← 1.5 Ayodhyā’s layout and defences · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.7 The ministers who sustain the Kingdom →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 6: Daśaratha and Ayodhyā’s inhabitants
Summary. Daśaratha rules a prosperous and disciplined population, supported by trained warriors, fine horses and powerful elephants
Sequence
- The narrator describes Daśaratha as learned, far-sighted, self-controlled, powerful, rich in allies, and loved by town and countryside → his protection of Ayodhyā is compared to Indra's protection of Amarāvatī (1.6.1–5)
- the city is portrayed as an ideal community: its people are content, truthful, prosperous, generous, well-dressed, and attentive to religious duties (1.6.6–15)
- the four social orders honor devatās and guests and follow their assigned responsibilities (1.6.16–18)
- trained warriors guard the city, which is supplied with fine horses from Kāmboja, Bāhlīka, Vanāyu, and river regions, and powerful elephants from the Vindhya and Himālaya and celebrated elephant lineages (1.6.19–23)
- the portrait ends with Daśaratha ruling a populous, fortified Ayodhyā worthy of its name as an unconquerable city. (1.6.24)
Verses 1.6.1–24
1.6.1
puryāṃ tasyām ayodhyāyāṃ vedavit sarvasaṃgrahaḥ
dīrghadarśī mahātejāḥ paurajānapadapriyaḥ
In that city of Ayodhyā there dwelt a king versed in the Vedas, provident for all, far-sighted, of great splendour, dear to town and country folk —
Words: puryāṃ — in the city; tasyām — that; ayodhyāyāṃ — of Ayodhyā; vedavit — knower of the Vedas; sarvasaṃgrahaḥ — provident for all, embracing everything; dīrghadarśī — far-sighted; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; paurajānapadapriyaḥ — dear to town and country folk
1.6.2
ikṣvākūṇām atiratho yajvā dharmarato vaśī
maharṣikalpo rājarṣis triṣu lokṛṣu viśrutaḥ
a mighty chariot-warrior of the Ikṣvākus, a performer of sacrifices, devoted to dharma and self-controlled, like a great sage, a royal seer renowned in the three worlds;
Words: ikṣvākūṇām — of the Ikṣvākus; atiratho — a mighty chariot-warrior; yajvā — a performer of sacrifices; dharmarato — devoted to dharma; vaśī — self-controlled, master of himself; maharṣikalpo — like a great sage; rājarṣis — a royal seer; triṣu — in the three; lokṛṣu — worlds; viśrutaḥ — renowned, famed
1.6.3
balavān nihatāmitro mitravān vijitendriyaḥ
dhanaiś ca saṃcayaiś cānyaiḥ śakravaiśravaṇopamaḥ
powerful, his enemies destroyed, rich in allies, his senses conquered, and — in riches and other accumulated stores — the equal of Śakra (Indra) and Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera).
Words: balavān — powerful, strong; nihatāmitro — whose enemies were slain; mitravān — having (many) friends and allies; vijitendriyaḥ — his senses conquered; dhanaiś ca — and with riches; saṃcayaiś cānyaiḥ — and with other accumulated stores; śakravaiśravaṇopamaḥ — the equal of Śakra and Vaiśravaṇa
1.6.4
yathā manur mahātejā lokasya parirakṣitā
tathā daśaratho rājā vasañ jagad apālayat
Just as Manu of great splendour was the protector of the world, so King Daśaratha, dwelling there, ruled over the world.
Words: yathā — just as; manur — Manu; mahātejā — of great splendour; lokasya — of the world; parirakṣitā — the protector; tathā — so; daśaratho — Daśaratha; rājā — the king; vasañ — dwelling; jagad — the world; apālayat — protected, ruled
1.6.5
tena satyābhisaṃdhena trivargam anutiṣṭhatā
pālitā sā purī śreṣṭhendreṇa ivāmarāvatī
By him, true to his word and pursuing the three aims of life, that best of cities was protected, as Amarāvatī is by Indra.
Words: tena — by him; satyābhisaṃdhena — true to his word; trivargam — the three aims (dharma, artha, kāma); anutiṣṭhatā — pursuing, practising; pālitā — was protected, ruled; sā — that; purī — city; śreṣṭhendreṇa — (the) best (city), by Indra; ivāmarāvatī — like Amarāvatī
1.6.6
tasmin puravare hṛṣṭā dharmātmanā bahu śrutāḥ
narās tuṣṭādhanaiḥ svaiḥ svair alubdhāḥ satyavādinaḥ
In that best of cities the people were joyful under the righteous king, deeply learned, content each with his own wealth, free from greed and truthful.
