The Glory of Ayodhya

Shloka 1 (bala.6.1)

तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित्सर्वसंग्रहः । दीर्घदर्शी महातेजाः पौरजानपदप्रियः ।। ६.१ ।।

tasyām puryām ayodhyāyām vedavit sarva saṃgrahaḥ | dīrghadarśī mahātejāḥ paura jānapada priyaḥ || 6.1 ||

In that city, Ayodhya, there lived one who knew the Vedas and had gathered all things to himself, farsighted, greatly resplendent, and beloved of the people of town and country.

Shloka 2 (bala.6.2)

इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मपरो वशी । महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिः त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः ।। ६.२ ।।

ikṣvākūṇam atiratho yajvā dharmaparo vaśī | maharṣikalpo rājarṣiḥ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ || 6.2 ||

He was a peerless chariot-warrior among the Ikshvaku kings, a performer of sacrifices, devoted to righteousness and self-controlled; a royal sage equal to a great seer, renowned in all three worlds.

Shloka 3 (bala.6.3)

बलवान्निहतामित्रो मित्रवान्विजितेन्द्रियः । धनैश्च संचयैश्चान्यैः शक्रवैश्रवणोपमः ।। ६.३ ।।

balavān nihata amitro mitravān vijita indriyaḥ | dhanaiḥ ca saṃcayaiḥ ca anyaiḥ śakra vaiśravaṇa upamaḥ || 6.3 ||

Mighty, with his enemies destroyed, rich in friends, master of his senses, in wealth and other riches he was equal to Indra and Kubera.

Shloka 4 (bala.6.4)

यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता । तथा दशरथो राजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता ।। ६.४ ।।

yathā manur mahātejā lokasya parirakṣitā | tathā daśaratho rājā lokasya parirakṣitā || 6.4 ||

As the greatly resplendent Manu was the protector of the world, so too was King Dasharatha the protector of the world.

Shloka 5 (bala.6.5)

तेन सत्याभिसंधेन त्रिवर्गमनुतिष्ठता । पालिता सा पुरी श्रेष्ठा इन्द्रेणेवामरावती ।। ६.५ ।।

tena satyābhisaṃdhena trivargam anuṣṭitā | pālitā sā purī śreṣṭā indreṇa iva amarāvatī || 6.5 ||

That best of cities was ruled by him, true to his word and ever devoted to the three aims of life (righteousness, wealth, and enjoyment), just as Amaravati is ruled by Indra.

Shloka 6 (bala.6.6)

तस्मिन्पुरवरे हृष्टा धर्मात्मानो बहुश्रुताः । नरास्तुष्टा धनैः स्वैः स्वैरलुब्धाः सत्यवादिनः ।। ६.६ ।।

tasmin puravare hṛṣṭā dharmātmano bahuśrutāḥ | narāḥ tuṣṭhāḥ dhanaiḥ svaiḥ svaiḥ alubdhāḥ satyavādinaḥ || 6.6 ||

In that best of cities the people were joyful, righteous-minded and widely learned; content with their own wealth, free from greed, and speakers of truth.

Shloka 7 (bala.6.7)

नाल्पसंनिचयः कश्चिदासीत्तस्मिन्पुरोत्तमे । कुटुंबी यो ह्यसिद्धार्थोऽगवाश्वधनधान्यवान् ।। ६.७ ।।

na alpa saṃnicayaḥ kaścid āsīt tasmin purottame | kuṭuṃbī yo hi asiddharthaḥ agavā aśva dhana dhānyavān || 6.7 ||

In that finest of cities there was no householder of meagre means, none whose desires were unfulfilled, none without cattle, horses, wealth and grain.

Shloka 8 (bala.6.8)

कामी वा न कदर्यो वा नृशंसः पुरुषः क्वचित् । द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नाविद्वान्न च नास्तिकः ।। ६.८ ।।

kāmī vā na kadaryo vā nṛśaṃsaḥ puruṣaḥ kvacit | draṣṭum śakyam ayodhyāyām na avidvān na ca nāstikaḥ || 6.8 ||

In Ayodhya one could not find anywhere a lustful man, a miser, or a cruel person, nor an unlearned man, nor an atheist.

