Previous Verse
Next Verse

Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 6

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

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

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

Bharata—profundamente afectuoso con sus parientes y amigos—aceptó todo lo que se había traído; y luego, honrando a los mensajeros con dones a su elección, les habló.

pratigṛhyahaving received
pratigṛhya:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootprati-grah (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)
tuthen
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formनिपात; particle
tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used collectively with सर्वम्
sarvamall
sarvam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular
svanuraktaḥvery affectionate
svanuraktaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsva (प्रातिपदिक) + anurakta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास (स्वः अनुरक्तः = अत्यन्तानुरक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to भरतः
suhṛj-janeamong friends/kinsmen
suhṛj-jane:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsuhṛd (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: सुहृदां जनः/सुहृज्जनः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular
dūtānthe messengers
dūtān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdūta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; accusative plural
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
bharataḥBharata
bharataḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbharata (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular
kāmaiḥwith desired gifts/pleasures
kāmaiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootkāma (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental plural
sampratipūjyahaving duly honored in return
sampratipūjya:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-prati-pūj (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)
tānthose (messengers)
tān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; pronoun referring to dūtān

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

B
Bharata
M
messengers (dūtas)

FAQs

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.

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

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