Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 16
भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्
Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya
एकसाले स्थाणुमतीं विनते गोमतीं नदीम्।
कलिङ्गनगरे चापि प्राप्य सालवनं तदा।।2.71.16।।
भरतः क्षिप्रमागच्छत्सुपरिश्रान्तवाहनः।
ekasāle sthāṇumatīṃ vinate gomatīṃ nadīm |
kaliṅganagare cāpi prāpya sālavanam tadā ||2.72.16||
bharataḥ kṣipram āgacchat supariśrāntavāhanaḥ |
At Ekasāla he crossed the Sthāṇumatī, and at Vinata the river Gomatī. Reaching the sāla-forest at Kaliṅganagara then, Bharata—whose mounts were utterly exhausted—still pressed on swiftly.
Bharata crossed the rivers Sthanumati at Ekasala and Gomati at Vinata villages. Thereafter as his horses were extremely tired he rested for a while in the sala forest in Kalinganagara before he speedily set out (again).
FAQs
Dharma is prioritizing obligation while acknowledging limits—fatigue is noted, yet the mission continues, showing duty guided by awareness rather than denial.
Bharata continues his return route, crossing two rivers and reaching a sāla-forest near Kaliṅganagara despite exhausted mounts.
Determination tempered with realism—he recognizes exhaustion but does not abandon the task.
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