Valmiki Ramayana 2.68.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 6

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

पुरं राजगृहं गत्वा शीघ्रं शीघ्रजवै र्हयैः।त्यक्तशोकैरिदं वाच्य श्शासनाद्भरतो मम।।2.68.6।।

Transliteration

puraṃ rājagṛhaṃ gatvā śīghraṃ śīghra-javair hayaiḥ | tyakta-śokair idaṃ vācyaṃ śāsanād bharato mama || 2.68.6 ||

Translation

„Geht in die Stadt Rājagṛha, schnell, auf Pferden von raschem Lauf; und ohne Trauer zu zeigen, richtet Bharata diese Worte als meinen Befehl aus.“

Word by Word

• पुरम्: the city
• पुरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राजगृहम्: Rājagṛha
• राजगृहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजगृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: राज्ञः गृहं/राजगृहं (name of city)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शीघ्रजवैः: with swift (ones)
• शीघ्रजवैः: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्रजव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समास: शीघ्रः जवः यस्य (swift-speeded)

• हयैः: with horses
• हयैः: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• त्यक्तशोकैः: having cast off grief / concealing grief
• त्यक्तशोकैः: Kartr-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्तशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समास: त्यक्तः शोकः येषां ते (grief-abandoned)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वाच्यम्: should be told
• वाच्यम्: Karya (कार्य/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be spoken/told’

• शासनात्: by (my) command
• शासनात्: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• भरतः: to Bharata (intended)
• भरतः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

Context

Go at once from here on swift horses to the city of Rajagrha and concealing signs of grief, convey these words to Bharata as my command:

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Bharata
• Rājagṛha

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent communication: one must act truthfully yet wisely, timing difficult truths to prevent harm while ensuring necessary action.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha orders messengers to travel to Rājagṛha and deliver an official summons to Bharata, while masking the court’s grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and restraint—maintaining composure to accomplish a critical duty.