The City of Ayodhya

Shloka 1 (bala.5.1)

सर्वा पूर्वमियं येषामासीत्कृत्स्ना वसुंधरा । प्रजापतिमुपादाय नृपाणां जयशालिनाम् ॥ 5.1 ॥

sarvā pūrvam iyam yeṣām āsīt kṛtsnā vasuṃdharā | prajapatim upādāya nṛpāṇam jaya śālinām

In ancient times this whole earth belonged, in succession, to victorious kings beginning from Prajapati himself.

Shloka 2 (bala.5.2)

येषां स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानितः । षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि यं यान्तं पर्यवारयन् ॥ 5.2 ॥

yeṣām sa sagaro nāma sāgaro yena khānitaḥ | ṣaṣṭiḥ putra sahasrāṇi yam yāntam paryavārayan

Among them was the king named Sagara, by whom the ocean was dug, and whom sixty thousand sons surrounded as he went forth.

Shloka 3 (bala.5.3)

इक्ष्वाकूणामिदं तेषां रज्ञां वंशे महात्मनाम् । महदुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतम् ॥ 5.3 ॥

ikṣvākūṇām idam teṣām rājñām vaṃśe mahātmanām | mahad utpannam ākhyanam rāmāyaṇam iti śrutam

In the dynasty of those great-souled kings, the Ikshvakus, this great narrative known as the Ramayana had its origin.

Shloka 4 (bala.5.4)

तदिदं वर्तयिष्यावः सर्वं निखिलमादितः । धर्मकामार्थसहितं श्रोतव्यमनसूयया ॥ 5.4 ॥

tadidam vartayiṣyāvaḥ sarvam nikhilam āditaḥ | dharma kāma artha sahitam śrotavyam anasūyatā

We two shall now recount this in its entirety, from the very beginning — a tale bearing righteousness, desire, and prosperity — let it be heard without envy.

Shloka 5 (bala.5.5)

कोसलो नाम मुदितः स्फीतो जनपदो महान् । निविष्टः सरयूतीरे प्रभूतधनधान्यवान् ॥ 5.5 ॥

kosalo nāma muditaḥ sphīto janapado mahān | niviṣṭa sarayū tīre prabhūta dhana dhānyavān

There was a great and joyous land named Kosala, prosperous and rich in wealth and grain, situated on the banks of the Sarayu.

Shloka 6 (bala.5.6)

अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्रासील्लोकविश्रुता । मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण या पुरी निर्मिता स्वयम् ॥ 5.6 ॥

ayodhyā nāma nagarī tatra āsīt loka viśrutā | manunā mānava indreṇa yā purī nirmitā svayam

There stood a world-famous city named Ayodhya, a city built by Manu, lord of mankind, with his own hands.

Shloka 7 (bala.5.7)

आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी । श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सुविभक्ता महापथा ॥ 5.7 ॥

āyatā daśa ca dve ca yojanāni mahāpurī | śrīmatī trīṇi vistīrṇā su vibhaktā mahāpathā

That great, glorious city extended twelve yojanas in length and three in breadth, its great roads well laid out.

Shloka 8 (bala.5.8)

राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिता । मुक्तपुष्पावकीर्णेन जलसिक्तेन नित्यशः ॥ 5.8 ॥

rāja mārgeṇa mahatā suvibhaktena śobhitā | muktā puṣpa avakīrṇena jala siktena nityaśaḥ

It was adorned with a great, well-planned royal road, always sprinkled with water and strewn with loose flowers.

Shloka 9 (bala.5.9)

तां तु राजा दशरथो महाराष्ट्रविवर्धनः । पुरीमावासयामास दिवं देवपतिर्यथा ॥ 5.9 ॥

tām tu rājā daśaratho mahārāṣṭra vivardhanaḥ | purīm āvāsayāmāsa divi devapatiḥ yathā

King Dasharatha, who caused his great realm to flourish, made his home in that city, as the lord of the gods dwells in heaven.

Shloka 10 (bala.5.10)

कवाटतोरणवतीं सुविभक्तान्तरापणाम् । सर्वयन्त्रायुधवतीमुषितां सर्वशिल्पिभिः ॥ 5.10 ॥

kapāṭa toraṇavartī su vibhakta antarāpaṇām | sarva yaṃtra ayudhavatīm uṣitām sarva śilpibhiḥ

It had gateways with great doors and archways, well-arranged marketplaces, was stocked with every engine and weapon, and inhabited by craftsmen of every kind.

Shloka 11 (bala.5.11)

सूतमागधसंबाधां श्रीमातीमतुलप्रभाम् । उच्चाट्टालध्वजवतीं शतघ्नीशतसंकुलाम् ॥ 5.11 ॥

sūta māgadha saṃbādhām śrīmatīm atula prabhām | uccāṭṭāla dhvajavatīm śataghnī śata saṃkulām

It was thronged with bards and heralds, glorious and of matchless splendour, filled with tall towers and banners, and crowded with hundreds of great war-engines.

Shloka 12 (bala.5.12)

वधूनाटकसंङ्घैश्च संयुक्तां सर्वतः पुरीम् । उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतां महतीं सालमेखलाम् ॥ 5.12 ॥

vadhū nāṭaka sanghaiḥ ca saṃyuktām sarvataḥ purīm | udyāna āmra vaṇopetām mahatīm sāla mekhalām

The city was full of troupes of dancers and players, surrounded on all sides by gardens and groves of mango trees, its great girdle formed by its ramparts.

