Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 17

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

वनं च समतीत्याशुशर्वर्यामरुणोदये।।2.71.17।।

अयोध्यां मनुना राज्ञा निर्मितां सन्ददर्श ह।

Transliteration

vanaṃ ca samatītyāśu śarvaryām aruṇodaye ||2.72.17||

ayodhyāṃ manunā rājñā nirmitāṃ sandadarśa ha |

Translation

রাত্রিতে অরণ্য দ্রুত অতিক্রম করে, অরুণোদয়ে তিনি মনুরাজ কর্তৃক নির্মিত অযোধ্যা নগরী দর্শন করলেন।

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Word by Word

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• समतीत्य: having passed through
• समतीत्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्- अति- इ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), 'having passed over'

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• शर्वर्याम्: in the night
• शर्वर्याम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• अरुणोदये: at sunrise
• अरुणोदये: कालाधिकरण (Temporal locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुण + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समास: अरुणस्य उदयः (sunrise)

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• मनुना: by Manu
• मनुना: कर्ता (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीयाविभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: कर्ता (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीयाविभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); apposition to 'मनुना'

• निर्मिताम्: built
• निर्मिताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि- मा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); qualifies 'अयोध्याम्'

• सन्ददर्श: saw
• सन्ददर्श: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्- दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• ह: indeed / (emphatic)
• ह: वाक्यालङ्कार (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; narrative emphasis)

Context

He passed quickly through the forest at night and at sunrise beheld the city of Ayodhya built by king Manu.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Ayodhyā
• Manu
• Forest

FAQs

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

Dharma is respect for inherited order: Ayodhyā, founded by Manu, symbolizes lawful tradition, reminding that present action should align with established righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

After traveling through the night, Bharata reaches the outskirts and finally sees Ayodhyā at dawn.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to ancestral ideals—his return is framed against the city’s venerable, dharmic legacy.