Valmiki Ramayana 2.70.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 6

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

प्रतिगृह्य तु तत्सर्वं स्वनुरक्त स्सुहृज्जने।दूतानुवाच भरतः कामैस्सम्प्रतिपूज्य तान्।।2.70.6।।

Transliteration

pratigṛhya tu tatsarvaṃ svanuraktaḥ suhṛj-jane | dūtān uvāca bharataḥ kāmaiḥ sampratipūjya tān || 2.70.6 ||

Translation

Bharata, innig seinen Verwandten und Freunden zugetan, nahm alles Entgegengebrachte an; dann ehrte er die Boten mit Gaben nach ihrem Wunsch und sprach zu ihnen.

Word by Word

• pratigṛhya: having received
• pratigṛhya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• tu: then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; particle

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used collectively with सर्वम्

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

• svanuraktaḥ: very affectionate
• svanuraktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + anurakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (स्वः अनुरक्तः = अत्यन्तानुरक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to भरतः

• suhṛj-jane: among friends/kinsmen
• suhṛj-jane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: सुहृदां जनः/सुहृज्जनः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular

• dūtān: the messengers
• dūtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; accusative plural

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• kāmaiḥ: with desired gifts/pleasures
• kāmaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• sampratipūjya: having duly honored in return
• sampratipūjya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-prati-pūj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• tān: those (messengers)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; pronoun referring to dūtān

Context

Affectionate towards his relatives and friends, Bharata received all those gifts and in return honoured those messengers with things they liked, asking them:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• messengers (dūtas)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as proper reciprocity and respect: Bharata accepts what is offered and then honors the messengers appropriately, maintaining social and moral order through gratitude and fair return.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving items or messages delivered by emissaries, Bharata rewards them according to their wishes and then begins questioning them about the royal household.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Affectionate loyalty and courteous conduct—Bharata’s considerate honoring of others (including subordinates like messengers) reflects restraint, nobility, and adherence to established etiquette (maryādā).