Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.20 — 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 |
「御者よ、あれがアヨーディヤー（Ayodhyā）だ。名高く、聖なる園に飾られているが、この遠さでは私にはなおはっきりとは見えぬ。淡く白い土のその都には富める者が多く、徳あるブラーフマナとヤジュニャ（yajña）の祭司が満ち、ヴェーダに通じ、王の聖者（rājārṣi）に守られている。」
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.
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