
nyāḥ 3 . pṛśnistiraścīnapṛśnirūrdhvapṛśniste mārutāḥ,
phalgūrlohitorṇṇī palakṣītāḥ sārasvatyaḥ, plīhākarṇaḥ śuṇṭhā
karṇo'ddhyālohakarṇaste tvāṣṭrāḥ, kṛṣṇagrīvaḥ śitikakṣo'-
ñjisakthastaaindrāgnāḥ” kṛṣṇāñjiralpāñjirmahāñjistau-
ṣasyāḥ 4 . śilpā vaiśvadevyo, rohiṇyastryavayo vāce, 'vi-
jñātā adityai, sarūpā dhātre, vatsataryo devānāṃ patnībhyaḥ . 5 .
kṛṣṇagrīvā āgneyāḥ, śitibhravo vasūnāṃ, rohitā rudrāṇāṃ,
śvetā avarokiṇa ādityānāṃ, nabhorūprāḥ pārjanyāḥ . 6 .
unnata ṛṣabho vāmanasta aindravaiṣṇavāḥ, unnataḥ śitivāhuḥ
śitipṛṣṭhasta aindrābārhaspatyāḥ, śukarūpā vājināḥ, ka-
lmāṣā āgnimārutāḥ, śyāmāḥ pauṣṇāḥ . 7 . etā aindrā-
gnā, dvirūpā agnīṣomīyā, vāmanā anaḍvāha āgnā-
vaiṣṇavā, vaśā maitrāvaruṇyo, 'nyata enyī maitryaḥ . 8 . kṛṣṇa-
grīvā āgneyā, babhravaḥ saumyāḥ, śvetā vāyavyā, avijñātā
adityai, sarūpā dhātre, vatsataryo devānāṃ patnībhyaḥ . 9 . kṛṣṇā
bhaumāḥ, dhūmrā āntarikṣā, vṛhanto divyāḥ, śavalā, vaidyutāḥ
sidhmāstārakāḥ 10 . dhūmrān vasantāyālabhate, śvetān grīṣmāya,
kṛṣṇān varṣābhyo, 'ruṇāñcharade, pṛṣato hemantāya, piśaṅgāñchi
śirāya 11 . tryavayo gāyatryai, pañcāvayastriṣṭubhe, dityavāho
jagatyai, trivatsā anuṣṭubhe, turyavāha uṣṇihe 12 . pṛṣṭhavāho
virāje, ukṣāṇovṛhatyā, ṛṣabhāḥ, kakubhe, 'naḍvāhaḥ paṅktyai,
dhenavo'ticchandase 13 . kṛṣṇagrīvā āgneyā, babhravaḥ saumyā,
upadhvastāḥ sāvitrā, vatsataryyaḥ sārasvatyāḥ, śyāmāḥ
pauṣṇāḥ, pṛśnayo bhārutā, bahurūpā vaiśvadevā, vaśā dyāvā-
pṛthivīyāḥ 14 . uktāḥ saṃcarā etā aindrāgnāḥ, kṛṣṇā
vāruṇāḥ, pṛśnayo mārutāḥ, kāyāstūparāḥ 15 . agnaye'nī-
kavate prathamajānālabhate, marudbhyaḥ sāntapanebhyaḥ savātyān,
marudbhyo gṛhamedhibhyo vaṣkihān, marudbhyaḥ krīḍibhyaḥ saṃsṛ-
ṣṭān, marudbhyaḥ svatavadbhyo'nusṛṣṭān 16 . uktāḥ saṃcarā etā
aindrāgnāḥ, prāśṛṅgā māhendrā, bahurūpā vaiśvakarmmaṇāḥ 17 .
dhūmrā babhrunīkāśāḥ pitṛṇāṃ somavatāṃ, babhravo dhūmranīkāśāḥ
pitṝṇāṃ barhiṣadāṃ, kṛṣṇā babhrunīkāśāḥ pitṝṇāmagniṣvā-
ttānāṃ, kṛṣṇāḥ pṛṣanta straiyambakāḥ 18 . uktāḥ saṃcarāḥ
etā śūnāsīrīyāḥ, śvetā vāvavyāḥ, śvetāḥ sauryyāḥ 19 .
evaṃ samāpnā yūpāḥ ityaśvādyāḥ sauryyāntāḥ saptaviṃśatyadhika-
śatatrayamitāḥ grāmyāḥ paśavaḥ sarve uktāḥ . āraṇyānāha .
“vasantāya kapiñjalānālabhate, grīṣmāya kalaviṅkān, varṣā
bhyastittirā, ñcharade varttikā, hemantāya kakarā, ñchiśirāya
vikakarān 20 . samudrāya śiśumārānālabhate, parjanyāya
maṇḍūkā, nadbhyomatsyā, nmitrāya kulīpayān, varuṇāya
nākrān 21 . somāya haṃsānālabhate, vāyave balākā
indrāgnibhyāṃ kruñcān, mitrāya madgūn, varuṇāya cakra-
vākān 22 . agnaye kuṭarūnālabhate, vanaspatibhya
ulūkā, nāgnīṣomābhyāṃ cāṣān, aśvibhyāṃ mayūrān,
mitrāvaruṇābhyāṃ kapotān 23 . somāya labānālabhate, tvaṣṭre
kaulīkān, goṣādīrdevānāṃ patnībhyaḥ, kulīkā devajāmi bhyo,
'gnaye gṛhapataye pāruṣṇān 24 . ahne pārāvatānāla bhate,
rātryai sīcāpū, rahorātrayoḥ saṃdhibhyoḥ jatū, rmāsebhyo dā-
tyauhān, saṃvatsarāya mahataḥ suparṇān 25 . bhūmyā ākhūnā
labhate, 'ntarikṣāya pāṅktrān, dive kaśān, digbhyo nakulān,
babhrukānavāntaradiśābhyaḥ 26 . vasubhya ṛśyānālabhate,
rudrebhyorurūn, ādityebhyonyaṅkūn, viśvebhyo devebhyaḥ pṛṣa-