Words: tasmin — in that; puravare — best of cities; hṛṣṭā — joyful, delighted; dharmātmanā — by/under the righteous-souled king; bahu śrutāḥ — deeply learned, well-versed; narās — the people, men; tuṣṭādhanaiḥ — content with their wealth; svaiḥ — their own; svair — each with his own; alubdhāḥ — free from greed; satyavādinaḥ — speakers of truth
1.6.7
nālpasaṃnicayaḥ kaś cid āsīt tasmin purottame
kuṭumbī yo hy asiddhārtho 'gavāśvadhanadhānyavān
In that best of cities there was no one of scanty savings, no householder of unaccomplished aims, none lacking cows, horses, wealth or grain.
Words: nālpasaṃnicayaḥ — not one of small savings; kaś cid — anyone; āsīt — there was; tasmin — in that; purottame — best of cities; kuṭumbī — a householder; yo hy — who indeed; asiddhārtho — with aims unaccomplished; 'gavāśvadhanadhānyavān — lacking cows, horses, wealth and grain
1.6.8
kāmī vā na kadaryo vā nṛśaṃsaḥ puruṣaḥ kva cit
draṣṭuṃ śakyam ayodhyāyāṃ nāvidvān na ca nāstikaḥ
Nowhere was there a lustful man, a miser, or a cruel person; nor could an ignorant man or an unbeliever be seen in Ayodhyā.
Words: kāmī — a lustful man; vā — or; na — not; kadaryo — a miser; vā — or; nṛśaṃsaḥ — a cruel man; puruṣaḥ — person; kva cit — anywhere; draṣṭuṃ — to see, to be seen; śakyam — possible; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; nāvidvān — nor an ignorant one; na ca — nor; nāstikaḥ — an unbeliever, atheist
1.6.9
sarve narāś ca nāryaś ca dharmaśīlāḥ susaṃyatāḥ
muditāḥ śīlavṛttābhyāṃ maharṣaya ivāmalāḥ
All, both men and women, were of righteous character, well-controlled and cheerful, spotless in conduct and behaviour like great sages.
Words: sarve — all; narāś ca — and the men; nāryaś ca — and the women; dharmaśīlāḥ — of righteous character; susaṃyatāḥ — well restrained; muditāḥ — joyful, cheerful; śīlavṛttābhyāṃ — in character and conduct; maharṣaya — great sages; ivāmalāḥ — spotless, like
1.6.10
nākuṇḍalī nāmukuṭī nāsragvī nālpabhogavān
nāmṛṣṭo nānuliptāṅgo nāsugandhaś ca vidyate
There was found no one without earrings, none without a diadem, none without a garland, none of scanty means, none unanointed, none with unanointed limbs, and none lacking fragrance.
Words: nākuṇḍalī — none without earrings; nāmukuṭī — none without a diadem; nāsragvī — none without a garland; nālpabhogavān — none of scanty means; nāmṛṣṭo — none unanointed, unadorned; nānuliptāṅgo — none with unanointed limbs; nāsugandhaś ca — and none lacking fragrance; vidyate — is found, exists
1.6.11
nāmṛṣṭabhojī nādātā nāpy anaṅgadaniṣkadhṛk
nāhastābharaṇo vāpi dṛśyate nāpy anātmavān
No one who ate coarse food, no one ungenerous, none without armlets and golden necklaces, none without hand-ornaments, nor anyone lacking self-command was to be seen.
Words: nāmṛṣṭabhojī — none who ate coarse food; nādātā — none who was no giver; nāpy — nor; anaṅgadaniṣkadhṛk — one not wearing armlets and gold necklaces; nāhastābharaṇo — none without hand-ornaments; vāpi — or even; dṛśyate — is seen; nāpy — nor; anātmavān — one lacking self-command
1.6.12
nānāhitāgnir nāyajvā vipro nāpy asahasradaḥ
kaś cid āsīd ayodhyāyāṃ na ca nirvṛttasaṃkaraḥ
In Ayodhyā there was no brahmin who had not consecrated the sacred fires, none who did not sacrifice, none who did not give in thousands, and no one guilty of caste-confusion.
