Shloka 2.114.23
अयोध्याप्रवेशः — Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation
वारुणीमदगन्धश्च माल्यगन्धश्च मूर्छितः। धूपितागुरुगन्धश्च न प्रवाति समन्ततः।।2.114.23।।
vāruṇīmadagandhaś ca mālyagandhaś ca mūrchitaḥ | dhūpitāgurugandhaś ca na pravāti samantataḥ || 2.114.23 ||
No breeze now wafts everywhere the rich scents that once spread through the city—the heady fragrance of vāruṇī liquor, the perfume of garlands, or the incense-sweet smell of agaru.
The breeze no longer carries the intoxicating odour of spirituous liquor, the pervading fragrance of flower garlands and agaru (incense).
The verse contrasts lawful joy with grief-born restraint: when dharma is violated, society instinctively abandons indulgence and adornment, reflecting a collective conscience.
Bharata lists sensory signs of celebration that are missing in Ayodhya—no festive fragrances carried by the wind.
Bharata’s discernment: he infers a moral and emotional upheaval from subtle public signs, seeking an honest explanation.