Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 19

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

तस्मै हस्त्युत्तमांश्चित्रान्कम्बलानजिनानि च।अभिसत्कृत्य कैकेयो भरताय धनं ददौ।।2.70.19।।

Transliteration

tasmai hastyuttamāṃś citrān kambalān ajināni ca | abhisatkṛtya kaikeyo bharatāya dhanaṃ dadau ||2.70.19||

Translation

L’ayant honoré comme il se doit, le roi de Kekaya accorda des richesses à Bharata : d’excellents éléphants, des couvertures aux couleurs variées, et aussi des peaux d’antilope.

Word by Word

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• हस्ति-उत्तमान्: excellent elephants
• हस्ति-उत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (हस्तिनां उत्तमान् = best elephants); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• चित्रान्: variegated, splendid
• चित्रान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; हस्त्युत्तमान् इति विशेषण

• कम्बलान्: blankets
• कम्बलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कम्बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• अजिनानि: antelope skins
• अजिनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• अभि-सत्कृत्य: having honored
• अभि-सत्कृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), उपसर्ग: अभि; causative/denominative sense from सत्कृ (to honor): ‘having honored/felicitated’

• कैकेयः: the king of Kekaya
• कैकेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भरताय: to Bharata
• भरताय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

The king of Kekaya felicitated Bharata, out of affection and bestowed on him well-bred elephants, many-coloured blankets, antelope skins and riches.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• King of Kekaya
• elephants

FAQs

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

Dharma of hospitality and honoring guests/kinsmen: a ruler expresses righteousness through respectful reception and generous, appropriate gifts.

What is the narrative situation?

As Bharata prepares to depart, the Kekaya king formally honors him and provides royal gifts and wealth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The Kekaya king’s generosity and propriety—he supports Bharata’s journey with resources in a dignified manner.