Words: nānāhitāgnir — none without the sacred fires established; nāyajvā — none who did not sacrifice; vipro — a brahmin; nāpy — nor; asahasradaḥ — none who did not give in thousands; kaś cid — any; āsīd — there was; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; na ca — nor; nirvṛttasaṃkaraḥ — one guilty of caste-confusion
1.6.13
svakarmaniratā nityaṃ brāhmaṇā vijitendriyāḥ
dānādhyayanaśīlāś ca saṃyatāś ca pratigrahe
The brahmins, ever devoted to their own duties, their senses conquered, given to charity and study, were restrained in accepting gifts.
Words: svakarmaniratā — devoted to their own duties; nityaṃ — always; brāhmaṇā — the brahmins; vijitendriyāḥ — their senses conquered; dānādhyayanaśīlāś ca — and given to charity and study; saṃyatāś ca — and restrained; pratigrahe — in accepting gifts
1.6.14
na nāstiko nānṛtako na kaś cid abahuśrutaḥ
nāsūyako na cāśakto nāvidvān vidyate tadā
No atheist, no liar, no one of little learning, none envious, none incapable, none ignorant was to be found then.
Words: na — not; nāstiko — an atheist; nānṛtako — nor a liar; na kaś cid — no one; abahuśrutaḥ — of little learning; nāsūyako — nor an envious one; na cāśakto — nor an incapable one; nāvidvān — nor an ignorant one; vidyate — is found; tadā — then
1.6.15
na dīnaḥ kṣiptacitto vā vyathito vāpi kaś cana
kaś cin naro vā nārī vā nāśrīmān nāpy arūpavān
draṣṭuṃ śakyam ayodhyāyāṃ nāpi rājanyabhaktimān
Nowhere was there anyone wretched, distracted in mind, or distressed; nor could any man or woman lacking prosperity or beauty be seen in Ayodhyā, nor anyone wanting in devotion to the king.
Words: na — not; dīnaḥ — wretched, miserable; kṣiptacitto — of distracted mind; vā — or; vyathito — distressed, agitated; vāpi — or even; kaś cana — anyone; kaś cin — anyone; naro vā — a man, or; nārī vā — or a woman; nāśrīmān — none lacking prosperity or beauty; nāpy — nor; arūpavān — one lacking good looks; draṣṭuṃ — to see, to be seen; śakyam — possible; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; nāpi — nor; rājanyabhaktimān — wanting in devotion to the king
1.6.16
varṇeṣv agryacaturtheṣu devatātithipūjakāḥ
dīrghāyuṣo narāḥ sarve dharmaṃ satyaṃ ca saṃśritāḥ
Among all four classes, from the foremost onward, the people were worshippers of gods and guests, long-lived, and devoted to dharma and truth.
Words: varṇeṣv — among the classes; agryacaturtheṣu — from the first to the fourth (all four); devatātithipūjakāḥ — worshippers of gods and guests; dīrghāyuṣo — long-lived; narāḥ — the people, men; sarve — all; dharmaṃ — dharma; satyaṃ ca — and truth; saṃśritāḥ — holding to, devoted to
1.6.17
kṣatraṃ brahmamukhaṃ cāsīd vaiśyāḥ kṣatram anuvratāḥ
śūdrāḥ svadharmaniratās trīn varṇān upacāriṇaḥ
The kṣatriyas had the brahmins at their head; the vaiśyas were devoted to the kṣatriyas; and the śūdras, intent on their own duty, served the three (higher) classes.
Words: kṣatraṃ — the kṣatriya class; brahmamukhaṃ — having the brahmins at its head; cāsīd — and was; vaiśyāḥ — the vaiśyas; kṣatram — the kṣatriyas; anuvratāḥ — following, devoted to; śūdrāḥ — the śūdras; svadharmaniratās — intent on their own duty; trīn — the three; varṇān — classes; upacāriṇaḥ — serving, attending on
1.6.18
sā tenekṣvākunāthena purī suparirakṣitā
yathā purastān manunā mānavendreṇa dhīmatā
That city was well guarded by that lord of the Ikṣvākus, as of old by the wise Manu, lord of men.
