Shloka 2.68.22

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya (Bharata’s Recall)

Devanagari script

भर्तुः प्रियार्थं कुलरक्षणार्थं भर्तुश्च वंशस्य परिग्रहार्थम्।अहेडमाना स्त्वरया स्म दूता रात्र्यान्तु ते तत्पुरमेव याताः।।2.68.22।।

Transliteration

bhartuḥ priyārthaṃ kularakṣaṇārthaṃ bhartuś ca vaṃśasya parigrahārtham | aheḍamānāḥ stvarayā sma dūtā rātryāntu te tat-puram eva yātāḥ || 2.68.22 ||

Translation

To please their master, to safeguard the royal line, and to uphold the honor and continuity of the king’s dynasty, the messengers—without negligence—made haste and reached that very city by night.

Context

To please their master (sage Vasistha) and to preserve the royal dynasty and also to protect the honour of the (race and people), the messengers soon reached their destination by night without any negligence of their duty.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অযোধ্যাকাণ্ডে অষ্টষষ্টিতমস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the sixtyeighth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• messengers (dūtāḥ)
• master/lord (bhartṛ)
• royal family/dynasty (kula, vaṃśa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is loyalty aligned with the common good: service to one’s master is justified when it protects the dynasty’s integrity and social order.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration concludes the messengers’ urgent travel: they hurry without carelessness and reach the destination city during the night.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Non-negligence (apramāda) and fidelity—carrying out entrusted work meticulously and quickly.