अयोध्यावर्णनम् — Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha
बालकाण्ड
Sarga 6 offers a civic-ethical portrait of Ayodhyā and a royal profile of King Daśaratha. The chapter begins by attributing to Daśaratha Vedic learning, administrative capacity (sarvasaṅgraha), farsightedness, popularity among town and countryside, martial excellence, sacrificial commitment, and self-mastery; his rule is likened to Manu’s protective governance. The narrative then shifts to Ayodhyā’s social prosperity and ritual cleanliness: citizens are described as ornamented, well-provisioned, and free from visible deprivation. A sequence of negations stresses the absence of theft, cruelty, atheism, falsehood, incompetence, and social disorder, while highlighting charitable habits, satisfaction in food, and restraint of passions. Brahmins are depicted as duty-bound, learned in Vedāṅgas, devoted to study and giving, and self-controlled in receiving gifts and in domestic life; varṇa relations are portrayed as orderly (kṣatriyas respectful to brahmins, vaiśyas aligned with kṣatriyas, śūdras serving the three). The sarga further maps Ayodhyā’s military and economic resources—warriors, superior horses from noted regions, and powerful elephants of famed lineages—culminating in the image of an invincible, well-fortified city ruled by a king compared to Indra.
Verse 1.6.1
. तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित्सर्वसङ्ग्रह: ।दीर्घदर्शी महातेजा: पौरजानपदप्रिय: ।।1.6.1।। इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मरतो वशी ।महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुत: ।।1.6.2।। बलवान्निहतामित्रो मित्रवान्विजितेन्द्रिय: ।धनैश्च सङ्ग्रहैश्चान्यैश्शक्रवैश्रवणोपम: ।।1.6.3।। यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता ।तथा दशरथो राजा वसञ्जगदपालयत् ।। 1.6.4।।
In that city of Ayodhyā dwelt King Daśaratha—learned in the Vedas, abundant in every resource, farsighted and radiant, beloved by town and countryside. In the Ikṣvāku line he was a foremost chariot-warrior; a performer of sacrifice, devoted to dharma, and self-controlled—like a great rishi, a royal seer renowned in the three worlds. Strong, a crusher of foes, rich in friends, and master of his senses, he rivaled Indra and Kubera in prosperity. As mighty Manu protected the people, so King Daśaratha, residing there, safeguarded the world.
Verse 1.6.2
. तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित्सर्वसङ्ग्रह: ।दीर्घदर्शी महातेजा: पौरजानपदप्रिय: ।।1.6.1।। इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मरतो वशी ।महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुत: ।।1.6.2।। बलवान्निहतामित्रो मित्रवान्विजितेन्द्रिय: ।धनैश्च सङ्ग्रहैश्चान्यैश्शक्रवैश्रवणोपम: ।।1.6.3।। यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता ।तथा दशरथो राजा वसञ्जगदपालयत् ।। 1.6.4।।
Among the Ikṣvāku kings, Daśaratha was a supreme warrior-charioteer; a performer of yajñas, devoted to dharma, self-mastered and disciplined. Like a great ṛṣi upon the throne—a rājārṣi—he was renowned across the three worlds.
Verse 1.6.3
. तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित्सर्वसङ्ग्रह: ।दीर्घदर्शी महातेजा: पौरजानपदप्रिय: ।।1.6.1।। इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मरतो वशी ।महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुत: ।।1.6.2।। बलवान्निहतामित्रो मित्रवान्विजितेन्द्रिय: ।धनैश्च सङ्ग्रहैश्चान्यैश्शक्रवैश्रवणोपम: ।।1.6.3।। यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता ।तथा दशरथो राजा वसञ्जगदपालयत् ।। 1.6.4।।
He was mighty, a destroyer of foes, rich in allies, and master of his senses; and in wealth and accumulated resources he was comparable to Śakra (Indra) and Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera).
Verse 1.6.4
. तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित्सर्वसङ्ग्रह: ।दीर्घदर्शी महातेजा: पौरजानपदप्रिय: ।।1.6.1।। इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मरतो वशी ।महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुत: ।।1.6.2।। बलवान्निहतामित्रो मित्रवान्विजितेन्द्रिय: ।धनैश्च सङ्ग्रहैश्चान्यैश्शक्रवैश्रवणोपम: ।।1.6.3।। यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता ।तथा दशरथो राजा वसञ्जगदपालयत् ।। 1.6.4।।
As mighty Manu protected the people, so King Daśaratha, dwelling in Ayodhyā, governed and safeguarded the world.
Verse 1.6.5
तेन सत्याभिसन्धेन त्रिवर्गमनुतिष्ठता ।पालिता सा पुरी श्रेष्ठा इन्द्रेणेवामरावती ।।1.6.5।।
By that king—steadfast in truth and rightly pursuing the three aims of life—this finest city was governed and protected, like Amarāvatī by Indra.
