Bala Kanda — Sarga 06
Verse 1
तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित्सर्वसंग्रहः | दीर्घदर्शी महातेजाः पौरजानपदप्रियः || १-६-१
In that city of Ayodhya lived one who was learned in the Vedas, possessed of every resource, far-seeing, greatly radiant, and beloved by both the citizens and the people of the countryside.
Verse 2
इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मपरो वशी | महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः || १-६-२
Among the descendants of Ikshvaku, he was an excellent chariot-warrior, a performer of sacrifices, devoted to Dharma, self-controlled, like a great sage, and a royal sage renowned in the three worlds.
Verse 3
बलवान् निहतामित्रो मित्रवान् विजितेन्द्रियः | धनैश्च संचयैश्चान्यैः शक्रवैश्रवणोपमः || १-६-३
He was powerful, had destroyed his enemies, possessed many friends, had conquered his senses, and in wealth and accumulated resources was comparable to Indra and Vaishravana.
Verse 4
यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता | तथा दशरथो राजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता || १-६-४
Just as the greatly radiant Manu was the guardian of the world, so King Dasharatha was the guardian of his people.
Verse 5
तेन सत्याभिसंधेन त्रिवर्गमनुतिष्ठता | पालिता सा पुरी श्रेष्ठा इन्द्रेणेवामरावती || १-६-५
That excellent city was governed by him, who was devoted to truth and practised the threefold aims of life, just as Amaravati is governed by Indra.
Verse 6
तस्मिन् पुरवरे हृष्टा धर्मात्मानो बहुश्रुताः | नरास्तुष्टाः स्वैर्धनैरलुब्धाः सत्यवादिनः || १-६-६
In that excellent city, the people were joyful, righteous, widely learned, satisfied with their own wealth, free from greed, and truthful in speech.
Verse 7
नाल्पसन्निचयः कश्चिदासीत्तस्मिन्पुरोत्तमे | कुटुम्बी यो ह्यसिद्धार्थोऽगवाश्वधनधान्यवान् || १-६-७
In that excellent city there was no one with insufficient resources, and no householder lacked cattle, horses, wealth, or grain.
Verse 8
कामी वा न कदर्यो वा नृशंसः पुरुषः क्वचित् | द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नाविद्वान्न च नास्तिकः || १-६-८
In Ayodhya, no lustful, miserly, or cruel person could be seen anywhere; nor was there an unlearned person or one who rejected the sacred order.
Verse 9
सर्वे नराश्च नार्यश्च धर्मशीलाः सुसंयताः | मुदिताः शीलवृत्ताभ्यां महर्षय इवामलाः || १-६-९
All the men and women were devoted to Dharma and well disciplined. They were content, pure in character and conduct, like great sages.
Verse 10
नाकुण्डली नामुकुटी नास्रग्वी नाल्पभोगवान् | नामृष्टो नालिप्ताङ्गो नासुगन्धश्च विद्यते || १-६-१०
No one was without earrings, a head ornament, or garlands; no one lived in poor conditions. No one was unbathed, without anointed limbs, or without fragrance.
Verse 11
नामृष्टभोजी नादाता नाप्यनङ्गदनिष्कधृक् | नाहस्ताभरणो वापि दृश्यते नाप्यनात्मवान् || १-६-११
No one ate without proper preparation, no one was ungenerous, and no one was without ornaments for the body or hands; nor was any person lacking self-discipline.
Verse 12
नानाहिताग्निर्नायज्वा न क्षुद्रो वा न तस्करः | कश्चिदासीदयोध्यायां न चावृत्तो न सङ्करः || १-६-१२
There was no one who had not maintained the sacred fires, no one who did not perform sacrifices, no base person, and no thief. There was no person of improper conduct or disorderly way of life.
Verse 13
स्वकर्मनिरताः नित्यं ब्राह्मणा विजितेन्द्रियाः | दानाध्ययनशीलाश्च संयताश्च प्रतिग्रहे || १-६-१३
The Brahmanas were constantly devoted to their prescribed duties, had conquered their senses, were devoted to giving and studying, and were disciplined in accepting gifts.
Verse 14
न तेष्वविद्वान् विद्यते न चानृतकथः क्वचित् | न च लोकेषु कश्चित्तु ब्राह्मणः क्षुद्रकर्मकृत् || १-६-१४
Among them no one was unlearned, nor did anyone speak falsehood. No Brahmana anywhere engaged in inferior or improper actions.
