Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 16

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

निकूलवृक्षमासाद्य दिव्यं सत्योपयाचनम्।अभिगम्याभिवाद्यं तं कुलिङ्गां प्राविशन्पुरीम्।।2.68.16।।

Transliteration

nikūlavṛkṣam āsādya divyaṃ satyopayācanam | abhigamyābhivādyaṃ taṃ kuliṅgāṃ prāviśan purīm || 2.68.16 ||

Translation

Parvenus à l’arbre divin du rivage nommé Satyopayācana, digne de vénération, ils s’en approchèrent, lui rendirent hommage, puis entrèrent dans la cité de Kuliṅgā.

Word by Word

• निकूलवृक्षम्: the bank-side tree
• निकूलवृक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकूल-वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (nikūle sthitaḥ vṛkṣaḥ = bank-side tree); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having reached/approached'

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of सत्योपयाचनम्

• सत्योपयाचनम्: Satyopayācana (wish-granting tree)
• सत्योपयाचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य-उपयाचन (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (satyena upayācanam / satyānām upayācanam; proper name of wish-granting tree); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभिगम्य: having approached
• अभिगम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), 'having approached'

• अभिवाद्यम्: worthy to be saluted
• अभिवाद्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-√वद् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be saluted'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of तम् (i.e., that tree)

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुलिङ्गाम्: Kulinga (city)
• कुलिङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलिङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक; नगर-नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राविशन्: entered
• प्राविशन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; छन्दसि/पाठभेदे 'प्राविशन्' = 'प्राविशन्(त)'

• पुरीम्: the city
• पुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

There they saw the brahmins versed in the Vedas and drank water with cupped palms. Then they continued their journey through the middle of Bahlika country, and reached Sudama mountain.

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the sacred and aligning desire with truth (satya): reverence is offered before proceeding with worldly tasks.

What is the narrative situation?

On their route, the messengers reach a revered tree named Satyopayācana, salute it, and then enter Kuliṅgā city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for sacred tradition alongside efficiency—devotion without abandoning duty.