Shloka 9 (bala.6.9)

सर्वे नराश्च नार्यश्च धर्मशीलाः सुसंयताः । उदिताः शीलवृत्ताभ्यां महर्षय इवामलाः ।। ६.९ ।।

sarve narāḥ ca nāryaḥ ca dharmaśīlāḥ su saṃyatāḥ | muditāḥ śīla vṛttābhyām maharṣaya iva amalāḥ || 6.9 ||

All the men and women were righteous in conduct and well self-controlled, joyful in character and behaviour, and stainless like great sages.

Shloka 10 (bala.6.10)

नाकुण्डली नामुकुटी नास्रग्वी नाल्पभोगवान् । नामृष्टो नानुलिप्ताङ्गो नासुगन्धश्च विद्यते ।। ६.१० ।।

na akuṇḍalī na amukuṭī na asragvī na alpabhogavān | na amṛṣṭo na aliptāṅgo na asugandhaḥ ca vidyate || 6.10 ||

There was none without earrings, none without a crown or head-ornament, none without a garland, none of meagre enjoyments; none unbathed, none whose body was unanointed, and none without fragrance.

Shloka 11 (bala.6.11)

नामृष्टभोजी नादाता नाप्यनङ्गदनिष्कधृक् । नाहस्ताभरणो वापि दृश्यते नाप्यनात्मवान् ।। ६.११ ।।

na amṛṣṭa bhojī na adātā na api anaṅdaniṣkadhṛk | na ahastābharaṇo vā api dṛśyate na api anātmavān || 6.11 ||

None ate without first bathing, none was uncharitable, none was seen without armlets and a gold ornament on the chest, none without ornaments on the hands, and none was without self-control.

Shloka 12 (bala.6.12)

नानाहिताग्निर्नायज्वा न क्षुद्रो वा न तस्करः । कश्चिदासीदयोध्यायां न चावृत्तो न संकरः ।। ६.१२ ।।

na anāhita agnīḥ na ayajvā na kṣudro vā na taskaraḥ | kaścit asīt ayodhyāyām na ca āvṛtto na saṃkaraḥ || 6.12 ||

In Ayodhya there was none who had not consecrated the sacrificial fire, none who had not performed sacrifices, none base or mean, no thief; none of degraded conduct, none of impure mixed descent.

Shloka 13 (bala.6.13)

स्वकर्मनिरता नित्यं ब्राह्मणा विजितेन्द्रियाः । दानाध्यानशीलाश्च संयताश्च प्रतिग्रहे ।। ६.१३ ।।

sva karma niratā nityam brāhmaṇā vijitendriyāḥ | dāna adhyana śīlāḥ ca saṃyatāḥ ca pratigrahe || 6.13 ||

The Brahmins were ever devoted to their own duties and had mastered their senses; devoted to charity and meditation, and restrained in accepting gifts.

Shloka 14 (bala.6.14)

न नास्तिको नानृतको न कश्चिदबहुश्रुतः । नासूयको न चाशक्तो नाविद्वान्विद्यते तदा ।। ६.१४ ।।

nāstiko na anṛtī vā api na kaścit abahuśrutaḥ | na asūyako na ca aśakto na avidvān vidyate kvacit || 6.14 ||

At that time there was no atheist, no liar, none of little learning, none envious, none incapable, and none unlearned.

Shloka 15 (bala.6.15)

नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीन्नाव्रतो नासहस्रदः । न दीनः क्षिप्तचित्तो वा व्यथितो वापि कश्चन ।। ६.१५ ।।

na aṣaḍṃga vit na asti na avrato na asahasradaḥ | na dīnaḥ kṣipta cittao vā vyathito vā api kaścana || 6.15 ||

There was none unversed in the six auxiliary sciences of the Veda, none without vows, none who failed to give gifts by the thousand, none wretched, none of distracted mind, and none afflicted.

