Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 18

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

तां पुरीं पुरुषव्याघ्रस्सप्तरात्रोषितः पथि।।2.71.18।।

अयोध्यामग्रतो दृष्ट्वा सारथिं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।

Transliteration

tāṃ purīṃ puruṣavyāghraḥ saptarātroṣitaḥ pathi ||2.72.18||

ayodhyām agrato dṛṣṭvā sārathiṃ vākyam abravīt |

Translation

માર્ગમાં સાત રાત્રિઓ વિતાવી, પુરુષવ્યાઘ્ર તે મહાપુરુષે આગળ અયોધ્યા જોઈને સારથિને વચન કહ્યું.

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Word by Word

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• पुरुषव्याघ्रः: tiger among men
• पुरुषव्याघ्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समास: पुरुषाणां व्याघ्रः (tiger among men)

• सप्तरात्रोषितः: having stayed seven nights
• सप्तरात्रोषितः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त + रात्रि + उषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समास: सप्त रात्रयः (dvigu) + उषितः (stayed) = 'having stayed seven nights'

• पथि: on the way
• पथि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); apposition to 'पुरीम्'

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: देशाधिकरण (Spatial adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), 'having seen'

• सारथिम्: the charioteer
• सारथिम्: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/To whom spoken)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• वाक्यम्: words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

Context

Having spent seven nights on his way, that tiger among men (Bharata) saw Ayodhaya before him. He said to the charioteer:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Ayodhyā
• Charioteer (sārathi)

FAQs

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

Dharma is readiness to act rightly at the threshold of consequence—arrival at Ayodhyā signals that Bharata must now choose conduct aligned with truth and rightful order.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata completes a seven-night journey and, upon seeing Ayodhyā, begins to speak to his charioteer, introducing the next segment of dialogue.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sense of responsibility—his first response on seeing the capital is purposeful communication, preparing for decisive, dharmic action.