Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 16

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

भरतेनैवमुक्तस्तु नृपो मातामहस्तदा।तमुवाच शुभं वाक्यं शिरस्याघ्राय राघवम्।।2.70.16।।

Transliteration

bharatenaivam uktas tu nṛpo mātāmahas tadā | tam uvāca śubhaṃ vākyaṃ śirasy āghrāya rāghavam ||2.70.16||

Translation

婆罗多如此说后，那位国王——他的外祖父——便亲吻这位罗伽婆的头顶，并对他说了吉祥祝福之语。

Word by Word

• भरतेन: by Bharata
• भरतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• उक्तः: addressed
• उक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नृपः इति विशेषण

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मातामहः: maternal grandfather
• मातामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नृपः इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वाक्यम् इति विशेषण

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• आघ्राय: having smelled (in affection)
• आघ्राय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), उपसर्ग: आ; ‘having smelled/kissed (as a gesture)’

• राघवम्: Rāghava (Bharata)
• राघवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तम् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

Context

Then the king of Kekaya, the maternal grandfather of Bharata, having heard the wordsof the scion of the Raghu dynasty (Bharata), kissed him on his forehead and spoke these auspicious words:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• King of Kekaya (maternal grandfather)
• Rāghava (Bharata)

FAQs

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

Respectful intergenerational conduct: elders respond to a youth’s dutiful intent with blessing and affectionate approval, reinforcing righteous action through benediction.

What is the narrative situation?

After Bharata announces his intention to go to Ayodhya, his maternal grandfather affectionately blesses him and begins to give instructions and good wishes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The grandfather’s benevolence and adherence to familial propriety—he honors Bharata’s dharmic resolve with warmth and auspicious counsel.