Shloka 17

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

आभिकालं ततः प्राप्य ते बोधिभवनाच्च्युताम्।पितृपैतामहीं पुण्यां तेरुरिक्षुमतीं नदीम्।।2.68.17।।

Transliteration

ābhikālaṃ tataḥ prāpya te bodhibhavanāccyutām | pitṛpaitāmahīṃ puṇyāṃ terur ikṣumatīṃ nadīm || 2.68.17 ||

Translation

అనంతరం వారు ఆభికాలాన్ని చేరి, బోధిభవనమునుండి ప్రవహించే, దశరథుని పితృ‑పితామహులకు ప్రియమైన పుణ్య ఇక్షుమతీ నదిని దాటిరి।

Word by Word

• आभिकालम्: Ābhikāla (place)
• आभिकालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभिकाल (प्रातिपदिक; ग्राम-नाम)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: from there
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from there/then')

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), 'having reached'

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• बोधिभवनात्: from Bodhibhavana
• बोधिभवनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बोधि-भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (bodheḥ bhavanam / bodhibhavanam; place-name), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Abl), एकवचन

• च्युताम्: flowing from
• च्युताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √च्यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of नदीम्; अर्थः 'flowing down/issuing'

• पितृपैतामहीम्: ancestral (of fathers and grandfathers)
• पितृपैतामहीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ-पैतामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः द्वन्द्व (pitaraḥ ca paitāmahāḥ; 'fathers and grandfathers'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of नदीम् (i.e., ancestral/forefathers' river)

• पुण्याम्: sacred
• पुण्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of नदीम्

• तेरुः: crossed
• तेरुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; अर्थः 'crossed'

• इक्षुमतीम्: Ikṣumatī (river)
• इक्षुमतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्षुमती (प्रातिपदिक; नदी-नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नदीम्: river
• नदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Beholding the footprints of Visnu (on Sudama mountain), and seeing Vipasa, and Salmali rivers, trees, streams, deep wells, ponds, pools, large tanks, different kinds oflions, tigers and elephants, they travelled a long distance with the intention of fulfilling the command of their master.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (implied by ancestral reference)

FAQs

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

Dharma is continuity with ancestral responsibility: sacred landscapes and inherited realms are remembered as trusts passed through generations.

What is the narrative situation?

The messengers move through notable places—reaching Ābhikāla and crossing the Ikṣumatī river that arises from Bodhibhavana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverent awareness of lineage and sacred space while performing one’s duty.