Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 6
जनकदूतागमनम्
The Arrival of Janaka’s Messengers in Ayodhya
मैथिलो जनको राजा साग्निहोत्रपुरस्कृतम् ।कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव सोपाध्यायपुरोहितम्।।1.68.5।।मुहुर्मुहुर्मधुरया स्नेहसंयुक्तया गिरा।जनकस्त्वां महाराज पृच्छते सपुरस्सरम्।।1.68.6।।
maithilo janako rājā sāgnihotra-puraskṛtam |
kuśalaṁ cāvyayaṁ caiva sopādhyāya-purohitam || 1.68.5 ||
muhur muhur madhurayā sneha-saṁyuktayā girā |
janakas tvāṁ mahārāja pṛcchate sa-puraḥsaram || 1.68.6 ||
मिथिला के राजा जनक, अग्निहोत्र को अग्र में रखकर, आपके कुशल-क्षेम और अव्यय समृद्धि के विषय में, तथा आपके उपाध्यायों और पुरोहितों की भी, आपके सेवकों सहित, बार-बार स्नेहयुक्त मधुर वाणी से पूछते हैं— “महाराज, जनक आपको सपरिवार-परिजन कुशल पूछते हैं।”
All the maharshis and the ministers said, 'certainly so'. And the king, overwhelmed with joy, said, "we start tomorrow".
FAQs
Dharma is mutual honoring among righteous kings: Janaka’s enquiry includes priests and teachers, showing that a kingdom’s well-being is tied to the protection of sacred learning and ritual integrity.
The envoys formally convey Janaka’s courteous greeting and welfare-enquiry to Daśaratha.
Janaka’s dharmic kingship—piety (agnihotra foremost), humility, and affectionate respect toward another ruler and his spiritual community.