Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 24

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

न ह्यत्र यानैर्दृश्यन्ते न गजैर्न च वाजिभिः।।2.71.24।।

निर्यान्तो वाऽभियान्तो वा नरमुख्या यथापुरम्।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.71.24

Transliteration

na hy atra yānair dṛśyante na gajair na ca vājibhiḥ || 2.71.24 ||

niryānto vā ’bhiyānto vā nara-mukhyā yathāpuram |

Translation

នៅទីនេះ មិនឃើញបុរសអ្នកប្រសើរទៀតឡើយ—មិនថាចេញទៅឬចូលមក—ដូចកាលមុនក្នុងទីក្រុងនេះ ទាំងជិះរថ ទាំងជិះដំរី ឬជិះសេះ។

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Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (place)

• yānaiḥ: with vehicles
• yānaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• dṛśyante: are seen
• dṛśyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; 3rd person, Plural; Ātmanepada; passive sense 'are seen'

• na: not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• gajaiḥ: with elephants
• gajaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• na: nor/not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• vājibhiḥ: with horses
• vājibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• niryāntaḥ: going out
• niryāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-yā (धातु) > niryānt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; describing "nara-mukhyāḥ"

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• abhiyāntaḥ: coming in/approaching
• abhiyāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-yā (धातु) > abhiyānt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; describing "nara-mukhyāḥ"

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle

• nara-mukhyāḥ: leading men/nobles
• nara-mukhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: nara + mukhya ('chief among men'); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• yathāpuram: as formerly
• yathāpuram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + puram (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: yathā + puram; indeclinable adverb meaning 'as before/in former times'

Context

Important people mounted on elephants or horses are not seen going out of the city or coming in.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Sumantra
• Elephants
• Horses

FAQs

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

A well-ordered kingdom (dharma-rājya) shows visible signs of confident civic movement and leadership. The absence of public activity hints at anxiety and disruption of rightful order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama notes that the usual traffic of notable citizens—on mounts and vehicles—is missing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s vigilance: he observes governance-related signs and senses that something serious has occurred in the city.