Valmiki Ramayana 2.68.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 14

दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya

Bharata’s Recall

Devanagari script

ते हस्तिनापुरे गङ्गां तीर्त्वा प्रत्यङ्मुखा ययुः।पाञ्चालदेशमासाद्य मध्येन कुरुजाङ्गलम्।।2.68.13।।सरांसि च सुपूर्णानि नदीश्च विमलोदकाः।निरीक्षमाणा स्ते जग्मुर्दूताः कार्यवशाद्द्रुतम्।।2.68.14।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.68.14

Transliteration

sarāṃsi ca supūrṇāni nadīś ca vimalodakāḥ | nirīkṣamāṇās te jagmur dūtāḥ kāryavaśād drutam || 2.68.14 ||

Translation

เมื่อทอดพระเนตรสระน้ำที่เต็มเปี่ยม และแม่น้ำที่มีสายน้ำใสบริสุทธิ์ เหล่าทูตก็เร่งรุดไปโดยเร็ว ด้วยเหตุแห่งภารกิจที่ต้องทำ

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Word by Word

• सरांसि: lakes
• सरांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुपूर्णानि: well-filled
• सुपूर्णानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु- + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective) of सरांसि

• नदीः: rivers
• नदीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विमलोदकाः: with clear water
• विमलोदकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल-उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय (Karmadhāraya: 'vimalam udakam yasya/yeṣām'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine, agreeing with नदीः), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण of नदीः

• निरीक्षमाणाः: observing/looking at
• निरीक्षमाणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ईक्ष् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (plural); कर्तृवाचक (agentive)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (plural)

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• दूताः: messengers
• दूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (plural)

• कार्यवशात्: due to their mission
• कार्यवशात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य-वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (Tatpuruṣa: 'kāryasya vaśaḥ' = under the compulsion of duty/mission); पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Abl), एकवचन (singular); हेतौ/कारणे (cause)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative used as indeclinable)

Context

They reached a divine tree (of great powers) known as Satyopayachana tree and having gone round and paid homage they entered the Kulinga city.

Characters & Entities

• messengers (dūtāḥ)
• lakes (sarāṃsi)
• rivers (nadyaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma is steadfast duty: even amid natural beauty, one remains focused on the entrusted mission.

What is the narrative situation?

The messengers travel rapidly through the countryside, noticing abundant waters, but not stopping because their summons is urgent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Single-minded diligence (kāryaniṣṭhā)—commitment to completing an assignment.