Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 10

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

स गङ्गां प्राग्वटे तीर्त्वा समायात्कुटिकोष्ठिकाम्।

सबल स्तां स तीर्त्वाऽथ समायाद्धर्मवर्धनम्।।2.71.10।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.71.10

Transliteration

sa gaṅgāṃ prāgvaṭe tīrtvā samāyāt kuṭikōṣṭhikām |

sabalaḥ tāṃ sa tīrtvā ’tha samāyād dharmavardhanam ||2.72.10||

Translation

“After crossing the Gaṅgā at Prāgvaṭa, he reached Kuṭikōṣṭhikā; and then, crossing it with his army, he arrived at Dharmavardhana.”

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Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg)

• गङ्गाम्: the Ganga
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)

• प्राग्वटे: at Prāgvaṭa
• प्राग्वटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāgvaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्थाननाम, सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg)

• तीर्त्वा: having crossed
• तीर्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (तॄ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having crossed'

• समायात्: reached/came
• समायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + √yā (या धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कुटिकोष्ठिकाम्: (the river/place) Kuṭikōṣṭhikā
• कुटिकोष्ठिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭikōṣṭhikā (प्रातिपदिक; नदी/स्थाननाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)

• सबलः: with (his) army
• सबलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सह-भाव): बलसहितः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg); 'सः' इति विशेषणम्

• ताम्: that (river)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg)

• तीर्त्वा: having crossed
• तीर्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (तॄ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Anantara (अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• समायात्: reached
• समायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + √yā (या धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• धर्मवर्धनम्: Dharmavardhana (village)
• धर्मवर्धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharmavardhana (प्रातिपदिक; ग्रामनाम)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मं वर्धयति इति/धर्मस्य वर्धनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)

Context

With Ganga at Pragvata city and river Kutikoshtika crossed along with his army, he reached Dharmavardhana village.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as orderly leadership—Bharata travels with his forces in a disciplined manner, suggesting governance guided by procedure and responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse lists Bharata’s route-markers: he crosses the Gaṅgā and another river/stream, then reaches Dharmavardhana.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical steadiness (kārya-niṣṭhā): he advances step by step, ensuring his retinue crosses safely.