Shloka 1.5.22
अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम् (Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting)
ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् ।शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लघुहस्ता विशारदा: ।।1.5.20।। सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नर्दतां वने ।हन्तारो निशितैश्शस्त्रैर्बलाद्बाहुबलैरपि ।।1.5.21।। तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथै: ।पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा ।।1.5.22।।
tādṛśānāṃ sahasrais tām abhipūrṇāṃ mahārathaiḥ |
purīm āvāsayāmāsa rājā daśarathas tadā ||
Thus Ayodhyā was filled with thousands of such great chariot-warriors; and in that city King Daśaratha then made his dwelling.
The city was inhabited by thousands of warriors known as maharathas. They were skilled archers and sharphanded. 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 kill roaring and inebriated lions, tigers, boars etc. in the forest. It was in that city (of Ayodhya) that king Dasaratha lived.
Rajadharma: a righteous kingdom is supported by capable protectors; societal stability depends on trained defenders under lawful kingship.
The narrator concludes a description of Ayodhyā’s military strength and states that Daśaratha resided in that well-protected city.
Daśaratha’s role as a sustaining ruler who presides over a strong, organized civic order.