tān, sādhyebhyaḥ kuluṅgān 27 . īśānāya parasvata ālabhate,
mitrāya gaurān, varuṇāya mahiṣān, vṛhaspataye gavayāṃ, stvaṣṭra-
uṣṭrān 28 . prajāpataye puruṣān hastina ālabhate, vāce
plum̐ṣī, ścakṣuṣe maśakā, ñchotrāya bhṛṅgāḥ, 29 . prajāpataye
ca vāyave ca gomṛgo, varuṇāyāraṇyomeṣo, yamāya
kṛṣṇo, manuṣyarājāya markaṭaḥ, śārdūlāya rohid, ṛṣabhāya
gavayī, kṣipraśyenāya vartikā, nīlaṅgoḥ kṛmiḥ, samudrāya
śiśumārī, himavate hastī 30 . mayuḥ prājāpatya, ulo
halikṣṇo vṛṣadaṃśaste dhātre, diśāṃ kaṅko, dhuṅkṣāgneyī
kalaviṅko lohitāhiḥ puṣkarasādaste tvāṣṭrā, vāce
kruñcaḥ 31 . somāya kuluṅga, āraṇyo'jo nakulaḥ śakā te
pauṣṇāḥ, kroṣṭā māyo, rindrasya gauramṛgaḥ, pidvonyaṅkuḥkakkaṭaḥ,
ste'numatyai, pratiśrutkāyai cakravākaḥ 32 . saurī balākā,
śārgaḥ sṛjayaḥ śayāṇḍakaste maitrāḥ, sarasvatyai, śāriḥ puruṣa
vāk, śvāvidbhaumī, śārdūlo vṛkaḥ pṛdākuste manyave, sarasvate
śukaḥ puruṣavāk 33 . suparṇaḥ pārjanya, ātirvāhaso
darvidā te vāyave, vṛhaspataye vācaspataye, paiṅgarājo, 'laja
āntarikṣaḥ, plavomadgurmatsyaste nadīpataye, dyāvāpṛthivīyaḥ
kūrmaḥ 34 . puruṣamṛgaścandramaso, godhā kālakā dārvāghāṭaste
vanaspatīnāṃ, kṛkavākuḥ sāvitro, haṃso vātasya, nākro makaraḥ
kulīpayaste'kūpārasya, hriyai śallakaḥ 35 . eṇyahno, maṇḍūko
mūṣikā tittiriste sarpāṇāṃ, lopāśa āśvinaḥ . kṛṣṇo
rātryā, ṛkṣo jatūḥ muṣilīkā taitarajanānāṃ, jahakā
vaiṣṇavī 36 . anyavāpo'rdhamāsānāmṛśyo mayūraḥ surpaṇaste
gandharvāṇā, sapāmudro māsāṃ, kaśyapo rohit kuṇḍṛṇācī
golattikā te'psarasāṃ, mṛtyave'sitaḥ 2 . 7 . varṣāhū rṛtū-
nā, mākhuḥ kaśo mānthālaste pitṝṇāṃ, balāyājagaro,
vasūnāṃ kapiñjalaḥ, kapota ulūkaḥ śaśaste nirṛtyai,
varuṇāyāraṇyo meṣaḥ 38 . śvitra ādityānā, muṣṭro
ghṛṇīvān vārdhrīnasaste matyā, araṇyāya sṛmaro, rurū raudraḥ,
kvayiḥ kuṭarurdātyauhaste vājināṃ, kāmāya pikaḥ 39 .
khaḍgo vaiśvadevaḥ, śvā kṛṣṇaḥ karṇo gardabhastarakṣuste
rakṣasā, mindrāya sūkaraḥ . siṃho mārutaḥ, kṛkalāsaḥ
pippakā śakunisteśaravyāyai viśveṣāṃ devānāṃ pṛṣataḥ . 40 .
evaṃ ṣaṣṭyadhikaṃ śatadvayamāruṇyāḥ paśava uktāḥ . ma-
dhyamayūpe dvau ekādaśinau anyeṣu ekaike ekādaśinaḥ
iti ekaviṃśatiyūpeṣu dvāviṃśatirekādaśinaḥ . ataḥ saptaviṃ-
śatyadhikaśatatrayam aśvādi sauryyāntaṃ dvāviṃśatyā saha mili-
tām sat ūnapañcāśadadhikaṃ śatatrayam! tāḥ grāmyāpaśavaḥ
āraṇyāstu 260 militāḥ 609 paśavo'śvamedhe rvihitāḥ
taduktaṃ śloke . “ṣaṭ śatāni niyujyante paśūnāṃ madhyame-
'hani . aśvamedhasya yajñasya navamiścādhikāni ca” . teṣu
grāmyā ālabhyā āraṇyā bandhanānmocyā na tu hiṃsyā
iti . evañcātrāśvasya pradhānyāt aśvamedhatvam . aśvalakṣa-
ṇaṃ tu” kālāmbhodharasaṅkāśaḥ svarṇavarṇamukhobalī . yasya
pārśvāvubhāvarddhacandrākārau suśobhanau . pucchaṃ vidyutpratī-
kāśamudaraṃ kundasannibham . pādāścaiva haridvarṇāḥ karṇau
sindūrasannibhau . jvaladagninibhā jihvā cakṣuṣī bhā-
skaropame, virājito romarājyā sānulomavilomayā .
vicitrairvividhairvarṇaiścitrorajatavindubhiḥ . yo vege vāyu
tulyaḥ syāduccairuccaiḥśravāyathā . yasya gātrodbhavogandho
gandharvvamapi mohayet . evaṃ lakṣaṇasaṃyukto yajñiyaḥ paśuru-
