Valmiki Ramayana 2.70.14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 14

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा तु तान् दूतान्भरतः पार्थिवात्मजः।दूतै स्सञ्चोदितो वाक्यं मातामहमुवाच ह।।2.70.14।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā tu tān dūtān bharataḥ pārthivātmajaḥ |

dūtaiḥ sañcodito vākyaṃ mātāmaham uvāca ha || 2.70.14 ||

Translation

Nachdem Bharata, der Königssohn, so zu den Boten gesprochen hatte, sagte er, von ihnen zur Eile gedrängt, diese Worte zu seinem mütterlichen Großvater.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having said)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• तान्: those
• तान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; दूतान् इति विशेषण

• दूतान्: messengers
• दूतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पार्थिव-आत्मजः: son of the king
• पार्थिव-आत्मजः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पार्थिवस्य आत्मजः = king's son); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भरतः इति विशेषण

• दूतैः: by the messengers
• दूतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• सञ्चोदितः: urged, pressed
• सञ्चोदितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चुद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्; भरतः इति विशेषण

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मातामहम्: maternal grandfather
• मातामहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, स्मरण/वृत्तान्तसूचक निपात (expletive particle)

Context

Having addressed the messengers who were pressing him to leave (for Ayodhya) Bharata said to his maternal grandfather:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• dūtāḥ (messengers)

FAQs

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

Dharma as relational duty: even when compelled by urgent state/family news, Bharata turns to the elder (maternal grandfather) with proper address, preserving respect within kinship hierarchy.

What is the narrative situation?

The messengers’ urgency prompts Bharata to approach his maternal grandfather to speak and presumably request leave for immediate departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for elders and adherence to family propriety under pressure.