Shloka 2.7.5
मन्थराप्रवेशः — Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi
पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलङ्कृताम्।वृतां छन्दपथैश्चापि शिरस्स्नातजनैर्वृताम्।।2.7.3।।माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च द्विजेन्द्रैरभिनादिताम्।शुक्लदेवगृहद्वारां सर्ववादित्रनिस्वनाम्।।2.7.4।।सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादिताम्।प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वां सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम्।।2.7.5।।प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम्।अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता।।2.7.6।।
satya-sandhaḥ śuciḥ śrīmān prekṣamāṇaḥ śilāvahām |
atyayāt sa mahāśailān vanaṃ caitrarathaṃ prati ||
True to his vow, pure-hearted and splendid, Bharata—watching the course of the Śilāvahā—passed beyond the great mountains, heading toward the forest called Caitraratha.
The city of Ayodhya was decorated with costly banners and pennants. The labyrinthine roads were crowded with people who had (finished) their headbath and were wandering at will. The temples with their doors painted white were reverberating with the chanting from the Vedas by the best of brahmins holding garlands and sweetmeats in their hands and with sounds of all kinds of musical instruments. The city was filled with spirited horses and elephants. The bulls were bellowing and the cows were lowing. The citizens with great joy raised the penants encircling the city of Ayodhya. All this left Manthara astonished.
Satya as lived discipline: Bharata’s truth-steadfastness is not abstract; it drives action, endurance, and responsible pursuit of what is right.
Bharata travels through regions and landmarks while seeking to meet Rāma and restore righteous order.
Bharata’s satya-sandhatā (fidelity to truth/promises) and inner purity (śuci).