Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 20
अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्
Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting
ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् ।शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लघुहस्ता विशारदा: ।।।।सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नर्दतां वने ।हन्तारो निशितैश्शस्त्रैर्बलाद्बाहुबलैरपि ।।।।तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथै: ।पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा ।।।।
ye ca bāṇair na vidhyanti viviktam aparāparam | śabdavedhyaṃ ca vitataṃ laghuhastā viśāradāḥ ||
siṃhavyāghravarāhāṇāṃ mattānāṃ nardatāṃ vane | hantāro niśitaiḥ śastrair balād bāhubalair api ||
tādṛśānāṃ sahasrais tām abhipūrṇāṃ mahārathaiḥ | purīm āvāsayāmāsa rājā daśarathas tadā ||
That city was filled with thousands of mahārathas—swift-handed and expert—who would not shoot solitary and defenseless persons, and who could strike even by tracking sound while pursuing a fleeing foe. In the forest they could slay, with sharp weapons and with sheer strength of arms, roaring and rut-maddened lions, tigers, and boars. In such an Ayodhyā King Daśaratha then dwelt and ruled.
The city was inhabited by thousands of warriors known as maharathas. They were skilled archers and sharp-handed. They would not pierce with arrows, solitary persons, persons without defence, fleeing foes who could be tracked down through hints from sound. With sharp arrows or with the strength of their arms, they would killroaring and inebriated lions, tigers, boars etc. in the forest. It was in that city (of Ayodhya) that king Dasaratha lived.
FAQs
Yuddha-dharma: true warriors restrain violence—refusing to shoot the solitary and defenseless—while using their power to protect society from real threats.
The narrator describes Ayodhyā’s elite warriors and then situates King Daśaratha as the ruler dwelling in such a well-defended capital.
Disciplined valor: strength governed by ethical restraint and protective purpose.