भरतस्य मातृसदनगमनं कैकेय्या दारुणवृत्तान्तकथनं च
Bharata in Kaikeyi’s apartments: revelation of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile
तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतो वाक्यं धर्माभिजनवाञ्चुचिः।पपात सहसा भूमौ पितृशोकबलार्दितः।।2.72.16।।
ekasāle sthāṇumatīṃ vinate gomatīṃ nadīm |
kaliṅganagare cāpi prāpya sālavanam tadā ||2.72.16||
bharataḥ kṣipram āgacchat supariśrāntavāhanaḥ |
एकसाल में स्थाणुमती नदी को और विनत में गोमती नदी को पार करके, कलिङ्गनगर के सालवन में पहुँचे; यद्यपि उनके वाहन अत्यन्त थक चुके थे, फिर भी भरत शीघ्रता से आगे बढ़ते रहे।
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).
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.