Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 8

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

आर्या च धर्मनिरता धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी।अरोगा चापि कौसल्या माता रामस्य धीमतः।।2.70.8।।

Transliteration

āryā ca dharmaniratā dharmajñā dharmadarśinī | arogā cāpi kausalyā mātā rāmasya dhīmataḥ || 2.70.8 ||

Translation

“And is Kauśalyā—Rāma’s mother—healthy as well: that venerable lady devoted to dharma, skilled in dharma, and one who lives by what dharma enjoins?”

Word by Word

• āryā: noble/venerable
• āryā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective/predicate to कौसल्या

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक; conjunction

• dharmaniratā: devoted to dharma
• dharmaniratā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + nirata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: धर्मे निरता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dharmajñā: knowing dharma
• dharmajñā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मं जानाति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dharmadarśinī: one who observes dharma
• dharmadarśinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + darśinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मं पश्यति/अनुपश्यति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• arogā: healthy
• arogā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aroga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक; conjunction

• api: also/indeed
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक निपात; particle

• kausalyā: Kausalyā
• kausalyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• mātā: mother
• mātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular (apposition)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive singular

• dhīmataḥ: of the wise one
• dhīmataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; adjective to rāmasya

Context

(I hope) Kausalya mother of the sagacious Rama the venerable lady devoted to righteousness one who knows the ways of righteousness and observes the prescribed code of conduct, is keeping sound health.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kauśalyā
• Rāma

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is presented as lived practice: Kauśalyā is praised not merely for knowing dharma but for being devoted to it and embodying right conduct—an ethical ideal for household and society.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing his inquiries, Bharata asks specifically about the health of Kauśalyā, describing her as exemplary in dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for dharmic excellence—Bharata recognizes and honors moral stature, especially in elders who uphold righteous conduct.