Shloka 13 (bala.5.13)

दुर्गगंभीरपरिखां दुर्गामन्यैर्दुरासदाम् । वाजिवारणसपूर्णां गोभिरुष्ट्रैः खरैस्तथा ॥ 5.13 ॥

durga gaṃbhīra parikhām durgām anyaiḥ durāsadam | vājīvāraṇa saṃpūrṇām gobhiḥ uṣṭraiḥ kharaiḥ tathā

With its deep, impassable moats it was impregnable and unassailable by others, and it was filled with horses and elephants, as well as cows, camels, and donkeys.

Shloka 14 (bala.5.14)

सामन्तराजसंङ्घैश्च बलिकर्मभिरावृताम् । नानादेशनिवासैश्च वणिग्भिरुपशोभिताम् ॥ 5.14 ॥

sāmaṃta rāja sanghaiḥ ca bali karmabhiḥ āvṛtam | nānā deśa nivāsaiḥ ca vaṇigbhiḥ upaśobhitām

It was frequented by throngs of vassal kings bringing tribute, and adorned with residents from many lands and with merchants.

Shloka 15 (bala.5.15)

प्रासादै रत्नविकृतैः पर्वतैरुपशोभिताम् । कूटागारैश्च सम्पुर्णामिन्द्रस्येवामरावतीम् ॥ 5.15 ॥

prāsādai ratna vikṛtaiḥ parvataiḥ iva śobhitām | kūṭāgāraiḥ ca saṃpūrṇām indrasya iva amarāvatīm

Adorned with palaces inlaid with gems, resembling mountains, and full of turreted mansions, it was like Amaravati, the city of Indra.

Shloka 16 (bala.5.16)

चित्रामष्टापदाकारां वरनारीगणैर्युताम् । सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णां विमानगृहशोभिताम् ॥ 5.16 ॥

citram aṣṭāpada ākārām vara nārī gaṇair yutām | sarva ratna samākīrṇām vimāna gṛha śobhitām

Wondrous, laid out like an ashtapada gameboard, filled with groups of lovely women, strewn all over with every jewel, and adorned with lofty mansions.

Shloka 17 (bala.5.17)

गृहगाढामविच्छिद्रां समभूमौ निवेशिताम् । शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णामिक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम् ॥ 5.17 ॥

gṛha gāḍhām avicchidrām sama bhūmau niveśitām | śāli taṇḍula saṃpūrṇām ikṣu kāṇḍa rasaḥ udakām

Dense with houses, without any gaps, built upon level ground, abounding in fine rice, its water sweet as sugarcane juice.

Shloka 18 (bala.5.18)

दुन्दुभीभिर्मृदङ्गैश्च वीणाभिः पणवैस्तथा । नादितां भृशमत्यर्थं पृथिव्यां तामनुत्तमाम् ॥ 5.18 ॥

dundubhībhiḥ mṛdangaiḥ ca vīṇābhiḥ paṇavaiḥ tathā | nāditām bhṛśam atyartham pṛthivyām tām anuttamām

Resounding greatly with kettledrums, mridangas, veenas, and small drums, it was, on all this earth, without equal.

Shloka 19 (bala.5.19)

विमानमिव सिद्धानां तपसाधिगतं दिवि । सुनिवेशितवेश्मान्तां नरोत्तमसमावृताम् ॥ 5.19 ॥

vimānam iva siddhānām tapasa adhigatam divi | su niveśita veśmāntām narottama samāvṛtām

Like a celestial chariot won by the Siddhas through their austerities in heaven, it had well-arranged dwellings and was thronged with the finest of men.

Shloka 20 (bala.5.20)

ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् । शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लयुहस्ता विशारदाः ॥ 5.20 ॥

ye ca bāṇaiḥ na vidhyanti viviktam aparā param | śabda vedhyam ca vitatam laghu hastā viśāradāḥ

There, the skilled archers, deft of hand, would never strike with their arrows a solitary creature without another beside it, nor one merely tracked by sound, however far off.

Shloka 21 (bala.5.21)

सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नर्दतां वने । हन्तारो निशितैः शस्त्रैर्बलाद्बाहुबलैरपि ॥ 5.21 ॥

siṃha vyāghra varāhāṇām mattānām nadatām vane | hantāro niśitaiḥ śastraiḥ balāt bāhu balair api

They were slayers of furious, roaring lions, tigers, and boars in the forest, by the force of sharp weapons or even by the strength of their own arms alone.

Shloka 22 (bala.5.22)

तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथैः। पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा ॥ 5.22 ॥

tādṛśānām sahasraiḥ tām abhi pūrṇām mahārathaiḥ | purīm āvasayamāsa rājā daśarathaḥ tadā

Filled with thousands of such great chariot-warriors, in that city King Dasharatha then made his dwelling.

Shloka 23 (bala.5.23)

तामग्निमद्भिर्गुणवद्भिरावृताम् द्विजोत्तमैः वेदषडङ्गपारगैः । सहस्रदैः सत्यरतैर्महात्मभिः महर्षिकल्पैः ऋषिभिश्च केवलैः ॥ 5.23 ॥

tām agnimadbhiḥ guṇavadbhiḥ āvṛtām dvijottamaiḥ veda ṣaḍaṅga pāragaiḥ | sahasradaiḥ satya rataiḥ mahātmabhiḥ maharṣi kalpaiḥ ṛṣibhiḥ ca kevalaiḥ

It was filled with virtuous keepers of the sacred fires, the finest brahmins who had mastered the Vedas and their six ancillary sciences, great-souled givers of a thousandfold, devoted to truth, and pure sages equal to the great seers.