Shloka 1.5.7

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम् (Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting)

Devanagari script

आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी ।श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सुविभक्तमहापथा ।।।।

Transliteration

āyatā daśa ca dve ca yojanāni mahāpurī | śrīmatī trīṇi vistīrṇā su-vibhakta-mahāpathā ||

Translation

That great city was twelve yojanas in length and three yojanas in breadth—splendid, with grand roads laid out in orderly divisions.

Context

With well-laid out thoroughfares, the beautiful and prosperous city of Ayodhya extended for twelve yojanas in length and three yojanas in breadth.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Orderliness and proper arrangement symbolize dharma at the civic level: a well-planned city mirrors a well-ordered society.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator provides measurements and urban features to portray Ayodhyā’s grandeur and organization.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective discipline and order (maryādā) rather than an individual virtue—society structured for harmonious living.