Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 19

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

एषा नातिप्रतीता मे पुण्योद्याना यशस्विनी।।2.71.19।।

अयोध्या दृश्यते दूरात्सारथे पाण्डुमृत्तिका।

यज्वभिर्गुणसम्पन्नैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः।।2.71.20।।

भूयिष्ठमृद्धैराकीर्णा राजर्षिपरिपालिता।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.71.19

Transliteration

eṣā nātipratītā me puṇyodyānā yaśasvinī || 2.71.19 ||

ayodhyā dṛśyate dūrāt sārathe pāṇḍumṛttikā |

yajvabhir guṇasampannair brāhmaṇair vedapāragaiḥ || 2.71.20 ||

bhūyiṣṭham ṛddhair ākīrṇā rājarṣi-paripālitā |

Translation

হে সারথি, দূর থেকে এই পুণ্য-উদ্যানখ্যাত, যশস্বিনী অযোধ্যা দেখা যায়, কিন্তু আমার কাছে স্পষ্ট প্রতীয়মান হচ্ছে না। শ্বেতমৃৎতিকা-শোভিত এই নগরী রাজর্ষিদের দ্বারা পালিত; ধনীদের প্রাচুর্যে পরিপূর্ণ এবং যজ্ঞকারী, গুণসম্পন্ন, বেদপারগ ব্রাহ্মণদের দ্বারা অতিশয় আচ্ছাদিত।

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Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• सुरुचिरम्: very lovely
• सुरुचिरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying एतत्/शयनम्

• भाति: shines/appears
• भाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितुः: of (my) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive) एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• शयनम्: bed/couch
• शयनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• शशिना: by the moon
• शशिना: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अमलम्: spotless/clear
• अमलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying गगनम्

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन

• गगनम्: sky
• गगनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तोयदात्यये: at the end of the rainy season
• तोयदात्यये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद-अत्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तोयदानाम् अत्ययः = end of rain-clouds/rainy season

Context

O charioteer! I am able to see Ayodhya of great renown from a distance but not so clearly that white-clay-city of Ayodhya, with its sacred gardens ruled by several rajarsis, inhabited by numerous wealthy people, by virtuous brahmins and priests who perform sacrifices and who are well-versed in the Vedas.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Sumantra
• Brahmins
• Vedas

FAQs

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

Ayodhya is portrayed as a dharmic polity: brahmins devoted to Veda and sacrifice, and rulers who are rājarṣis (king-sages). The verse implies that social order and prosperity are sustained when governance and learning are aligned with dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama approaches Ayodhya and, speaking to his charioteer Sumantra, recognizes the city from afar and recalls its sacred and orderly character, even as he senses an unsettling change.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s dharmic awareness and attentiveness: he measures the health of the kingdom by signs of righteous governance, learning, and communal well-being.