Shloka 21

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

ते श्रान्तवाहना दूता विकृष्णेन पथा ततः।गिरिव्रजं पुरवरं शीघ्रमासेदुरञ्जसा।।2.68.21।।

Transliteration

te śrāntavāhanā dūtā vikṛṣṇena pathā tataḥ | girivrajaṃ puravaraṃ śīghram āsēdur añjasā || 2.68.21 ||

Translation

Nach jenem langen und beschwerlichen Weg erreichten die Boten, deren Reittiere ermattet waren, bald und ohne Umweg Girivraja, die vornehmste der Städte.

Word by Word

• भर्तुः: of the lord/king
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रियार्थम्: for (his) pleasure
• प्रियार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (priyasya arthaḥ = for the sake of what is dear/pleasing); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• कुलरक्षणार्थम्: for safeguarding the lineage
• कुलरक्षणार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल-रक्षण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (kulasya rakṣaṇasya arthaḥ = for protecting the dynasty); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजन

• भर्तुः: of the king
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

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

• वंशस्य: of the dynasty
• वंशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• परिग्रहार्थम्: for safeguarding/maintaining (it)
• परिग्रहार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (parigrahasya arthaḥ = for protection/maintenance/acceptance); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजन

• अहेडमानाः: not negligent / without delay
• अहेडमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-हेड् (धातु/प्रातिपदिक 'heḍa' = negligence/anger) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक 'without negligence'

• त्वरया: with haste
• त्वरया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/रीति

• स्म: indeed/then (particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: भूतार्थसूचक-अव्यय (particle used with past tense for emphasis)

• दूताः: messengers
• दूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रात्र्या: at night
• रात्र्या: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन; कालवाचक (time-when)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तत्पुरम्: that city
• तत्पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्-पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (that city); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• याताः: went/arrived
• याताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used predicatively), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; गत्यर्थः 'having gone/arrived'

Context

After a prolonged journey the messengers with their tired horses soon reached Girivraja, the (capital city of Kekaya kingdom) best of cities.

Characters & Entities

• messengers (dūtāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma is endurance in service: fatigue is acknowledged but does not become an excuse to abandon the mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Having travelled far, the messengers arrive at Girivraja, nearing the place where Bharata can be reached.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness—continuing until the destination is reached.