Shloka 16 (bala.6.16)

कश्चिन्नरो वा नारी वा नाश्रीमान्नाप्यरूपवान् । द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नापि राजन्यभक्तिमान् ।। ६.१६ ।।

kaścin naro vā nārī vā na aśrīmān na api arūpavān | draṣṭum śakyam ayodhyāyām na api rājanya abhaktimān || 6.16 ||

In Ayodhya one could not find any man or woman without prosperity, without beauty, or without devotion to the king.

Shloka 17 (bala.6.17)

वर्णेष्वग्र्यचतुर्थेषु देवतातिथिपूजकाः । कृतज्ञाश्च वदान्याश्च शूरा विक्रमसंयुताः ।। ६.१७ ।।

varṇeṣu agrya caturtheṣu devatā atithi pūjakāḥ | kṛtajñāḥ ca vadānyaḥ ca śūrā vikrama saṃyutāḥ || 6.17 ||

In all four orders, from the first to the last, the people were worshippers of gods and guests, grateful, generous, valiant, and endowed with prowess.

Shloka 18 (bala.6.18)

दीर्घायुषो नराः सर्वे धर्मं सत्यं च संश्रिताः । सहिताः पुत्रपौत्रैश्च नित्यं स्त्रीभिः पुरोत्तमे ।। ६.१८ ।।

dīrgha āyuṣo narāḥ sarve dharmam satyam ca saṃśritāḥ | sahitāḥ putra pautraiḥ ca nityam strībhiḥ purottame || 6.18 ||

In that finest of cities all the people were long-lived, devoted to righteousness and truth, and lived happily always together with their sons, grandsons, and wives.

Shloka 19 (bala.6.19)

क्षत्रं ब्रह्ममुखं चासीद्वैश्याः क्षत्रमनुव्रताः । शूद्राः स्वधर्मनिरतास्त्रीन्वर्णानुपचारिणः ।। ६.१९ ।।

kṣatram brahmamukham ca āsīt vaiśyāḥ kṣatram anuvratāḥ | śūdrāḥ sva dharma niratāḥ trīn varṇān upacāriṇaḥ || 6.19 ||

The Kshatriyas looked to the Brahmins as their guide, the Vaishyas followed the Kshatriyas, and the Shudras, devoted to their own duty, served all three of the other classes.

Shloka 20 (bala.6.20)

सा तेनेक्ष्वाकुनाथेन पुरी सुपरिरक्षिता । यथा पुरस्तान्मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण धीमता ।। ६.२० ।।

sā tena ikṣvāku nāthena purī su parirakṣitā | yathā purastāt manunā mānavendreṇa dhīmatā || 6.20 ||

That city was well protected by that lord of the Ikshvakus, just as it had been protected in earlier times by the wise Manu, lord of mankind.

Shloka 21 (bala.6.21)

योधानामग्निकल्पानां पेशलानाममर्षिणाम् । संपूर्णा कृतविद्यानां गुहा केसरिणामिव ।। ६.२१ ।।

yodhānām agni kalpānām peśalānām amarṣiṇām | saṃpūrṇā kṛta vidyānām guhā kesariṇām iva || 6.21 ||

It was full of warriors fiery as flame, skilled, unforgiving of insult and thoroughly trained, like a cave full of lions.

Shloka 22 (bala.6.22)

कांभोजविषये जातैर्बाह्लीकैश्च हयोत्तमैः । वनायुजैर्नदीजैश्च पूर्णा हरिहयोत्तमैः ।। ६.२२ ।।

kāṃbhoja viṣaye jātaiḥ bāhlikaiḥ ca haya uttamaiḥ | vanāyujaiḥ nadījaiḥ ca pūrṇā harihaya uttamaiḥ || 6.22 ||

It was full of the finest horses, born in the country of Kamboja and in Bahlika, born in Vanayu and along the rivers, equal to the best horses of Indra.

