Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 6

जनकदूतागमनम्

The Arrival of Janaka’s Messengers in Ayodhya

Devanagari script

मैथिलो जनको राजा साग्निहोत्रपुरस्कृतम् ।कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव सोपाध्यायपुरोहितम्।।1.68.5।।मुहुर्मुहुर्मधुरया स्नेहसंयुक्तया गिरा।जनकस्त्वां महाराज पृच्छते सपुरस्सरम्।।1.68.6।।

Transliteration

maithilo janako rājā sāgnihotra-puraskṛtam |

kuśalaṁ cāvyayaṁ caiva sopādhyāya-purohitam || 1.68.5 ||

muhur muhur madhurayā sneha-saṁyuktayā girā |

janakas tvāṁ mahārāja pṛcchate sa-puraḥsaram || 1.68.6 ||

Translation

“ข้าแต่มหาราช พระเจ้าชนกแห่งมิถิลา—ทรงยกไฟบูชาและพิธีอัคนิโหตรเป็นประธาน—ทรงถามไถ่ซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่าด้วยวาจาอ่อนหวานเปี่ยมเมตตา ถึงความผาสุกและความเจริญมั่นคงของพระองค์ ตลอดจนของบรรดาอาจารย์และปุโรหิต พร้อมทั้งหมู่ข้าราชบริพาร”

Word by Word

• पृष्ट्वा: having asked
• पृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having asked’

• कुशलम्: welfare
• कुशलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अव्यग्रम्: undisturbed/diligently
• अव्यग्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कुशलम् इति विशेषणम्

• वैदेहः: the Videhan (Janaka)
• वैदेहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मिथिला-अधिपः: lord of Mithilā
• मिथिला-अधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथिला (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (मिथिलायाः अधिपः)

• कौशिक-अनुमते: with Kauśika's permission
• कौशिक-अनुमते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; under permission)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुमति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कौशिकस्य अनुमतिः)

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भवन्तम्: to you
• भवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म; addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (honorific ‘you’)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

All the maharshis and the ministers said, 'certainly so'. And the king, overwhelmed with joy, said, "we start tomorrow".

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Mithilā
• Daśaratha
• Upādhyāyas (teachers)
• Purohitas (priests)

FAQs

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

Dharma is mutual honoring among righteous kings: Janaka’s enquiry includes priests and teachers, showing that a kingdom’s well-being is tied to the protection of sacred learning and ritual integrity.

What is the narrative situation?

The envoys formally convey Janaka’s courteous greeting and welfare-enquiry to Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s dharmic kingship—piety (agnihotra foremost), humility, and affectionate respect toward another ruler and his spiritual community.