Shloka 12

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

कुशलास्ते नरव्याघ्र येषां कुशलमिच्छसि।श्रीश्च त्वां वृणुते पद्मा युज्यतां चापि ते रथः।।2.70.12।।

Transliteration

kuśalās te naravyāghra yeṣāṃ kuśalam icchasi |

śrīś ca tvāṃ vṛṇute padmā yujyatāṃ cāpi te rathaḥ || 2.70.12 ||

Translation

O Tiger unter den Menschen, wohlbehalten sind jene, nach deren Wohlergehen du fragst. Möge Śrī—Padmā (Lakṣmī)—dich erwählen und begünstigen, und möge auch dein Wagen angespannt und bereitgemacht werden.

Word by Word

• कुशलाः: well, safe
• कुशलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ते इति विशेष्य (दूताः/जनाः)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• नर-व्याघ्र: O tiger among men
• नर-व्याघ्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (नराणां व्याघ्रः = tiger among men); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• येषाम्: whose
• येषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• कुशलम्: welfare
• कुशलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इच्छसि: you wish/seek (to know)
• इच्छसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रीः: prosperity, Śrī
• श्रीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वृणुते: chooses
• वृणुते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पद्मा: Padmā (Lakṣmī)
• पद्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; श्रीः इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• युज्यताम्: let (it) be yoked
• युज्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• ते: for you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन (dative)

• रथः: chariot
• रथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

O tiger among men (Bharata)! those of whose welfare you are enquiring are all doing well. May the goddess of wealth and prosperity await you and let your chariot be yoked.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Śrī (Lakṣmī/Padmā)
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

It models dharmic reassurance and auspicious speech: when conveying urgent matters, one begins by confirming others’ welfare and offering blessings in a socially proper way.

What is the narrative situation?

The messengers respond to Bharata’s inquiries, reassure him about those he asked after, and urge immediate readiness for travel by having the chariot prepared.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Considerate communication—balancing urgency with respectful, auspicious, and stabilizing words.