Sarga 5: City of Ayodhya
Ayodhya Nagari
The ideal city — dharmic civilization, layout, prosperity.
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सर्वा पूर्वमियं येषामासीत्कृत्स्ना वसुन्धरा । प्रजापतिमुपादाय नृपाणां जयशालिनाम् ।।1.5.1।।
Meaning
In ages past, this whole earth belonged to a line of victorious kings descended from Prajapati.
येषां स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानित: । षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि यं यान्तं पर्यवारयन् ।।1.5.2।।
Meaning
Among them was a king named Sagara, who had the ocean dug out, and whose sixty thousand sons surrounded him whenever he set out.
इक्ष्वाकूणामिदं तेषां राज्ञां वंशे महात्मनाम् । महदुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतम् ।।1.5.3।।
Meaning
It was from that line of great Ikshvaku monarchs that this celebrated epic, known as the Ramayana, arose.
तदिदं वर्तयिष्यामि सर्वं निखिलमादित: । धर्मकामार्थसहितं श्रोतव्यमनसूयया ।।1.5.4।।
Meaning
"I shall recite this entire epic from the very beginning, complete with its lessons of dharma, artha and kama — let it be heard without prejudice," the singers said.
कोसलो नाम मुदितस्स्फीतो जनपदो महान् । निविष्टस्सरयूतीरे प्रभूतधनधान्यवान् ।।1.5.5।।
Meaning
On the banks of the river Sarayu lay a great and joyous country named Kosala, rich in grain and wealth.
अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्रासील्लोकविश्रुता । मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण या पुरी निर्मिता स्वयम् ।।1.5.6।।
Meaning
In that land stood the world-famous city of Ayodhya, built by Manu, lord of men, with his own hands.
आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी । श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सुविभक्तमहापथा ।।1.5.7।।
Meaning
That great, beautiful city stretched twelve yojanas in length and three in breadth, with well laid-out avenues.
राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिता । मुक्तपुष्पावकीर्णेन जलसिक्तेन नित्यश: ।।1.5.8।।
Meaning
It shone with a broad, well-planned royal highway, always strewn with fresh flowers and sprinkled with water.
तां तु राजा दशरथो महाराष्ट्रविवर्धन: । पुरीमावासयामास दिवं देवपतिर्यथा ।।1.5.9।।
Meaning
King Dasaratha, who made the great kingdom flourish, dwelt in that city just as Indra dwells in heaven.
कवाटतोरणवतीं सुविभक्तान्तरापणाम् । सर्वयन्त्रायुधवतीमुपेतां सर्वशिल्पिभि: ।।1.5.10।।
Meaning
The city had arched gateways with panel doors, well-arranged markets, and every kind of instrument and weapon, home to every sort of craftsman.