Sarga 6: King Dasharatha
Dasharatha Raja
Introduction of ideal king — qualities, administration, no heir.
Jump to a shloka · 23 in this sarga
न नास्तिको नानृतको न कश्चिदबहुश्रुत: । नासूयको न चाऽशक्तो नाविद्वान्विद्यते तदा ।।1.6.14।।
Meaning
In that time there was no atheist, no liar, no one poorly read in the scriptures, no one envious, incapable, or unlearned.
नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीन्नाव्रतो नासहस्रद: । न दीन: क्षिप्तचित्तो वा व्यथितो वाऽपि कश्चन ।।1.6.15।।
Meaning
No brahmin there was ignorant of the six Vedangas or careless of his vows, none failed to give generously by the thousand, and none was distressed, agitated, or troubled in mind.
कश्चिन्नरो वा नारी वा नाश्रीमान्नाप्यरूपवान् । द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नापि राजन्यभक्तिमान् ।।1.6.16।।
Meaning
No man or woman in Ayodhya could be found lacking in wealth or beauty, and none was without devotion to the king.
वर्णेष्वग्र्यचतुर्थेषु देवतातिथिपूजका:। कृतज्ञाश्च वदान्याश्च शूरा विक्रमसंयुता: ।।1.6.17।। दीर्घायुषो नरास्सर्वे धर्मं सत्यं च संश्रिता: । सहिता: पुत्रपौत्रैश्च नित्यं स्त्रीभि: पुरोत्तमे ।।1.6.18।।
Meaning
Across all four castes, the people worshipped gods and guests alike, were grateful, generous, heroic and full of valor. Every one of them lived a long life, devoted to dharma and truth, always surrounded in that finest of cities by their sons, grandsons, and wives.
क्षत्रं ब्रह्ममुखं चासीद्वैश्या: क्षत्रमनुव्रता: । शूद्रास्स्वधर्मनिरतास्त्रीन्वर्णानुपचारिण: ।।1.6.19।।
Meaning
The kshatriyas deferred to the brahmins, the vaishyas followed the kshatriyas, and the shudras, devoted to their own duty, served all three of the other castes.
सा तेनेक्ष्वाकुनाथेन पुरी सुपरिरक्षिता । यथा पुरस्तान्मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण धीमता ।।1.6.20।।
Meaning
That city was as ably protected by Dasaratha, lord of the Ikshvakus, as it once was by the supremely wise Manu, foremost among men.
योधानामग्निकल्पानां पेशलानाममर्षिणाम् । सम्पूर्णा कृतविद्यानां गुहा केसरिणामिव ।।1.6.21।।
Meaning
It was filled with warriors blazing like fire, skilled and unyielding, accomplished in the art of arms — like a mountain cave filled with lions.
काम्भोजविषये जातैर्बाह्लीकैश्च हयोत्तमै: । वनायुजैर्नदीजैश्च पूर्णा हरिहयोत्तमै:।।1.6.22।।
Meaning
The city was full of excellent horses from Kamboja, Bahlika, Vanayu, and the river lands of the Sindhu, as fine as Indra's own steed.
विन्ध्यपर्वतजैर्मत्तै: पूर्णा हैमवतैरपि । मदान्वितैरतिबलैर्मातङ्गै: पर्वतोपमै: ।।1.6.23।। ऐरावतकुलीनैश्च महापद्मकुलैस्तथा । अञ्जनादपि निष्पन्नैर्वामनादपि च द्विपैः ।।1.6.24।।
Meaning
It was filled with mighty, mountain-like tusker elephants — some in rut, born of the Vindhya range, others from the Himalayan foothills — descended from the noble lines of Airavata, Mahapadma, Anjana and Vamana.
भद्रैर्मन्द्रैर्मृगैश्चैव भद्रमन्द्रमृगैस्तथा। भद्रमन्द्रैर्भद्रमृगैर्मृगमन्द्रैश्च सा पुरी। नित्यमत्तैस्सदा पूर्णा नागैरचलसन्निभै:।।1.6.25।।
Meaning
That city was forever filled with mountain-like, perpetually rut-flowing elephants of the Bhadra, Mandra and Mriga breeds, and every crossbreed among them.