Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 13

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

सालांस्तु प्रियकान्प्राप्य शीघ्रानास्थाय वाजिनः।

अनुज्ञाप्याथ भरतः वाहिनीं त्वरितो ययौ।।2.71.13।।

Transliteration

sālāṃs tu priyakān prāpya śīghrān āsthāya vājinaḥ |

anujñāpyātha bharataḥ vāhinīṃ tvarito yayau ||2.72.13||

Translation

Reaching groves of sāla and priyakā trees, Bharata harnessed swift horses and, after directing his forces, pressed on in haste.

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Word by Word

• सालान्: śāla trees
• सालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): emphasis/contrast 'but/indeed'

• प्रियकान्: priyaka trees
• प्रियकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl)

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having reached'

• शीघ्रान्: swift
• शीघ्रान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl); 'वाजिनः' इति विशेषणम्

• आस्थाय: having mounted/harnessed
• आस्थाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having mounted/harnessed/undertaken'

• वाजिनः: horses
• वाजिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl) (कर्मरूपे)

• अनुज्ञाप्य: having instructed/authorized
• अनुज्ञाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + √jñā (ज्ञा धातु) (णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) causative sense: 'having ordered/authorized'

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

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg)

• वाहिनीम्: army/forces
• वाहिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)

• त्वरितः: hurried
• त्वरितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvarita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √tvar त्वर् (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; 'भरतः' इति विशेषणम्

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

After reaching the groves of sala and priyaka trees, Bharata harnessed the swift-running horses to the chariot and ordered his forces to proceed fast.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• sāla (tree)
• priyakā (tree)

FAQs

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

Dharma as leadership-in-action: Bharata coordinates his forces responsibly, showing that rightful action requires organization, not mere emotion.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata accelerates his return journey, preparing horses and instructing the army to move quickly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Command and decisiveness—he gives clear direction and acts promptly.