Valmiki Ramayana 2.70.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 24

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Setting: केकयदेशः (राजगृह)प्रस्थान-उद्योगः (केकयात् अयोध्यां प्रति)

Devanagari script

स दत्तं केकयेन्द्रेण धनं तन्नाभ्यनन्दत ।

भरतः कैकयीपुत्रो गमनत्वरया तदा ॥२४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.70.24

Transliteration

sa dattaṁ kekayendreṇa dhanaṁ tan nābhyanandata |

bharataḥ kaikayī-putro gamana-tvarayā tadā ||24||

Translation

भरत, कैकेयी का बेटा, जल्दी में था रावण के लिए। केकय के राजा ने जो धन दिया था उसमे उसको कोई खुशी नहीं हुई।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• सः: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन
• Role: Kartā (कर्ता)

• दत्तम्: given
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (कृदन्त; √dā दा, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (given)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• केकयेन्द्रेण: by the king of Kekaya
• Type: Noun
• Root: kekaya-indra (प्रातिपदिक; केकय + इन्द्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-हेतु), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (केकयानां इन्द्रः)
• Role: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• धनम्: wealth
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'धनम्' इत्यस्य अन्वयः
• Role: Anuvṛtti/Karma (कर्मानुवृत्ति)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात (negation)
• Role: Nishedha (निषेध)

• अभ्यनन्दत: rejoiced at/was pleased with
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nand (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अभि
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• भरतः: Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सः इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन्
• Role: Kartā (कर्ता)

• कैकयीपुत्रः: son of Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī-putra (प्रातिपदिक; कैकयी + पुत्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कैकय्याः पुत्रः)
• Role: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• गमनत्वरया: due to haste to depart
• Type: Noun
• Root: gamana-tvarā (प्रातिपदिक; गमन + त्वरा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गमनस्य त्वरा)
• Role: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)
• Role: Kāla (काल)

Sandhi Notes

• तन्नाभ्यनन्दत = तत् + न + अभ्यनन्दत

Context

All the wealth given by the king of Kekaya did not delight Bharata, son of Kaikeyi who was in a hurry to depart for Ayodhya.

The teaching

धन-लाभः अपि कर्तव्य-समये मनः न रमते; श्रेयः प्रेयसः उपरि।

Duties in tension

• आतिथ्य-स्वीकार/राजकीय औपचारिकता
• पितृगृह-कर्तव्य/अयोध्यागमन (अशुभ-सूचना)

Ethical theme

कर्तव्यनिष्ठा / वैराग्य

How it resolves

कर्तव्य-प्राधान्य (त्वरया प्रस्थान)

For your practice

अनासक्ति-भावना; कर्तव्ये मनोनिवेशः।

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

अनासक्त, व्याकुल, त्वरित

Themes

• Dharma
• Vairagya (detachment)
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Satya
• Renunciation of greed

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

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

Dharma is prioritizing rightful duty over material gain; when duty calls, wealth becomes secondary and cannot distract a principled person.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata is about to leave Kekaya for Ayodhya; despite receiving wealth from the Kekaya king, he is emotionally unsettled and focused on departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Detachment and seriousness of purpose—Bharata is not tempted by riches when a pressing obligation awaits.