cyate” vāśi0 rā0 . “gokṣīrasamavarṇañca kundenduhimasannibha-
m . pītapucchaṃ śyāmakarṇaṃ sarvatogatimattamam . śyāmaṃ vāpi
mahīpāla . yajñe'smiṃsturagaṃ viduriti” purā0 . śata0 brāhmaṇe
tu “dvirūpaevaiṣo'śvaḥ syāt kṛṣṇasāraṅgaḥ prajāpatervāeṣo-
'kṣṇaḥ samamavat dvirūpaṃ vā idaṃ cakṣuḥ śuklaṃ caiva kṛṣṇaṃca tadenaṃ
svena rūpeṇa samardhayatīti . atha hovāca sātyayajñiḥ
trirūpa evaiṣo'śvaḥ syāttasya kṛṣṇaḥ pūrvārdhaḥ śuklo'parārdhaḥ
kṛttikāñjiḥ purastāttadyat kṛṣṇaḥ pūrvārdho bhavati yadevedaṃ
kṛṣṇamakṣṇastadasya tadatha yacchuklo'parārdho bhavati yadevedaṃ śukla-
makṣṇa stadasya tadatha yatkṛttikāñjiḥ purastātsā kanīnikā
sa evaṃ rūpasamṛddhvo'tī yatamo'syopakalpeta bahurūpo vā
dvirūpo vā trirūpo vā kṛttikāñjistamālabheta javena tveva
samṛddhaḥ syāt” . “kṛttikākāraṃ kṛttikāntikarohiṇīśakaṭā
kāramañjiṃ puṇmraṃ lalāṭhe yasya bhā0 . lalāmam” . kā
tyā0 20 . 1 . 33 . “nīlapauṇḍrakayuktamiti” karka0 .
tasyotsarjjanaṃ cottarapūrvvadiśi . “paśuvadutsarjjanaṃ niraṣṭe
'śvaśate” kātyā0 20 . 2 . 1 . “paśuvadityuttarapūrvvā dig
lakṣyate niraṣṭe niramaṇe vṛddhatayā . adhvaryuyajamānau a-
śvaśate śatānāmapyaśvānāṃ madhye paśuvadutsarjjanaṃ kurutaḥ
kīdṛśe niraṣṭe aśvasya vayovyañjanāni ekaikaṃ trīṇi
trīṇi varṣāṇi anuvarttante tāni nirgatānyasmāditi
niraṣṭam atītacaturviṃśativarṣamityarthaḥ” karkaḥ . tena vṛddhatayā
skandanasāmarthyarāhityaṃ sūcitam tathā hi tasyāśvasya “baḍa-
vābhyo vāraṇam” “prasneyāccodakāt” kātyā0 20 . 2 . 1 .
2 . 3 . vākyena vaḍavābhyo nivāraṇaṃ, prasneyāt yathecchasnā-
nārhādudakācca mivāraṇam vihitam . ataeva “prajāte
vāyavyam” kātyā0 20 . 3 . 20 . baḍavāyāṃ retaḥskandane
prajātaityucyate tasmin vāyavyapayonirvāpovihitaḥ .
tasya rakṣakāśca yathārūpāḥ karttavyāstathāha śata0 brā0 .
“tasyaite purastādrakṣitāra upakḷptā bhavanti . rājaputrāḥ
kavacinaḥ śataṃ rājanyā niṣaṅgiṇaḥ śataṃ sūtagrāmaṇyāḥ
puttrā iṣuparṣiṇaḥ śataṃ kṣātrasaṃgṛhītṝṇāṃ puttrā daṇḍinaḥ
śatamaśvaśataṃ niraṣṭaṃ niramaṇaṃ yasminnenamapisṛjya rakṣanti”
avadhikālamāha “tasmāt pāriplavaṃ ṣaṭtriṃśataṃ daśāhā
nācaṣṭe” iti śata0 brā0 sāvanagaṇanayā saṃvatsare gate
dīkṣā . “aśvāpadījyā carubhiḥ sāvitram” ityādinā
“mṛtecādarśane ca” ityantena kātyā0 20, 3, 20 . prāyattavi-
śeṣānuktvā “anyasya raśanādānādi karotyaśvayuktam” mṛte
aśvasyādarśane ca” kā0 20, 4, 1 . apunarāgamasambhave ca a-
nyasyāśvasya raśanādānādi aśvayuktamaśvasaṃbandhi aśvopakārakaṃ
sarvvaṃ karmma punaḥ karoti” karkaḥ . aśvamedhārambhakālaśca .
“aṣṭamyāṃ navamyāṃ cā phālgunīśuklasya” kātyā0 20, 1, 2,
phālgunaśuklapakṣe'ṣṭamyāṃ navamyāṃ vā prārambhaḥ . “yā'sau
phālgunī paurṇṇamāsī bhavatīti” prakṛtya “tasyai purastāt
ṣaḍahe vā saptāhe vā ṛtvija upasamāyantīti” śata0
brā0 grīṣmetveke” kātyā0 20, 1, 3, “jyaiṣṭhāṣāḍa-
yoḥ śuklāṣṭamyāṃ navamyāṃ vetyeke” karkaḥ . ekaviṃśatipūpasanni-
veśamānādi yathā “ekaviṃśatiryūpāḥ sarvva ekaviṃśatya
ratnayorājjuddālo'gniṣṭho bhavati paitatudāravāvabhitaḥ,
ṣaḍbailvāstraya itthāttraya itthāt, ṣaṭ khādirāstraya
evetthāttraya itthāt, ṣaṭ pālāśāstraya evetthāttraya itthāt,
śata0 brā0 . eteṣāṃ nāmanirvvacanaṃ tatraiva dṛśyam .

