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 |
Wahai sais kereta, dari kejauhan tampak Ayodhyā—termashyur dan dihiasi taman-taman suci—namun dari jarak ini belum tampak jelas bagiku. Kota bertanah pucat keputihan itu dipenuhi banyak orang kaya, serta para brāhmaṇa yang berbudi dan para imam yajña, mahir dalam Weda, dan dilindungi oleh para raja-ṛṣi.
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.