Shloka 1.6.4
अयोध्यावर्णनम् — Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha
. 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।।
yathā manur mahātejā lokasya parirakṣitā |
tathā daśaratho rājā vasan jagad apālayat ||1.6.4||
As mighty Manu protected the people, so King Daśaratha, dwelling in Ayodhyā, governed and safeguarded the world.
From that city of Ayodhya, king Dasaratha ruled the entire world, following the tradition of Manu who was a highly powerful protector of the people. Dasaratha was well versed in the Vedas. He commanded all resources. Farsighted, he possessed great prowess. He was dear to the inhabitants of towns and villages. Among Ikshvaku kings, he was a great charioteer capable of fighting with many maharathas singlehanded. He performed many sacrifices and was devoted to the practice of dharma. He was in full control over his subjects. He was a great sage, a royal saint and renowned in the three worlds (Bhooloka, Bhuvarloka and Suvarloka). He was mighty. He was a destroyer of enemies. He had scores of good friends. He had perfect control over his senses. In riches, he was comparable to Indra and Kubera.
Rajadharma: the king’s primary duty is protection (rakṣaṇa) and welfare of the people, modeled on archetypal lawgivers like Manu.
The text sets Daśaratha’s reign as an ideal of righteous governance while describing Ayodhyā’s excellence.
Protective kingship—rule defined not by domination but by guardianship of the world and its social order.