Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 1

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

भरते ब्रुवति स्वप्नं दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहनाः।प्रविश्यासह्यपरिखं रम्यं राजगृहं पुरम्।।2.70.1।।समागम्य तु राज्ञा च राजपुत्रेण चार्चिताः राज्ञः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु तमूचुर्भरतं वचः।।2.70.2।।

Transliteration

bharate bruvati svapnaṃ dūtās te klāntavāhanāḥ |

praviśyāsahyaparikhaṃ ramyaṃ rājagṛhaṃ puram || 2.70.1 ||

samāgamya tu rājñā ca rājaputreṇa cārcitāḥ |

rājñaḥ pādau gṛhītvā tu tam ūcuḥ bharataṃ vacaḥ || 2.70.2 ||

Translation

Tandis que Bharata racontait un songe, ces messagers—montés sur des montures épuisées—entrèrent dans la belle cité de Rājagṛha, gardée par un fossé imprenable.

Word by Word

• bharate: when/while (in the presence of) Bharata
• bharate: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular

• bruvati: while speaking/relating
• bruvati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative absolute participle

• svapnam: the dream
• svapnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• dūtāḥ: messengers
• dūtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; nominative plural

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun agreeing with दूताः

• klāntavāhanāḥ: with weary mounts/vehicles
• klāntavāhanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: klānta (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-प्रायः: क्लान्तानि वाहनानि येषाम्/क्लान्त-वाहन); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective to दूताः

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाले; indeclinable

• asahyaparikham: having an impassable moat
• asahyaparikham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asahya (प्रातिपदिक) + parikha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to पुरम् (city)

• ramyam: lovely
• ramyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to पुरम्

• rājagṛham: the royal residence / Rājagṛha
• rājagṛham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राज्ञः गृहम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition/qualifier of पुरम्

• puram: city
• puram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular

Context

While Bharata was relating his dream, the mounted messengers (from Ayodhya) with their weary horses entered the lovely city of Rajagriha surrounded by an impassable moat. There they met the king of Kekaya country and his son, Yuddhajit and were received with honour. Touching the feet of the king with reverence, they said to Bharata:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• dūtāḥ (messengers from Ayodhyā)
• Rājagṛha (city in Kekaya context here)
• Yudhājit

FAQs

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

It emphasizes maryādā (proper conduct): honoring hosts, showing reverence to elders and kings, and delivering messages with respect—social dharma expressed through etiquette.

What is the narrative situation?

Messengers from Ayodhyā arrive in Kekaya’s capital while Bharata is present there; after being received and honoring the king, they prepare to convey urgent news to Bharata.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectful discipline and propriety—shown by the messengers through formal greeting and deference before speaking.