Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c9.s10.130

c9.s10.130

Closely connected with the *Aindra mahābhisheka* was another important ceremonial called the **Aśvamedha** or horse-sacrifice. All the kings who were, according to the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa*, actually consecrated with Indra’s great function are represented as “going round the earth completely, conquering on every side, and offering the horse in sacrifice” (*samantaṁ sarvataḥ pṛithivīṁ jayan parīyāyāśvena cha medhyeneje*). To the list of kings and princes who performed the famous rite the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*² adds the names of the Pārikshitas (or Pārikshitīyas) Bhīmasena, Ugrasena and Śrutasena; the Kosalan king (*Kausalya-rāja*) Para Āṭṇāra Hairaṇyanābha; the Aikshvāka king Purukutsa Daurgaha; the Pāñchāla kings Kraivya, the superman of the Krivis (*Krivīṇāṁ atipurusha*) and Śoṇa Sātrāsāha; the Matsya king Dhvasan Dvaitavana, and the Śvikna king Ṛishabha Yājñātura. The *Āpastamba Śrauta Sūtra* says that a paramount king (*Sārvabhauma Rājā*) may perform the *Aśvamedha*.¹ The *Aśva* or steed for a year roamed under guardianship of a hundred princes, and a hundred nobles, a hundred sons of heralds (or charioteers) and village headmen, a hundred sons of warriors and treasurers² (chamberlains?) equipped with various kinds of defensive and offensive weapons. If the year were successfully passed the steed was sacrificed. The features of the rite included panegyrics of the sacrificer along with righteous kings of yore by lute-players including a *Rājanya* who sings to the lute three songs made by himself, "such war he waged, such battle he won." There is also a "circle of tales," *Pāriplava Ākhyāna*³ which lasts by series of ten days for the whole year.