Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 14: The Aśvamedha Sacrifice
Text 1.14.42
ज्योतिष्टोमायुषी चैवमतिरात्रौ विनिर्मितौ।
अभिजिद्विश्वजिच्चैवमाप्तोर्यामो महाक्रतुः॥
jyotiṣṭomāyuṣī caivam atirātrau vinirmitau
abhijid viśvajic caivam āptoryāmo mahā-kratuḥ
jyotiṣṭoma-āyuṣī ca = Jyotiṣṭoma and Āyuṣṭoma; evam atirātrau = two Atirātra sacrifices; vinirmitau = were performed; abhijit = Abhijit; viśvajit = Viśvajit; ca = and; evam āptoryāmaḥ = Āptoryāma; mahā-kratuḥ = the great sacrifices.
The great sacrifices Jyotiṣṭoma, Āyuṣṭoma, two Atirātra sacrifices, Abhijit, Viśvajit and Āptoryāma were performed.
These six sacrificial ceremonies were conducted on the days following the three days of the Aśvamedha. Because these six sacrifices are prescribed in other scriptures, King Daśaratha had them performed them, considering them to be means to great prosperity.
The sequence of events that was followed is: building the fire altar, setting up the sacrificial pillars, tying up the sacrificial animals, the vapā-homa, the Catuṣṭoma, and the savana offerings. It should be noted that the sage Vālmīki has simply enlisted here the sacrificial performances conducted; he didn’t intent to point out the order in which they were performed.