Shloka 2.71.4

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम् — Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

ऐलाधाने नदीं तीर्त्वा प्राप्य चापरपर्पटान्। शिलामकुर्वतीं तीर्त्वा आग्नेयं शल्यकर्षणम्।।2.71.3।। सत्यसन्धश्शुचिश्श्रीमान्प्रेक्षमाण श्शिलावहाम्। अत्ययात्स महाशैलान्वनं चैत्ररथं प्रति।।2.71.4।।

Transliteration

tadā hutāśanaṃ hutvā jepus tasya tad-ṛtvijaḥ |

jaguś ca te yathāśāstra tatra sāmāni sāmagāḥ ||

Translation

Then his priests, having offered oblations into the sacred fire, recited the proper formulas; and the Sāma-chanters sang the hymns there, in full accordance with the śāstra.

Context

 Bharata, ever true to his word, handsome and purehearted, reached Aparaparpata region and crossed river Satadru at Eladhana, the mountain in which river Silavaha originates. Then he traversed Salyakarsna regions in the northeast, observing the course of the Silavaha and went beyond the great mountains in the direction of the forest called Chaitraratha.

Characters & Entities

• sacred fire (hutāśana)
• priests (ṛtvij)
• Sāma Veda chanters (sāmagāḥ)
• śāstra

FAQs

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

Ritual duty as dharma: the community upholds sacred procedure even in grief, affirming continuity of order (śāstra-maryādā) amid loss.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha’s post-death rites are underway; priests perform fire-offerings and Vedic chants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective fidelity to tradition—discipline, correctness, and reverence for sacred law.