Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 35

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

कच्चिज्जानपदो विद्वान्दक्षिणः प्रतिभानवान्।यथोक्तवादी दूतस्ते कृतो भरत पण्डितः।।।।

Transliteration

kaccij jānapado vidvān dakṣiṇaḥ pratibhānavān |

yathokta-vādī dūtas te kṛto bharata paṇḍitaḥ ||

Translation

भरत, कच्चित् ते दूतः जानपदः विद्वान् दक्षिणः प्रतिभानवान् यथोक्तवादी पण्डितः कृतः?

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: I hope / is it the case that
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः) (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative particle (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय), expressing hope

• जानपदः: a native (of the country)
• जानपदः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of 'दूतः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जानपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); 'local/native (of the janapada)'

• विद्वान्: learned / well-informed
• विद्वान्: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of 'दूतः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; विद्वस्-शब्द)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• दक्षिणः: skilful / favourable
• दक्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of 'दूतः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रतिभानवान्: quick-witted
• प्रतिभानवान्: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of 'दूतः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिभानवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• यथोक्तवादी: one who reports exactly as told
• यथोक्तवादी: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of 'दूतः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा + उक्त + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक; यथोक्तवादी) (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष sense: 'यथा उक्तं तथा वदति' (one who speaks as instructed)

• दूतः: envoy / messenger
• दूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• ते: by you / your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः) (possessor/agent relation with 'कृतः')
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Second person pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular (एकवचन); 'by you/for you' sense contextually

• कृतः: appointed / made
• कृतः: Kriya (क्रिया) (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively: 'has been made/appointed'

• भरत: O Bharata
• भरत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• पण्डितः: expert / wise
• पण्डितः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); qualifier of 'दूतः'

Context

O Bharata, I hope you have chosen as your envoy an expert born in your own country, well-informed, skilful and quick to understand one who repeats and reports (exactly) what has been told.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Truthfulness (satya) in communication is dharma: an envoy must convey messages faithfully and intelligently, ensuring diplomacy does not become deceitful distortion.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma reviews practical pillars of governance, turning to diplomacy and asking whether Bharata has selected a qualified messenger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya and competence in public service: accurate reporting, discretion, and quick understanding are praised as essential virtues of a dūta.