Bala Kanda — Sarga 05
Verse 1
सर्वा पूर्वम् इयम् येषाम् आसीत् कृत्स्ना वसुंधरा | प्रजपतिम् उपादाय नृपाणम् जय शालिनाम् ||
Formerly, this entire earth belonged to those victorious kings, beginning with Prajapati.
Verse 2
येषाम् स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानितः | षष्टिः पुत्र सहस्राणि यम् यान्तम् पर्यवारयन् ||
Among them was King Sagara, after whom the ocean was named, and whom sixty thousand sons accompanied when he set out.
Verse 3
इक्ष्वाकूणाम् इदम् तेषाम् राज्ञाम् वंशे महात्मनाम् | महद् उत्पन्नम् आख्यनम् रामायणम् इति श्रुतम् ||
In the lineage of those great-souled kings of the Ikshvaku dynasty arose this great narrative, known as the Ramayana.
Verse 4
तदिदम् वर्तयिष्यावः सर्वम् निखिलम् आदितः | धर्म काम अर्थ सहितम् श्रोतव्यम् अनसूयता ||
We shall narrate this entire account from the beginning, containing Dharma, Kama, and Artha. It should be heard without envy or fault-finding.
Verse 5
कोसलो नाम मुदितः स्फीतो जनपदो महान् | निविष्ट सरयू तीरे प्रभूत धन धान्यवान् ||
There was a great and prosperous kingdom named Kosala, joyful and flourishing, situated on the banks of the Sarayu and abundant in wealth and grain.
Verse 6
अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्र आसीत् लोक विश्रुता | मनुना मानव इन्द्रेण या पुरी निर्मिता स्वयम् ||
There was a world-renowned city named Ayodhya, which had been built by Manu, the foremost among human rulers.
Verse 7
आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी | श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सु विभक्ता महापथा ||
That glorious great city extended twelve yojanas in length and three yojanas in breadth, with well-planned great roads.
Verse 8
राज मार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिता | मुक्ता पुष्प अवकीर्णेन जल सिक्तेन नित्यशः ||
It was adorned with broad and well-laid royal roads, constantly sprinkled with water and covered with scattered flowers.
Verse 9
ताम् तु राजा दशरथो महाराष्ट्र विवर्धनः | पुरीम् आवासयामास दिवि देवपतिः यथा ||
King Dasharatha, who increased the greatness of his kingdom, made that city his residence just as the lord of the gods resides in heaven.
Verse 10
कपाट तोरणवर्ती सु विभक्त अन्तरापणाम् | सर्व यंत्र अयुधवतीम् उषिताम् सर्व शिल्पिभिः ||
It was surrounded by gates and archways, with well-arranged marketplaces, equipped with various machines and weapons, and inhabited by skilled craftsmen.
Verse 11
सूत मागध संबाधाम् श्रीमतीम् अतुल प्रभाम् | उच्चाट्टाल ध्वजवतीम् शतघ्नी शत संकुलाम् ||
It was filled with bards and heralds, prosperous and of incomparable splendour, with high towers, banners, and many defensive weapons.
Verse 12
वधू नाटक सन्घैः च संयुक्ताम् सर्वतः पुरीम् | उद्यान आम्र वणोपेताम् महतीम् साल मेखलाम् ||
The city was filled with groups of women and performers, surrounded by gardens and mango groves, and enclosed by a great protective wall.
Verse 13
दुर्ग गंभीर परिखाम् दुर्गाम् अन्यैः दुरासदम् | वाजीवारण संपूर्णाम् गोभिः उष्ट्रैः खरैः तथा ||
It had deep and difficult moats and was difficult for enemies to approach. It was filled with horses and elephants, as well as cows, camels, and donkeys.
Verse 14
सामंत राज सन्घैः च बलि कर्मभिः आवृतम् | नाना देश निवासैः च वणिग्भिः उपशोभिताम् ||
It was surrounded by groups of subordinate kings who paid tribute and was beautified by merchants and people from many different lands.
Verse 15
प्रासादै रत्न विकृतैः पर्वतैः इव शोभिताम् | कूटागारैः च संपूर्णाम् इन्द्रस्य इव अमरावतीम् ||
It was adorned with palaces decorated with precious jewels, resembling mountains, and filled with lofty buildings like Indra’s Amaravati.
Verse 16
चित्रम् अष्टापद आकाराम् वर नारी गणैर् युताम् | सर्व रत्न समाकीर्णाम् विमान गृह शोभिताम् ||
It was wonderfully laid out, filled with beautiful women and abundant precious gems, and adorned with magnificent multi-storeyed buildings.
Verse 17
गृह गाढाम् अविच्छिद्राम् सम भूमौ निवेशिताम् | शालि तण्डुल संपूर्णाम् इक्षु काण्ड रसः उदकाम् ||
Its houses stood closely together without gaps upon level ground. It was abundant in rice and grain, and its water was sweet like the juice of sugarcane.
Verse 18
दुन्दुभीभिः मृदन्गैः च वीणाभिः पणवैः तथा | नादिताम् भृशम् अत्यर्थम् पृथिव्याम् ताम् अनुत्तमाम् ||
It resounded greatly with dundubhi drums, mridangas, veenas, and other musical instruments. Upon the earth, it was an incomparable city.
Verse 19
विमानम् इव सिद्धानाम् तपस अधिगतम् दिवि | सु निवेशित वेश्मान्ताम् नरोत्तम समावृताम् ||
It resembled the heavenly abode attained by perfected beings through austerity, with well-arranged buildings and filled with excellent people.
Verse 20
ये च बाणैः न विध्यन्ति विविक्तम् अपरा परम् | शब्द वेध्यम् च विततम् लघु हस्ता विशारदाः ||
Its skilled archers did not strike a solitary person, one without protection or support, or a fleeing person, and they did not shoot merely by following sound.
Verse 21
सिंह व्याघ्र वराहाणाम् मत्तानाम् नदताम् वने | हन्तारो निशितैः शस्त्रैः बलात् बाहु बलैर् अपि ||
They could kill powerful and roaring lions, tigers, and wild boars in the forest with sharp weapons and even through the strength of their own arms.
Verse 22
तादृशानाम् सहस्रैः ताम् अभि पूर्णाम् महारथैः | पुरीम् आवसयमास राजा दशरथः तदा ||
King Dasharatha dwelt in that city, which was filled with thousands of such great warriors and mighty chariot fighters.
Verse 23
ताम् अग्निमद्भिः गुणवद्भिः आवृताम् | द्विजोत्तमैः वेद षडङ्ग पारगैः | सहस्रदैः सत्य रतैः महात्मभिः | महर्षि कल्पैः ऋषिभिः च केवलैः ||
That city was surrounded by virtuous and excellent learned people, accomplished in the Vedas and their six auxiliary disciplines, generous and devoted to truth, great-souled and comparable to great sages.