Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 4
भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्
Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya
ऐलाधाने नदीं तीर्त्वा प्राप्य चापरपर्पटान्। शिलामकुर्वतीं तीर्त्वा आग्नेयं शल्यकर्षणम्।।2.71.3।। सत्यसन्धश्शुचिश्श्रीमान्प्रेक्षमाण श्शिलावहाम्। अत्ययात्स महाशैलान्वनं चैत्ररथं प्रति।।2.71.4।।
ailādhāne nadīṃ tīrtvā prāpya cāpara-parpaṭān | śilām akurvatīṃ tīrtvā āgneyaṃ śalya-karṣaṇam || 2.71.3 ||
satya-sandhaḥ śuciḥ śrīmān prekṣamāṇaḥ śilāvahām | atyayāt sa mahāśailān vanaṃ caitrarathaṃ prati || 2.71.4 ||
Setelah menyeberangi sungai di Ailādhāna dan mencapai wilayah Apara-parpaṭa, ia menyeberangi sungai yang memancar dari pegunungan, lalu melanjutkan ke arah timur-laut menuju Śalya-karṣaṇa. Teguh pada janji, suci hati dan mulia, ia memandang aliran Śilāvahā, melampaui gunung-gunung besar, dan menuju hutan bernama Caitraratha.
Glorious and prosperous prince Bharata, the delight of the Ikshvaku race, set out from Rajagriha, took the eastern direction, and observing the course of the river Sudama crossed Hladini and Satadru rivers which were very wide and flowing westwards crested with waves.
FAQs
Satya as dharma is foregrounded by ‘satya-sandha’: Bharata’s identity is tied to fidelity to vows, suggesting that righteous action is sustained by truthfulness even across arduous journeys.
The narrator tracks Bharata’s travel through named regions and waterways as he advances toward Ayodhyā, emphasizing route, direction, and terrain.
Truth-steadfastness (satya-sandhatā) along with purity and disciplined focus—virtues that support leadership and ethical reliability.