Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 20

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

रुक्मनिष्कसहस्रे द्वे षोडशाश्वशतानि च।सत्कृत्य कैकयीपुत्रं केकयो धनमादिशत्।।2.70.20।।

Transliteration

rukmaniṣkasahasre dve ṣoḍaśāśvaśatāni ca | satkṛtya kaikayīputraṃ kekayo dhanam ādiśat ||2.70.20||

Translation

Honorant le fils de Kaikeyī, le roi de Kekaya lui accorda des richesses : deux mille niṣkas d’or et aussi mille six cents chevaux.

Word by Word

• रुक्म-निष्क-सहस्रे: in (the amount of) thousands of gold niṣkas
• रुक्म-निष्क-सहस्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (रुक्मस्य निष्कानां सहस्रे = thousand(s) of gold coins); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), द्विवचन; द्वे इति विशेष्य-आधार (locative of measure: ‘in/amounting to’)

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; सहस्रे इति विशेषण

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; अश्वशतानि इति विशेषण

• अश्व-शतानि: hundreds of horses
• अश्व-शतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अश्वानां शतानि = hundreds of horses); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; दानवस्तु (thing given)

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

• सत्कृत्य: having honored
• सत्कृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from सत्कृ (to honor): ‘having honored’

• कैकयी-पुत्रम्: Kaikeyī's son
• कैकयी-पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकयी (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कैकय्याः पुत्रः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

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

• आदिशत्: bestowed, granted
• आदिशत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ; अर्थे: दान/वितरण-आदेश (bestowed/ordered to be given)

Context

King of Kekaya generously gave to the son of Kaikeyi (Bharata) in his honour two thousand gold coins and sixteen hundred horses.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyī
• King of Kekaya
• horses

FAQs

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

Material support in service of righteous action: resources are offered so that a prince can fulfill duty effectively, showing that wealth is dharmic when used to uphold responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Before Bharata departs, the Kekaya king provides substantial wealth and mounts for travel and royal needs.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The giver’s generosity and foresight—ensuring Bharata’s journey and obligations are not hindered by lack of means.