Shloka 18

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

अवेक्ष्याञ्जलिपानांश्च ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान्।ययुर्मध्येन बाह्लीकान् सुदामानं च पर्वतम्।।2.68.18।।

Transliteration

avekṣyāñjalipānāṃś ca brāhmaṇān vedapāragān | yayur madhyena bāhlīkān sudāmānaṃ ca parvatam || 2.68.18 ||

Translation

Als sie Brahmanen erblickten, kundig in den Veden, die Wasser aus hohl geschöpften Händen tranken, zogen sie weiter durch das Herz von Bāhlīka, dem Berge Sudāmān entgegen.

Word by Word

• अवेक्ष्य: having seen
• अवेक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), 'having seen'

• अञ्जलिपानान्: drinking (water) with cupped palms
• अञ्जलिपानान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जलि-पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (añjalinā pānam = drinking with cupped palms); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of ब्राह्मणान्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ब्राह्मणान्: brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), बहुवचन

• वेदपारगान्: versed in the Vedas
• वेदपारगान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद-पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (vedasya pāragāḥ = those who have reached the far shore of the Veda); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of ब्राह्मणान्

• ययुः: went
• ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मध्येन: through the middle
• मध्येन: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental used adverbially: 'through the middle')

• बाह्लीकान्: Bāhlīkas / Bāhlīka country
• बाह्लीकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्लीक (प्रातिपदिक; देशवासी/देश)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; देश/जनपदवाचक

• सुदामानम्: Sudāman (mountain)
• सुदामानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदामन् (प्रातिपदिक; पर्वत-नाम)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पर्वतम्: mountain
• पर्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Bharata on whom the kingdom has been conferred is living comfortably in his maternal uncle's house. Let swift messengers go quickly on speeding horses and bring back the valiant brothers, Bharata and Satrughna. What is there to deliberate for us in this matter?

Characters & Entities

• brāhmaṇas
• Vedas
• Bāhlīka

FAQs

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

Dharma honors learning and austerity: Vedic discipline in daily conduct is presented as a visible marker of righteous culture.

What is the narrative situation?

The messengers pass through regions where they observe Vedic brāhmaṇas and then continue through Bāhlīka toward Sudāmān mountain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Cultural reverence—recognizing and respecting the signs of tapas and Vedic life.