Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 5

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम् · Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Setting: Sarasvatī–Gaṅgā confluence; then north of Vīramatsya; entering Bhāruṇḍa forestPlaces named: Sarasvatī, Gaṅgā, Vīramatsya, Bhāruṇḍa forestTravel segment (route marker)

Devanagari script

सरस्वतीं च गङ्गां च युग्मेन प्रतिपद्यच ।

उत्तरान्वीरमत्स्यानां भारुण्डं प्राविशद्वनम् ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.71.5

Transliteration

sarasvatīṃ ca gaṅgāṃ ca yugmena pratipadya ca |

uttarān vīramatsyānāṃ bhāruṇḍaṃ prāviśad vanam ||5||

Translation

وبلغ ملتقى نهر ساراسفتي ونهر الغانغا، ثم اجتاز شمال ديار فيراماتسيا، ودخل غابة بهاروندا.

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Word by Word

• sarasvatīm: Sarasvatī (river)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Singular (river-name)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• gaṅgām: Gaṅgā (river)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Singular (river-name)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• yugmena: at the confluence (as a pair)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yugma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by/at the pair (confluence)’
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• pratipadya: having reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati + pad (प्रति + पद्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having reached/arrived at’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• uttarān: northwards
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Plural; used adverbially ‘northwards’; agreeing with implied ‘deśān/pathān’ or as directional qualifier
• Role: Gati/Deśa (गति/देश)

• vīramatsyānām: of the Vīramatsya people/region
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīramatsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive Plural; कर्मधारय: vīra + matsya; region-name
• Role: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• bhāruṇḍam: Bhāruṇḍa (named)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāruṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; proper adjective qualifying vanam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• prāviśat: entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + viś (प्र + विश्) (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• vanam: forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• prāviśadvanam = prāviśat + vanam
• uttarānvīramatsyānām = uttarān + vīramatsyānām.

Context

Arriving at the confluence of Saraswati and Ganga and traversing the north of Veeramatsya region, he entered the Bharunda forest.

The teaching

Sacred geography frames righteous action: crossings and forests mark inner transitions as much as outer travel.

Ethical theme

Yātrā-dharma / discipline of purposeful movement

Devotion and practice

Tīrtha-smaraṇa and japa during travel; contemplation on purification (Gaṅgā) and clarity of speech/knowledge (Sarasvatī).

Deity praised

Gaṅgā (implicitly sacred) / Sarasvatī (implicitly sacred)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Journeying, sacred, resolute

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Journey
• Geography

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Sarasvatī
• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

Dharma here is duty in motion—Bharata’s swift travel underscores commitment to rightful responsibility rather than personal comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration maps Bharata’s route as he returns toward Ayodhya, naming rivers, regions, and forests crossed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and urgency—his progress through difficult terrain reflects steadfastness toward duty.