Valmiki Ramayana 2.68.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 1

दूतप्रेषणम् · Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Spoken by VasisthaSetting: अयोध्या

Devanagari script

तेषां हि वचनं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह ।

मित्रामात्यगणान्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणांस्तानिदं वचः ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.68.1

Transliteration

teṣāṃ hi vacanaṃ śrutvā vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha |

mitrāmātyagaṇān sarvān brāhmaṇāṃs tān idaṃ vacaḥ ||1||

Translation

ครั้นมหาฤๅษีวสิษฐะได้สดับถ้อยคำของพวกเขาแล้ว จึงกล่าวตอบด้วยวาจานี้แก่หมู่มิตร หมู่อำมาตย์ทั้งปวง และพราหมณ์เหล่านั้นด้วย

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Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta, causal/emphatic
• Role: Discourse particle (निपात)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; object of 'śrutvā'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having heard'
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati+√vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्/Imperfect past), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• ह: indeed (narrative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta, narrative particle
• Role: Discourse particle (निपात)

• मित्र-अमात्य-गणान्: groups of friends and ministers
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक) + amātya (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural; object addressed/mentioned
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Dvandva

• सर्वान्: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; adjective to '...gaṇān/brāhmaṇān/tān'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ब्राह्मणान्: brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• तान्: those
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Accusative, Plural; apposition to the addressed group
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• इदम्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective/pronominal determiner to 'vacaḥ'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वचः: speech/statement
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; object (what he spoke)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• मित्रामात्यगणान्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणांस्तानिदं = मित्रामात्यगणान् + सर्वान् + ब्राह्मणान् + तान् + इदम्

Context

Having listened to their (the counsellors') words, Vasistha replied to the host of friends and counsellors of the king and to all the brahmins:

The teaching

राजकार्ये निर्णयः शान्त्या, गुरुवाक्येन, सभ्य-परामर्शेन च प्रवर्तते।

Ethical theme

राजधर्म

For your practice

Models śānta-vāk (disciplined speech) and guru-led discernment in collective decision-making.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Measured, counseling, formal

Themes

• Dharma
• Counsel
• Rājadharma
• Itihasa
• Leadership

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• brāhmaṇas
• ministers (amātyas)

FAQs

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

Dharma works through wise counsel: in crisis, the guru-priest guides rulers and ministers toward lawful, stabilizing action.

What is the narrative situation?

After the ministers urge immediate kingship arrangements, Vasiṣṭha begins his formal response to the assembled leaders and priests.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s authority and discernment—calm, procedural leadership grounded in tradition and duty.