Words: sā — that; tenekṣvākunāthena — by that lord of the Ikṣvākus; purī — city; suparirakṣitā — well protected; yathā — as; purastān — of old, formerly; manunā — by Manu; mānavendreṇa — the lord of men; dhīmatā — the wise
1.6.19
yodhānām agnikalpānāṃ peśalānām amarṣiṇām
saṃpūrṇākṛtavidyānāṃ guhākesariṇām iva
(The city was filled) with warriors like fire, skilled and unforgiving of insult, their training fully perfected, like lions dwelling in mountain caves;
Words: yodhānām — of warriors; agnikalpānāṃ — fire-like; peśalānām — skilled, adroit; amarṣiṇām — impatient of insult, unforgiving; saṃpūrṇākṛtavidyānāṃ — of fully perfected training; guhākesariṇām — like cave-dwelling lions; iva — like
1.6.20
kāmbojaviṣaye jātair bāhlīkaiś ca hayottamaiḥ
vanāyujair nadījaiś ca pūrṇāharihayopamaiḥ
full of excellent horses born in the Kāmboja land and of the Bāhlīka breed, born in Vanāyu and along rivers, resembling the steeds of Indra;
Words: kāmbojaviṣaye — in the Kāmboja country; jātair — born; bāhlīkaiś ca — and of the Bāhlīka breed; hayottamaiḥ — with excellent horses; vanāyujair — born in Vanāyu; nadījaiś ca — and river-born; pūrṇāharihayopamaiḥ — (the city) full, with steeds like Indra's horses
1.6.21
vindhyaparvapajair mattaiḥ pūrṇā haimavatair api
madānvitair atibalair mātaṅgaiḥ parvatopamaiḥ
full too of rutting elephants born on the Vindhya mountains and on the Himalaya, of immense strength, in must, resembling mountains;
Words: vindhyaparvapajair — born on the Vindhya mountains; mattaiḥ — rutting, in must; pūrṇā — full; haimavatair api — and Himalayan ones too; madānvitair — filled with rut; atibalair — of immense strength; mātaṅgaiḥ — with elephants; parvatopamaiḥ — resembling mountains
1.6.22
añjanād api niṣkrāntair vāmanād api ca dvipaiḥ
bhadramandrair bhadramṛgair mṛgamandraiś ca sā purī
with elephants sprung too from Añjana and from Vāmana (the world-elephants), of the bhadra-mandra, bhadra-mṛga, and mṛga-mandra breeds — that city,
Words: añjanād — from Añjana; api — also; niṣkrāntair — descended, sprung; vāmanād — from Vāmana; api ca — and also; dvipaiḥ — with elephants; bhadramandrair — of the bhadra-mandra breed; bhadramṛgair — of the bhadra-mṛga breed; mṛgamandraiś ca — and of the mṛga-mandra breed; sā — that; purī — city
1.6.23
nityamattaiḥ sadā pūrṇā nāgair acalasaṃnibhaiḥ
sā yojane ca dve bhūyaḥ satyanāmā prakāśate
ever full of always-rutting elephants that resembled mountains, that city — true to its name and extending a full two yojanas besides — shone resplendent.
Words: nityamattaiḥ — with ever-rutting (elephants); sadā — always; pūrṇā — full; nāgair — with elephants; acalasaṃnibhaiḥ — resembling mountains; sā — that (city); yojane — yojanas; ca — and, moreover; dve — two; bhūyaḥ — further, besides; satyanāmā — true to its name; prakāśate — shines forth, is resplendent
1.6.24
tāṃ satyanāmāṃ dṛḍhatoraṇārgalām gṛhair vicitrair upaśobhitāṃ śivām
purīm ayodhyāṃ nṛsahasrasaṃkulāṃ śaśāsa vai śakrasamo mahīpatiḥ
That auspicious city of Ayodhyā — true to its name, with strong gateway-arches and bars, adorned with wonderful houses, and thronged with thousands of men — the lord of the earth, the equal of Indra, ruled indeed.
Words: tāṃ — that; satyanāmāṃ — true to its name; dṛḍhatoraṇārgalām — with strong gateway-arches and bars; gṛhair — with houses; vicitrair — wonderful, variegated; upaśobhitāṃ — adorned, beautified; śivām — auspicious, lovely; purīm — the city; ayodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; nṛsahasrasaṃkulāṃ — thronged with thousands of men; śaśāsa — ruled, governed; vai — indeed; śakrasamo — the equal of Śakra (Indra); mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth
← 1.5 Ayodhyā’s layout and defences · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.7 The ministers who sustain the Kingdom →
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.
Plain text: /text/1/6.md · JSON: /data/1/6.json