Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.11: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 11

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम् · Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Setting: Toraṇa (southern part) → Jambhūprastha → Varūtha (village)Places named: तोरण, जम्भूप्रस्थ, वरूथBharata’s overland march (Ayodhyā → Citrakūṭa direction, implied)

Devanagari script

तोरणं दक्षिणार्धेन जम्भूप्रस्थमुपागमत् ।

वरूथं च ययौ रम्यं ग्रामं दशरथात्मजः ॥११॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.71.11

Transliteration

toraṇaṃ dakṣiṇārdhena jambhūprastham upāgamat |

varūthaṃ ca yayau ramyaṃ grāmaṃ daśarathātmajaḥ ||11||

Translation

തോരണത്തിന്റെ തെക്കേ പകുതിയിലൂടെ കടന്ന് ദശരഥനന്ദനൻ ഭരതൻ ജാംഭൂപ്രസ്ഥത്തെത്തി; പിന്നെ മനോഹരമായ വരുൂഥ എന്ന ഗ്രാമത്തിലേക്കും പോയി.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• तोरणम्: Toraṇa (region)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक; देशनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• दक्षिणार्धेन: by the southern part/route
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇa + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दक्षिणस्य अर्धः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instr. sg); मार्ग/दिशा-निर्देशे
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• जम्भूप्रस्थम्: Jambhūprastha
• Type: Noun
• Root: jambhū + prastha (प्रातिपदिक; ग्रामनाम)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जम्भू-नामकस्य प्रस्थः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• उपागमत्: arrived at
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• वरूथम्: Varūtha
• Type: Noun
• Root: varūtha (प्रातिपदिक; ग्रामनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• ययौ: went/reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• रम्यम्: pleasant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg); 'ग्रामम्' इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• ग्रामम्: village
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• दशरथात्मजः: son of Daśaratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दशरथस्य आत्मजः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• जम्भूप्रस्थमुपागमत् = जम्भूप्रस्थम् + उपागमत् (म् + उ → मु)

Context

Having traversed the southern end of Torana, the son of Dasaratha (Bharata) reached the beautiful Varutha village via Jambuprastha.

The teaching

When dharma is unsettled, the righteous first move toward the locus of truth and counsel rather than toward force.

Duties in tension

• Familial duty to Rāma (reconciliation/entreaty)
• Political duty to stabilize the kingdom after Daśaratha’s death (implied)

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / kuladharma

How it resolves

Pursuit-of-reconciliation (journey as chosen action)

For your practice

Practice of saṅkalpa and steadiness: moving stepwise toward dharmic resolution without distraction.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Purposeful, steady, itinerant

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Journey
• Royal lineage

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is continuity of duty through rightful lineage: the prince’s journey is not leisure travel but movement compelled by obligations to the kingdom and family order.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues Bharata’s itinerary through named regions and villages on his way to Ayodhya.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Purposefulness—Bharata proceeds without distraction, oriented toward what must be done.