Verse 15
नासीत्सहस्रशो यज्ञो नास्ति तत्र नरोत्तम | न चासीत्कश्चिदन्यायी न चासीत्कश्चिदातुरः || १-६-१५
There were sacrifices performed in thousands, and there was no person who acted unjustly or suffered from affliction.
Verse 16
कश्चिन्नरो वा नारी वा नाश्रीमान्नाप्यरूपवान् | द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नापि राजन्यभक्तिमान् || १-६-१६
No man or woman in Ayodhya could be seen without prosperity or beauty, nor was anyone lacking devotion toward the king.
Verse 17
वर्णेष्वग्र्यचतुर्थेषु देवतातिथिपूजकाः | कृतज्ञाश्च वदान्याश्च शूरा विक्रमसंयुताः || १-६-१७
Among all the four social orders, the people honoured deities and guests, were grateful and generous, courageous and endowed with valour.
Verse 18
दीर्घायुषो नराः सर्वे धर्मं सत्यं च संश्रिताः | सहिताः पुत्रपौत्रैश्च नित्यं स्त्रीभिः पुरोत्तमे || १-६-१८
All the people were long-lived and devoted to Dharma and truth. They lived continually with their sons, grandsons, and families in that excellent city.
Verse 19
क्षत्रं ब्रह्ममुखं चासीद्वैश्याः क्षत्रमनुव्रताः | शूद्राः स्वधर्मनिरतास्त्रीन् वर्णानुपचारिणः || १-६-१९
The Kshatriyas looked toward the Brahmanas, the Vaishyas followed the Kshatriyas, and the Shudras were devoted to their own duties and served the other three social orders.
Verse 20
सा तेनेक्ष्वाकुनाथेन पुरी सुपरिरक्षिता | यथा पुरस्तान्मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण धीमता || १-६-२०
That city was well governed by the lord of the Ikshvaku dynasty, just as it had formerly been governed by the wise Manu, lord among humans.
Verse 21
योधानागसहस्रैश्च युतामग्निसमप्रभैः | वसुभिर्देवसंकाशैः सर्वैः समुदितां गुणैः || १-६-२१
It was filled with thousands of warriors and elephants, radiant like fire, and with prosperous people resembling divine beings, endowed with every quality.
Verse 22
सा तु राजा दशरथो महाराजः प्रतापवान् | सदोपजाता रथिभिः सर्वविद्याविशारदैः || १-६-२२
That city was ruled by the powerful great king Dasharatha and was constantly inhabited by skilled chariot-warriors knowledgeable in every discipline.
Verse 23
तदा शस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठा इष्टास्त्राश्च रणप्रियाः | शब्दवेध्यां च विदुषः परान् शस्त्रविशारदाः || १-६-२३
There were foremost masters of weapons, skilled in the use of missiles and fond of battle. They understood shooting by sound and were highly proficient in warfare.
Verse 24
महाप्राणाः महावीर्या महावीर्यपराक्रमाः | शक्रवज्रप्रतिमाश्च योधा युद्धविशारदाः || १-६-२४
The warriors possessed great strength and courage, mighty valour and power, and were like Indra’s thunderbolt in battle.
Verse 25
सर्वे चास्त्रविदः शूराः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः | तथा ते नरशार्दूला रक्षन्ति स्म पुरोत्तमम् || १-६-२५
All were masters of weapons, brave and skilled in warfare. Those foremost among men protected that excellent city.
Verse 26
तां पुरीं स महातेजा राजा दशरथः प्रभुः | शशास शमितामित्रो नक्षत्राणामिव चन्द्रमाः || १-६-२६
The greatly radiant King Dasharatha, having subdued his enemies, ruled that city as the moon rules among the stars.
Verse 27
तां सत्यनामां दृढतोरणार्गलां गृहैर्विचित्रैरुपशोभितां शिवाम् | पुरीमयोध्यां नृसहस्रसंकुलां शशास वै शक्रसमो महीपतिः || १-६-२७
That auspicious city of Ayodhya, true to its name, with strong gateways and bars, adorned with magnificent houses and filled with thousands of people, was ruled by that king, equal to Indra.