Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 20
भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्
Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya
एषा नातिप्रतीता मे पुण्योद्याना यशस्विनी।।2.71.19।। अयोध्या दृश्यते दूरात्सारथे पाण्डुमृत्तिका। यज्वभिर्गुणसम्पन्नैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः।।2.71.20।। भूयिष्ठमृद्धैराकीर्णा राजर्षिपरिपालिता।
eṣā nātipratītā me puṇyodyānā yaśasvinī || 2.71.19 ||
ayodhyā dṛśyate dūrāt sārathe pāṇḍumṛttikā | yajvabhir guṇa-sampannair brāhmaṇair veda-pāragaiḥ || 2.71.20 ||
bhūyiṣṭham ṛddhair ākīrṇā rājarṣi-paripālitā |
«Cocher, voici Ayodhyā, illustre et parée de jardins sacrés ; mais de si loin je ne la distingue pas clairement. Cette cité à la terre pâle est remplie de riches, et de brāhmaṇas vertueux, prêtres du yajña, accomplis dans les Veda, et gardée par des rois-sages.»
I see the unswept homes of householders standing dirty with doors not closed. There is no beauty anywhere. No one offers oblations (at the time of worship). There is no fragrance of burning incense. The families have no food to eat. The people look cheerless. I see inauspiciousness everywhere.
FAQs
Dharma is framed as a civilizational order: Ayodhyā is praised as a city sustained by Vedic learning, sacrifice, virtue, and rājarṣi governance—an ideal of righteous polity.
As Bharata approaches, he points out Ayodhyā to his charioteer and describes its renowned, dharmic character and inhabitants.
Reverence for dharmic society—Bharata values Ayodhyā not merely for power or wealth but for its ethical and Vedic foundations.