Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 10

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

दत्तपथ्यशना दूता जग्मुस्स्वं स्वं निवेशनम्।केकयां स्ते गमिष्यन्तो हयानारुह्य संमतान्।।2.68.10।।

Transliteration

dattapathyaśanā dūtā jagmus svaṃ svaṃ niveśanam | kekayāṃs te gamiṣyanto hayān āruhya saṃmatān ||

Translation

Les messagers, pourvus de provisions pour la route, gagnèrent chacun son logis ; puis, se préparant à partir pour le Kekaya, ils montèrent d’excellents chevaux.

Word by Word

• दत्तपथ्यशनाः: provided with travel food
• दत्तपथ्यशनाः: Kartr-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दत्तपथ्यशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: दत्तं पथ्यशनं येषां ते (having been given travel-provisions); ‘दत्त’ = क्त (PPP) from दा

• दूताः: messengers
• दूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वम्: one's own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्वम्: (each) his own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (each his own)

• निवेशनम्: dwelling/house
• निवेशनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• केकयान्: to the Kekayas
• केकयान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; देशवाचक

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गमिष्यन्तः: about to go
• गमिष्यन्तः: Kartr-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-भावी कृदन्त (future active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हयान्: horses
• हयान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive)

• संमतान्: excellent/approved
• संमतान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संमत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from सम्+मन्/मन् (to approve/esteem), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (to horses)

Context

The messengers set to depart to Kekaya kingdom, carrying with them the necessariesfor their journey went to their respective homes mounted on excellent horses.

Characters & Entities

• dūtas (messengers)
• Kekaya
• horses

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance includes prompt execution: once a rightful decision is made, agents carry it out efficiently and without delay.

What is the narrative situation?

After instructions are given, messengers equip themselves and set out to summon Bharata from Kekaya.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reliability and discipline in service—messengers act quickly and methodically to fulfill state duty.