Verse 1.6.6
तस्मिन्पुरवरे हृष्टा धर्मात्मानो बहुश्रुता: ।नरास्तुष्टा धनैस्स्वैस्स्वैरलुब्धास्सत्यवादिन: ।।1.6.6।।
In that excellent city the people were joyful—righteous in dharma, widely learned, content with their own wealth, free from greed, and devoted to speaking truth.
Verse 1.6.7
नाल्पसन्निचय: कश्चिदासीत्तस्मिन् पुरोत्तमे ।कुटुम्बी यो ह्यसिद्धार्थोऽगवाश्वधनधान्यवान् ।।1.6.7।।
In that best of cities there was no householder of scant means, none who had failed in life’s aims; rather, households possessed cattle, horses, wealth, and grain.
Verse 1.6.8
कामी वा न कदर्यो वा नृशंस: पुरुष: क्वचित् ।द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायान्नाविद्वान्न च नास्तिक: ।।1.6.8।।
In Ayodhyā one could find nowhere a person driven by lust, a miser, or a cruel man—nor anyone unlearned, nor an atheist.
Verse 1.6.9
सर्वे नराश्च नार्यश्च धर्मशीलास्सुसंयता: ।उदिताश्शीलवृत्ताभ्यां महर्षय इवामला: ।।1.6.9।।
All—men and women alike—were righteous in conduct and well self-controlled; flourishing through noble character and upright behavior, they were pure like great rishis.
Verse 1.6.10
नाकुण्डली नामकुटी नास्रग्वी नाल्पभोगवान् ।नामृष्टो नानुलिप्ताङ्गो नासुगन्धश्च विद्यते ।।1.6.10।।
In that city, no one was seen without earrings, without a head-ornament, or without garlands; none lived with scant enjoyments, and none appeared unclean, unanointed, or without fragrance upon the body.
Verse 1.6.11
नामृष्टभोजी नादाता नाप्यनङ्गदनिष्कधृक् ।नाहस्ताभरणो वाऽपि दृश्यते नाप्यनात्मवान् ।।1.6.11।।
None ate without satisfaction, none was without generosity; none was seen without armlets and neck-ornaments, nor without hand-jewels; and none was found lacking self-restraint.
Verse 1.6.12
नानाहिताग्निर्नायज्वा न क्षुद्रो वा न तस्कर: ।कश्चिदासीदयोध्यायान्न च निर्वृत्तसङ्कर: ।।1.6.12।।
In Ayodhyā there was not a single person who neglected the sacred fires or the sacrificial rites; none was base-minded, no thief was found, and no disorder from mixed descent prevailed.
Verse 1.6.13
स्वकर्मनिरता नित्यं ब्राह्मणा विजितेन्द्रिया: ।दानाध्ययनशीलाश्च संयताश्च परिग्रहे ।।1.6.13।।
The brāhmaṇas were ever devoted to their own dharma, their senses conquered; inclined to charity and sacred study, and restrained in accepting and possessing.
Verse 1.6.14
न नास्तिको नानृतको न कश्चिदबहुश्रुत: ।नासूयको न चाऽशक्तो नाविद्वान्विद्यते तदा ।।1.6.14।।
At that time no nāstika was found, no liar, and none poorly learned; none was envious, none incompetent—nor was anyone seen without true knowledge.
Verse 1.6.15
नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीन्नाव्रतो नासहस्रद: ।न दीन: क्षिप्तचित्तो वा व्यथितो वाऽपि कश्चन ।।1.6.15।।
There was no one unversed in the six Vedāṅgas, none without vows, none who failed to give in thousands; nor was anyone seen distressed, distracted in mind, or afflicted.
Verse 1.6.16
कश्चिन्नरो वा नारी वा नाश्रीमान्नाप्यरूपवान् ।द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नापि राजन्यभक्तिमान् ।।1.6.16।।
In Ayodhyā no man or woman could be found without prosperity or without beauty; nor could anyone be seen who lacked devotion and loyalty to the king.
Verse 1.6.17
वर्णेष्वग्र्यचतुर्थेषु देवतातिथिपूजका:।कृतज्ञाश्च वदान्याश्च शूरा विक्रमसंयुता: ।।1.6.17।। दीर्घायुषो नरास्सर्वे धर्मं सत्यं च संश्रिता: ।सहिता: पुत्रपौत्रैश्च नित्यं स्त्रीभि: पुरोत्तमे ।।1.6.18।।
Foremost among the four varṇas, they worshipped the gods and honored their guests; grateful and generous, they were heroic and endowed with valor.
