Valmiki Ramayana 2.68.2-3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 68, Shlokas 2-3

दूतप्रेषणम् · Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

यदसौ मातुलकुले दत्तराज्यं परं सुखी ।

भरतो वसति भ्रात्रा शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः ॥२॥

तच्छीघ्रं जवना दूता गच्छन्तु त्वरितैर्हयैः ।

आनेतुं भ्रातरौ वीरौ किं समीक्षामहे वयम् ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.68.2-3

Transliteration

yadasau mātulakule dattarājyaṃ paraṃ sukhī |

bharato vasati bhrātrā śatrughnena samanvitaḥ ||2||

tacchīghraṃ javanā dūtā gacchantu tvaritairhayaiḥ |

ānetuṃ bhrātarau vīrau kiṃ samīkṣāmahe vayam ||3||

Translation

Bharata, dem das Königreich übertragen wurde, lebt in großem Glück im Hause seines mütterlichen Onkels, begleitet von seinem Bruder Shatrughna. Lasst schnelle Boten ohne Verzögerung auf eiligen Pferden aufbrechen, um die beiden tapferen Brüder zurückzubringen. Welcher Bedarf besteht für uns, in dieser Angelegenheit weiter zu beraten?

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• यत्: since/because
• यत्: Hetu marker (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative particle used as conjunction (यत्-शब्दः अव्ययवत्), causal sense 'since'

• असौ: that (person)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मातुल-कुले: in the maternal-uncle's house/family
• मातुल-कुले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātula (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• दत्त-राज्यम्: (with) kingdom bestowed
• दत्त-राज्यम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (√dā, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; predicate complement with 'asau ... sukhī' (having received kingdom)

• परम्: very/exceedingly
• परम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया), 'exceedingly'

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective to 'bharataḥ'

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसति: dwells/lives
• वसति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भ्रात्रा: with (his) brother
• भ्रात्रा: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; accompaniment

• शत्रुघ्नेन: with Śatrughna
• शत्रुघ्नेन: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; accompaniment

• समन्वितः: accompanied
• समन्वितः: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam+anu+√i (धातु) / samanvita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle used adjectivally

• तत्: therefore
• तत्: Hetu/Discourse (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; used adverbially 'therefore/for that reason'

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative, 'quickly'

• जवनाः: swift
• जवनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: javana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; adjective to 'dūtāḥ'

• दूताः: messengers
• दूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गच्छन्तु: let (them) go
• गच्छन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/Imperative), Prathama-puruṣa, Plural, Parasmaipada

• त्वरितैः: swift/quick
• त्वरितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvarita (√tvar, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; adjective to 'hayaiḥ'

• हयैः: by horses/on horses
• हयैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आनेतुम्: to bring
• आनेतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+√nī (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुनन्त), purpose

• भ्रातरौ: the two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual (द्विवचन); object of 'ānetum'

• वीरौ: valiant
• वीरौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual; adjective to 'bhrātarau'

• किम्: why/what
• किम्: Discourse/Question (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative used adverbially (प्रश्नार्थक अव्ययवत्)

• समीक्षामहे: do we deliberate/consider
• समीक्षामहे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Uttama-puruṣa, Plural, Ātmanepada

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Nominative, Plural

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

• Bharata
• Shatrughna
• Kingdom of Ayodhya

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes the Dharma of timely action in matters of state and familial duty. Vasistha recognizes that when a righteous course of action is clear, summoning Bharata to fulfill his royal obligations, there is no need for prolonged deliberation. This reflects the principle that Dharma requires decisive action when the path of righteousness is evident.

What is the narrative situation?

Following King Dasharatha's death, Vasistha, the royal preceptor, addresses the counsellors and brahmins regarding the urgent need to summon Bharata from his maternal uncle's home in Kekaya kingdom. Bharata, unaware of the tragic events in Ayodhya, must be brought back to assume his responsibilities in the kingdom.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights Vasistha's wisdom and decisiveness as a rajaguru (royal preceptor). His ability to recognize the urgency of the situation and act without hesitation demonstrates the virtue of prudence combined with prompt action, essential qualities for guiding the kingdom through a period of crisis.