Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 24

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

दुर्गगम्भीरपरिखां दुर्गामन्यैर्दुरासदाम् ।

वाजिवारणसम्पूर्णां गोभिरुष्ट्रैः खरैस्तथा ॥

Transliteration

durgagambhīraparikhāṃ durgāmanyairdurāsadām |

vājivāraṇasampūrṇāṃ gobhiruṣṭraiḥ kharaistathā ||

Translation

That city was girded by a deep moat making it difficult to cross, rendering it unassailable by enemies. It was teeming with horses, elephants, cows, camels, and donkeys, signifying its military might and prosperity.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरवरे: in the excellent city
• पुरवरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'best city'), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृष्टाः: joyful
• हृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; predicate adjective of नराः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √हृष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → हृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धर्मात्मानः: virtuous
• धर्मात्मानः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of नराः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'whose self is dharma/virtuous'), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बहुश्रुताः: well learned
• बहुश्रुताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of नराः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + श्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya; 'much-learned'), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नराः: men, people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तुष्टाः: content
• तुष्टाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of नराः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √तुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → तुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• धनैः: with wealth
• धनैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; cause of contentment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्वैः: their own
• स्वैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of धनैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (agreeing with धनैः), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वैः: each his own
• स्वैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-विशेषण)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distributive sense), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अलुब्धाः: not greedy
• अलुब्धाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of नराः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + लुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-प्रत्यय (negative prefix), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सत्यवादिनः: truthful (speakers of truth)
• सत्यवादिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of नराः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'truth-speaking'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Horses
• Elephants
• Cows
• Camels
• Donkeys

FAQs

What is the significance of the deep moat described in this verse?

The deep moat (Parikha) symbolizes the King's Dharma to provide 'Raksha' (protection) to his subjects, ensuring the city remains 'Durgam' (impenetrable) to adharmic forces or invaders.

Why does the verse list various animals like camels and donkeys alongside horses and elephants?

While horses and elephants represent military might (Chaturanga-bala), the inclusion of cows, camels, and donkeys highlights the city's commercial prosperity and logistical self-sufficiency, indicating a holistic adherence to Artha (economic stability) alongside Dharma.