← 1.5.12 · Bāla Kāṇḍa 5: Ayodhyā’s layout and defences · 1.5.14 →

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.5.13

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

1.5.13

durgagambhīraparighāṃ durgām anyair durāsadām
vājivāraṇasaṃpūrṇāṃ gobhir uṣṭraiḥ kharais tathā

with a deep and impassable moat, a stronghold unassailable by foes, filled with horses and elephants, with cattle, camels, and asses as well;

Words: durgagambhīraparighāṃ — with a deep and impassable moat; durgām — a stronghold, fortress; anyair — by others (i.e. enemies); durāsadām — hard to assail, unassailable; vājivāraṇasaṃpūrṇāṃ — filled with horses and elephants; gobhir — with cattle; uṣṭraiḥ — with camels; kharais — with asses, donkeys; tathā — as well, likewise

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.