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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.5.11

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 5: Ayodhyā’s layout and defences. The narrative introduces Kosala on the Sarayū and its capital, describing Ayodhyā’s roads, defences, markets and abundant provisions

In the sequence: its gates, markets, craftspeople, watchtowers, weapons, rampart, and deep moat make it busy and strongly defended

1.5.11

sūtamāgadhasaṃbādhāṃ śrīmatīm atulaprabhām
uccāṭṭāladhvajavatīṃ śataghnīśatasaṃkulām

thronged with bards and panegyrists, splendid, of matchless brilliance, having lofty watchtowers and banners, and bristling with hundreds of śataghnīs;

Words: sūtamāgadhasaṃbādhāṃ — thronged with bards and panegyrists; śrīmatīm — splendid, glorious; atulaprabhām — of matchless splendour; uccāṭṭāladhvajavatīṃ — having lofty watchtowers and banners; śataghnīśatasaṃkulām — crowded with hundreds of śataghnīs

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.