Valmiki Ramayana 2.68.5 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 5

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

एहि सिद्धार्थ विजय जयन्ताशोक नन्दन।श्रूयतामिति कर्तव्यं सर्वानेव ब्रवीमि वः।।2.68.5।।

Transliteration

ehi siddhārtha vijaya jayanta aśoka nandana | śrūyatām iti kartavyaṃ sarvān eva bravīmi vaḥ || 2.68.5 ||

Translation

«هَلُمّوا: سِدّهارثا، فيجايا، جايانتا، أشوكا، ناندانا. اسمعوا: سأبيّن لكم جميعًا ما يجب فعله.»

Word by Word

• एहि: come
• एहि: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सिद्धार्थ: O Siddhārtha
• सिद्धार्थ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन

• विजय: O Vijaya
• विजय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• जयन्त: O Jayanta
• जयन्त: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• अशोक: O Aśoka
• अशोक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• नन्दन: O Nandana
• नन्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard / listen
• श्रूयताम्: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन/बहुवचन-प्रयोगे आदरार्थ बहुवचनार्थक (let it be heard by you all); आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive imperative)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय

• कर्तव्यम्: what should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Karya (कार्य/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• सर्वान्: all (of you)
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘all (of you)’

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• ब्रवीमि: I tell/say
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वः: to you/for you
• वः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी (Dative/4th or Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; enclitic pronoun

Context

Calling Siddhartha, Vijaya, Jayanta, Asoka and Nandana, Vasistha said, All of you listen to what is required to be done (by you)!.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Siddhārtha
• Vijaya
• Jayanta
• Aśoka
• Nandana

FAQs

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

Dharma is articulated as kartavya—clearly assigned duty. Proper action begins with clear instruction and attentive listening.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha summons specific men and prepares to dispatch them with an official mission to Bharata.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and readiness to serve—messengers are expected to listen carefully and execute orders faithfully.