aśvamedhasya yaugikāni dvādaśa nāmāni darśitāni śa-
ta0 brā0 13 kāṇḍe . “eṣa vai prabhūrnāma yajñaḥ 1 . yatraitena
yajñena yajante sarvvameva prabhūtaṃ bhavati . eṣa vai vibhūrnāma
yajñaḥ 2 . yatraitena yajñena yajante sarvva meva vibhūtaṃ mavati .
eṣa vai vyaṣṭirnāma yajñaḥ 3 . yatraitena yajñena yajante sarvva-
meva vyaṣṭaṃ bhavati . eṣa vai vidhṛtirnāma yajñaḥ 4 . yatrai-
tena yajñena yajante sarvvameva vidhṛtaṃ bhavati . eṣa rva vyāvṛ-
ttirnāma yajñaḥ 5 . yatraitena yajñena yajante sarvameva vyāvṛttaṃ
bhavati . eṣa vā ūrjasvannāma yajñaḥ 6 . yatraitena yajñena yajante
sarvvamevorjasvadbhavati . eṣa vai payasvānnāma yajñaḥ 6 . yatraite
na yajñena yajante sarvvameva payasvadbhavati . eṣa vai brahma
varcasī nāma yajñaḥ 8 . yatraitena yajñena yajanta ābrāhmaṇo
varcasī jāyate . eṣa vāativyāghirnāma yajñaḥ 9 . yatraitena
yajñena yajanta ārājanyo'tivyādhirjāyate . eṣa vai
dīrgho nāma yajñaḥ 10 . yatraitena yajñena yajanta'ādīrghā-
raṇyaṃ jāyate . eṣa vai kḷptirnāma yajñaḥ 11 . yatraitena
yajñena yajante sarvvameva kḷptaṃ bhavati . eṣa vai pratiṣṭhā nāma
yajñaḥ 12 . yatraitena yajñena yajante sarvvameva pratiṣṭhitaṃ
bhavati” . “tarati brahmahatyāṃ yo'śvamedhena yajate” śata0 brā0
“aśvamedhe na śudhyanti mahāpātakinastvime” bhā0 aśva0 pa0 .

