Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 2

जनकदूतागमनम्

The Arrival of Janaka’s Messengers in Ayodhya

Devanagari script

राज्ञो भवनमासाद्य द्वारस्थानिदमब्रुवन्।शीघ्रं निवेद्यतां राज्ञे दूतान्नो जनकस्य च।।1.68.2।।

Transliteration

rājño bhavanam āsādya dvārasthān idam abruvan |

śīghraṁ nivedyatāṁ rājñe dūtān no janakasya ca || 1.68.2 ||

Translation

Parvenus au palais du roi, les messagers dirent aux gardiens de la porte : «Annoncez sans tarder au roi que nous, messagers de Janaka, sommes arrivés».

Word by Word

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• भवनम्: palace
• भवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु; प्राप्तौ) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having reached’

• द्वार-स्थान्: the doorkeepers
• द्वार-स्थान्: Karma (कर्म; addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (द्वारे स्थिताः = doorkeepers/door-attendants)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म; object of speaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रुवन्: said
• अब्रुवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु; वचने)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• निवेद्यताम्: let (it) be reported
• निवेद्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√विद् (धातु; ज्ञापने)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive imperative: ‘let it be reported’)

• राज्ञे: to the king
• राज्ञे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• दूतान्: messengers
• दूतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive) बहुवचन/एकवचन-प्रयोगः (enclitic ‘of us/our’); दूतान् इति सम्बन्धः

• जनकस्य: of Janaka
• जनकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Context

Illustrious Janaka desires to bestow his daughter on the descendat of Kakustha (Rama) whose prowess he has witnessed.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Daśaratha
• Ayodhya (implicit: king’s palace context)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is maryādā (proper conduct): envoys follow respectful court procedure and communicate their identity truthfully and promptly.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka’s envoys arrive at the royal residence and request immediate announcement of their arrival to the king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The envoys’ discipline and clarity—speaking directly, without deception, while observing royal protocol.