Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 17

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

गृहगाढामविच्छिद्रां समभूमौ निवेशिताम् ।शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णामिक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

gṛhagāḍhām avicchidrāṃ samabhūmau niveśitām | śālitaṇḍulasampūrṇām ikṣukāṇḍarasodakām ||

Translation

Densely filled with homes and leaving no space unused, built upon level ground, it was abundant in rice and fine grains, and had water sweet as sugarcane juice.

Word by Word

• गृहगाढाम्: dense with houses
• गृहगाढाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) — वर्ण्य-वस्तु
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृह-गाढ (प्रातिपदिक); गृह + गाढ
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अविच्छिद्राम्: unbroken, without gaps
• अविच्छिद्राम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविच्छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• समभूमौ: on level ground
• समभूमौ: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम-भूमि (प्रातिपदिक); सम + भूमि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• निवेशिताम्: constructed/laid out
• निवेशिताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-विश् (धातु) + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त) → निवेशित
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (PPP), विशेषणम्

• शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णाम्: full of fine rice-grains
• शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शालि-तण्डुल-सम्पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक); शालि + तण्डुल + सम्पूर्ण
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• इक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम्: having water like sugarcane-juice
• इक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इक्षु-काण्ड-रस-उदक (प्रातिपदिक); इक्षु + काण्ड + रस + उदक
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (उदक-प्रधान: ‘having water like sugarcane-juice’)

Context

Its dwellings were constructed on levelled ground with no space left unutilised it was abundant stocked with fial-grained rice and water which fasted sweet like sugarcane juice.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse reflects the dharma of a ruler to ensure food security and civic infrastructure—material well-being as a duty of righteous governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā is depicted as an efficiently built, well-provisioned capital with natural sweetness and abundance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rājadharma as care for subjects: ensuring plenty, stability, and livable public spaces.