Shloka 23 (bala.6.23)

विंध्यपर्वतजैर्मत्तैः पूर्णा हैमवतैरपि । मदान्वितैरतिबलैर्मातङ्गैः पर्वतोपमैः ।। ६.२३ ।।

viṃdhya parvatajaiḥ mattaiḥ pūrṇā haimavataiḥ api | madānvitaiḥ atibalaiḥ mātaṅgaiḥ parvataupamaiḥ || 6.23 ||

It was full of mighty elephants in rut, born in the Vindhya mountains and also in the Himalayan region, exceedingly powerful and mountain-like in size.

Shloka 24 (bala.6.24)

ऐरावतकुलीनैश्च महापद्मकुलैस्तथा । अंजनादपि निष्क्रान्तैः वामनादपि च द्विपैः ।। ६.२४ ।।

irāvata kulīnaiḥ ca mahāpadma kulaiḥ tathā | aṃjanādapi niṣkrāntaiḥ vāmanādapi ca dvipaiḥ || 6.24 ||

It was full too of elephants sprung from the line of Airavata and likewise from the line of Mahapadma, descended from Anjana, and also from Vamana.

Shloka 25 (bala.6.25)

भद्रैर्मन्द्रैर्मृगैश्चैव भद्रमन्द्रमृगैस्तथा । भद्रमन्द्रैर्भद्रमृगैर्मृगमन्द्रैश्च सा पुरी । नित्यमत्तैः सदा पूर्णा नागैरचलसन्निभैः ।। ६.२५ ।।

bhadraiḥ mandraiḥ mṛgaiḥ ca eva bhadra mandra mṛgaiḥ thathā | bhadra mandraiḥ bhadra mṛgaiḥ mṛga mandraiḥ ca sā purī | nitya mattaiḥ sadā pūrṇā nāgaiḥ acala sannibhaiḥ || 6.25 ||

That city was ever full of elephants of the Bhadra, Mandra and Mriga breeds, and likewise of those cross-bred as Bhadra-Mandra, Bhadra-Mriga and Mriga-Mandra — elephants ever in rut and mountain-like in bulk.

Shloka 26 (bala.6.26)

सा योजने च द्वे भूयः सत्यनामा प्रकाशते । यस्यां दशरथो राजा वसन् जगदपालयत् ।। ६.२६ ।।

sā yojane ca dve bhūyaḥ satyanāmā prakāśate | yasyām daśaratho rājā vasan jagat apālayat || 6.26 ||

True to its name, that city extended further, over two more yojanas, and shone forth; and dwelling in it, King Dasharatha ruled the world.

Shloka 27 (bala.6.27)

तां पुरीं स महातेजा राजा दशरथो महान् । शशास शमितामित्रो नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमाः ।। ६.२७ ।।

tām purīm sa mahātejā rājā daśaratho mahān | śaśāsa śamita amitro nakṣatrāṇīva candramāḥ || 6.27 ||

That great and greatly resplendent king Dasharatha, his enemies subdued, ruled that city as the moon rules over the stars.

Shloka 28 (bala.6.28)

तां सत्यनामां दृढतोरणार्गलाम् । गृहैर्विचित्रैरुपशोभितां शिवाम् । पुरीमयोध्यां नृसहस्रसंकुलाम् । शशास वै शक्रसमो महीपतिः ।। ६.२८ ।।

tām satya nāmām dṛḍha toraṇa argalām | gṛhaiḥ vicitraiḥ upaśobhitām śivām | purīm ayodhyām nṛ sahasra saṃkulām | śaśāsa vai śakra samo mahīpatiḥ || 6.28 ||

That city, true to its name, with sturdy gateways and door-bars, adorned with wonderful mansions, auspicious and thronged with thousands of people — that city of Ayodhya was ruled indeed by that lord of the earth, equal to Indra.