aśvamedha pu0 aśvamedho'styasya arśa0 ac . rājarṣibhede .
“yo maiti pravocatyaśvamedhāya sūraye” ṛ0 5, 27, 4 .
aśvamedhāya rājarṣaye” bhā0 .

Aśvamedha (“the Horse-sacrifice”). § 4 (Anukram.): I,

1, 91 (°āmṛtarasaḥ, sc. Bhāratadrumaḥ), i.e. Āśvamedhika-

parvan.

Aśva-medha (‘offering a horse-sacrifice’) is a prince men-

tioned in a hymn of the Rigveda,¹ which contains a Dānastuti

(‘Praise of Gifts’) of Tryaruṇa, and to which three verses have

been added in praise of Aśvamedha. See also Āśvamedha. [Footnote] 1) v. 27, 4-6. Cf. Ludwig, Translation of the Rigveda, 3, 275.

Aśva-medha is the patronymic of an unnamed prince, who

occurs in a Dānastuti (‘Praise of Gifts’) in the Rigveda (viii. 68,

15. 16).

Aśvamedha — Thrice performed by Yudhiṣṭhira.¹ One

hundred performed by Bali;² of Ambarīṣa where Vasiṣṭha

and Gautama were present.³ Thrice performed by Parīkṣit.⁴

Performed by Aṅga when gods did not respond to his call.⁵

A hundred were performed by Pṛthu. But in the last

Indra stole away the horse.⁶ Performed by Indra.⁷ Per-

formed by Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā. The sacrificial horse was sent

out with a number of warriors to watch its course. All

kings including the Pāṇḍavas attended the sacrifice. In the

course of the sacrifice a Brāhmaṇa complained of the death

of his children immediately after birth. At this Arjuna

(s.v.) offered to give succour and recovered them with

Kṛṣṇa's aid, from Nārāyaṇa's abode. Nārāyaṇa said that he

took the children as a means to see Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna in

