Valmiki Ramayana 2.70.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 18

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

पुरोहितं च कुशलं ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमाः।तौ च तात महेष्वासौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।2.70.18।।

Transliteration

purohitaṃ ca kuśalaṃ ye cānye dvijasattamāḥ | tau ca tāta maheṣvāsau bhrātarau rāma-lakṣmaṇau ||2.70.18||

Translation

จงบอกความสวัสดีของเราแก่ปุโรหิตประจำตระกูล และแก่พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐอื่นๆ ด้วย และลูกเอ๋ย จงบอกแก่พี่น้องนักธนูผู้ยิ่งใหญ่ทั้งสอง—พระรามและพระลักษมณ์—ด้วยเช่นกัน

Word by Word

• पुरोहितम्: family priest
• पुरोहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• कुशलम्: welfare (greetings)
• कुशलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ब्रूयाः/ब्रूहि इति अध्याहृतकर्म

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विजसत्तमाः इति विशेषण

• द्विज-सत्तमाः: best brahmins
• द्विज-सत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (द्विजानां सत्तमाः = best of twice-born); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• तात: O child
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• महा-इष्वासौ: two great bowmen
• महा-इष्वासौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (महान् इष्वासः = great bowman); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; भ्रातरौ इति विशेषण

• भ्रातरौ: two brothers
• भ्रातरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• राम-लक्ष्मणौ: Rama and Lakshmana
• राम-लक्ष्मणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (रामश्च लक्ष्मणश्च); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; भ्रातरौ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

Context

My child, convey my best wishes, too, to your family priest Vasistha and other illustrious brahmins and also to those two great bowmen (Rama and Lakshmana).

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• brahmins (dvijasattama)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma as reverence and social order: honoring spiritual authorities (purohita, brahmins) and maintaining respectful bonds with righteous kinsmen.

What is the narrative situation?

The grandfather expands his greetings beyond parents to the priestly guardians of dharma and to Bharata’s brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Recognition of dharmic hierarchy—Bharata is reminded to honor both spiritual leadership and fraternal ties.