Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 21
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।।
tām agnimadbhir guṇavadbhir āvṛtāṃ dvijottamair vedaṣaḍaṅgapāragaiḥ | sahasradaiḥ satyaratair mahātmabhir maharṣikalpai ṛṣibhiś ca kevalaiḥ ||
Aquella Ayodhyā estaba colmada de los mejores entre los dvijas, guardianes de los fuegos sagrados, virtuosos y consumados en los Vedas y en los seis Vedāṅgas; generosos en dádivas por millares, devotos de la verdad, magnánimos, semejantes a maharṣis, con sabios ṛṣis singulares entre ellos.
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.
FAQs
Satya and dharma as social foundations: truthfulness, ritual responsibility, learning, and generosity are presented as the pillars that sustain an ideal kingdom.
The description culminates by praising Ayodhyā’s learned, truthful, and charitable community, closing the sarga’s portrayal of the capital’s excellence.
Truth-devotion (satya-rati) and generosity (dāna), supported by learning and disciplined religious practice.