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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.5.14

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: tributary Kings and merchants from many countries mingle among gardens, performers, jewel-adorned palaces, and closely built houses → grain is plentiful, water sweet, and drums, lutes, and cymbals fill the streets with music

1.5.14

sāmantarājasaṅghaiś ca balikarmabhir āvṛtām
nānādeśanivāsaiś ca vaṇigbhir upaśobhitām

thronged with hosts of vassal kings engaged in bringing tribute, and graced by merchants who dwelt there from many lands;

Words: sāmantarājasaṅghaiś ca — and with hosts of vassal kings; balikarmabhir — engaged in acts of tribute; āvṛtām — surrounded, thronged; nānādeśanivāsaiś ca — and with dwellers from various lands; vaṇigbhir — with merchants; upaśobhitām — adorned, graced

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. 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.