Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 8

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

राजपुत्रो महारण्यमनभीक्ष्णोपसेवितम्।

भद्रो भद्रेण यानेन मारुतः खमिवात्ययात्।।2.71.8।।

Transliteration

saśītīkṛtya tu gātrāṇi klāntān āśvāsya vājinaḥ | tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca prāyād ādāya codakam ||2.71.7||

Translation

After cooling their limbs and reviving the weary horses, they bathed there and drank; then they set out again, taking water with them.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• rājaputraḥ: the prince
• rājaputraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘king’s son’

• mahāraṇyam: the vast forest
• mahāraṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; कर्मधारय: mahā + araṇya (‘vast forest’)

• anabhīkṣṇopasevitam: seldom visited/uninhabited
• anabhīkṣṇopasevitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-abhīkṣṇa + upasevita (उप + सेव् धातु, क्त) (धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; PPP (क्त) from √sev with upa-; compound with negated adverb anabhīkṣṇa (‘not frequent’) qualifying: ‘not frequently visited/inhabited’

• bhadraḥ: the blessed one
• bhadraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; epithet of Bharata

• bhadreṇa: excellent
• bhadreṇa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine Instrumental Singular; here Neuter Instrumental qualifying yānena: ‘by an excellent’

• yānena: by vehicle/chariot
• yānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental Singular

• mārutaḥ: wind
• mārutaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; used in simile as ‘wind’

• kham: the sky
• kham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमावाचक)

• atyayāt: passed through/went beyond
• atyayāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati + i (अति + इ) (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Context

Then with the blessed prince (Bharata) on an excellent chariot, it (the army) moved through the vast and uninhabited forest like the god of wind passing through the sky.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• horses (vājinaḥ)
• water (udaka)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes humane stewardship—care for animals and attendants is part of righteous conduct, even during urgent travel.

What is the narrative situation?

The traveling party pauses to bathe, drink, and restore the horses, then resumes the journey with stored water.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Consideration and discipline—Bharata’s expedition proceeds methodically, not recklessly.