their human form. The Avabhṛta of the sacrifice was cele-

brated in the Yamunā.⁸ A remedy for brahmicide.⁹ Per-

formed by Śūdra kings in Kali age;¹⁰ of other kings;¹¹ of

Ikṣvāku, of Dakṣa, of Suyajña, of Nala, of Śatānīka of Purū-

ravas;¹² equal to going to Gayā, bath in the Prayāga and

Ganges, koṭihoma, grahabali, etc.¹³ 100 of them performed

by Somadatta;¹⁴ as efficacious as reading the Viṣṇu Purāṇa;¹⁵

performed by other sages.¹⁶ [Footnote] 1) Bhā. I. 8. 6; 10. 2. [1]; 12. 34. [Footnote] 2) Ib. VIII. 15. 34. [Footnote] 3) Ib.

IX. 4. 22. [Footnote] 4) Ib. I. 16. 3. [Footnote] 5) Ib. IV. 13. 25. [Footnote] 6) Ib. IV. 16. 24; 19, 1. [Footnote] 7) Ib. VI. 13. 18-20; Br. II. 30. 10; M. 143. 6-26. [Footnote] 8) Bhā. X. 89. 22-64. [Footnote] 9) Ib. VI. 13. 6-9. [Footnote] 10) Br. II.

31. 67; M. 144. 43. [Footnote] 11) Br. II. 34. 24; III. 5. 7; 7.

268; 11. 13-16; 64. 17; 68. 26; 70. 24 and 27; 71. 119; 72. 28;

IV. 12. 31. [Footnote] 12) M. 12. 10; 12. 15; 44, 23 and 64; 24. 10; Vā. 105.

10. 32; 111. 17, 51; 112. 31-2. [Footnote] 13) M. 22. 6; 28. 6; 53. 15; 58.

54; 106. 29; 183. 71 and 80. [Footnote] 14) Vi. IV. 1. 56. [Footnote] 15) Vi. VI. 8. 28 & 34. [Footnote] 16) Vā. 20. 16; 32. 52; 30. 291; 50. 221; 57. 52; 60. 23; 67. 50, 53-8;

71. 77; 75. 60, 75; 99. 456; 104. 84; Bhā. IX. 22. 39.

aśvamedha śr. Oppert II, 5310. 7304. 9552. 10283 (Āpast.).

aśvamedha nāṭaka by Sumatijitāmitramalladeva, king of
Bhātgāon in Nepāl. Rep. p. 18.

aśvamedha (CII 3, 4), a sacrificial ceremony centering

in a horse, generally performed by independent monarchs.

Kings celebrating the sacrifice sometimes assumed suitable

titles (cf. Aśvamedha-parākrama and Aśvamedha-Mahendra claimed

respectively by Samudragupta and Kumāragupta I on their

coins). Some kings performed two, four or more horse-sacri-

fices. For a list of the performers of aśvamedha known form

epigraphic and numismatic records, see Sundaram Pillai Com.

Vol., pp. 93 ff.

AŚVAMEDHA I . A country of ancient India which was

ruled by a King named Rocamān. Bhīmasena conquered

him during the world-wide conquering campaign.

(Śloka 8, Chapter 29, Sabhā Parva).

AŚVAMEDHA II . A yāga. Kings used to conduct this

in order to get absolved of all sins. Fixing a victory

card on the head of a horse it is allowed to roam about

freely. If anybody stops the horse and ties it, the King

should go and defeat him in battle and bring back the

horse. If you do a hundred such yāgas you can become

Indra. [Footnote] *) Aśvamedha or horse sacrifice was performed by autocrats to establish their supreme sovereignty. For this the horse let out to roam

about should go into all countries. Those who opposed the sovereignty of the King could stop the horse and tie it. Then the King had

to defeat him before conducting the yāga. The vedas enjoin that the sacrificial horse should be followed by a hundred young men ready

to fight those who opposed the King. Indra had conducted a hundred such yāgas.

AŚVAMEDHA . Son of King Sahasrānīka (Refer under

Sahasrānīka).

Aśvamedha m.: Name of a town (?).

In the east (prācīm diśam) 2. 26. 1,

7; Bhīma, in his expedition before the

Rājasūya, conquered Rocamāna, king of

Aśvamedha (so 'śvamedheśvaraṃ rājan

rocamānam … /jigāya samare vīraḥ … //)

2. 26. 8.