Verse 1.6.18
वर्णेष्वग्र्यचतुर्थेषु देवतातिथिपूजका:।कृतज्ञाश्च वदान्याश्च शूरा विक्रमसंयुता: ।।1.6.17।। दीर्घायुषो नरास्सर्वे धर्मं सत्यं च संश्रिता: ।सहिता: पुत्रपौत्रैश्च नित्यं स्त्रीभि: पुरोत्तमे ।।1.6.18।।
All the men were long-lived, devoted to dharma and truth; and in that foremost of cities they always lived together with sons, grandsons, and wives.
Verse 1.6.19
क्षत्रं ब्रह्ममुखं चासीद्वैश्या: क्षत्रमनुव्रता: ।शूद्रास्स्वधर्मनिरतास्त्रीन्वर्णानुपचारिण: ।।1.6.19।।
The kṣatriyas were guided by the brāhmaṇas; the vaiśyas followed the kṣatriyas; and the śūdras, devoted to their own duties, served the other three varṇas.
Verse 1.6.20
सा तेनेक्ष्वाकुनाथेन पुरी सुपरिरक्षिता ।यथा पुरस्तान्मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण धीमता ।।1.6.20।।
That city was excellently protected and governed by that lord of the Ikṣvākus, just as in ancient times it had been administered by Manu—the wise foremost among men.
Verse 1.6.21
योधानामग्निकल्पानां पेशलानाममर्षिणाम् ।सम्पूर्णा कृतविद्यानां गुहा केसरिणामिव ।।1.6.21।।
It was filled with warriors—fire-like in might, skilled and unyielding, perfected in their disciplines—like a mountain cave crowded with lions.
Verse 1.6.22
काम्भोजविषये जातैर्बाह्लीकैश्च हयोत्तमै: ।वनायुजैर्नदीजैश्च पूर्णा हरिहयोत्तमै:।।1.6.22।।
It was well supplied with superb horses—born in the lands of Kāmboja and Bāhlīka, and also from Vanāyu and the river countries—excellent steeds, the finest of ‘hari’ horses.
Verse 1.6.23
विन्ध्यपर्वतजैर्मत्तै: पूर्णा हैमवतैरपि ।मदान्वितैरतिबलैर्मातङ्गै: पर्वतोपमै: ।।1.6.23।। ऐरावतकुलीनैश्च महापद्मकुलैस्तथा ।अञ्जनादपि निष्पन्नैर्वामनादपि च द्विपैः ।।1.6.24।।
It was full of rutting, intoxicated elephants—born in the Vindhya mountains and also in the Himālaya—mighty with musth, immensely strong, and mountain-like in stature.
Verse 1.6.24
विन्ध्यपर्वतजैर्मत्तै: पूर्णा हैमवतैरपि ।मदान्वितैरतिबलैर्मातङ्गै: पर्वतोपमै: ।।1.6.23।। ऐरावतकुलीनैश्च महापद्मकुलैस्तथा ।अञ्जनादपि निष्पन्नैर्वामनादपि च द्विपैः ।।1.6.24।।
It was also filled with elephants of noble lineages—those of Airāvata’s stock, of the Mahāpadma line, and those bred from Anjana and from Vāmana as well.
Verse 1.6.25
भद्रैर्मन्द्रैर्मृगैश्चैव भद्रमन्द्रमृगैस्तथा।भद्रमन्द्रैर्भद्रमृगैर्मृगमन्द्रैश्च सा पुरी।नित्यमत्तैस्सदा पूर्णा नागैरचलसन्निभै:।।1.6.25।।
That city was always filled with mountain-like elephants, ever in musth—of the Bhadra, Mandra, and Mṛga types, and also of their mixed breeds: Bhadra–Mandra, Bhadra–Mṛga, and Mṛga–Mandra.
Verse 1.6.26
सा योजने च द्वे भूय: सत्यनामा प्रकाशते ।यस्यां दशरथो राजा वसन् जगदपालयत् ।।1.6.26।।
Spreading outward for two yojanas, that city shone—true to its very name—where King Daśaratha dwelt and ruled, safeguarding the world.
Verse 1.6.27
तां पुरीं स महातेजा राजा दशरथो महान् ।शशास शमितामित्रो नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमा: ।।1.6.27।।
That great, radiant King Daśaratha—who had subdued his foes—ruled the city as the moon rules over the stars.
Verse 1.6.28
तां सत्यनामां दृढतोरणार्गलांगृहैर्विचित्रैरुपशोभितां शिवाम् ।पुरीमयोध्यां नृसहस्रसङ्कुलांशशास वै शक्रसमो महीपति: ।।1.6.28।।
That auspicious Ayodhyā—true to its name, secured with strong gateways and firm bolts, adorned with splendid houses, and thronged with thousands of people—was ruled by the lord of the earth, Daśaratha, comparable to Indra in majesty.
Verse 1.6.29
At that time, there was no atheist, no liar, no one with scanty knowledge, no one jealous, no one incompetent, and no one unlearned.