Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 17

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

गृहगाढामविच्छिद्रां समभूमौ निवेशिताम् ।शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णामिक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

gṛhagāḍhām avicchidrāṃ samabhūmau niveśitām | śālitaṇḍulasampūrṇām ikṣukāṇḍarasodakām ||

Translation

Densément remplie de maisons, sans laisser d’espace inoccupé, établie sur un sol égal; riche en riz et en grains choisis, et pourvue d’une eau douce comme le jus de la canne à sucre.

Word by Word

• गृहगाढाम्: dense with houses
• गृहगाढाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) — वर्ण्य-वस्तु
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृह-गाढ (प्रातिपदिक); गृह + गाढ
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अविच्छिद्राम्: unbroken, without gaps
• अविच्छिद्राम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविच्छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• समभूमौ: on level ground
• समभूमौ: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम-भूमि (प्रातिपदिक); सम + भूमि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• निवेशिताम्: constructed/laid out
• निवेशिताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-विश् (धातु) + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त) → निवेशित
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (PPP), विशेषणम्

• शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णाम्: full of fine rice-grains
• शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शालि-तण्डुल-सम्पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक); शालि + तण्डुल + सम्पूर्ण
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• इक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम्: having water like sugarcane-juice
• इक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इक्षु-काण्ड-रस-उदक (प्रातिपदिक); इक्षु + काण्ड + रस + उदक
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (उदक-प्रधान: ‘having water like sugarcane-juice’)

Context

Its dwellings were constructed on levelled ground with no space left unutilised it was abundant stocked with fial-grained rice and water which fasted sweet like sugarcane juice.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

The verse reflects the dharma of a ruler to ensure food security and civic infrastructure—material well-being as a duty of righteous governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā is depicted as an efficiently built, well-provisioned capital with natural sweetness and abundance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rājadharma as care for subjects: ensuring plenty, stability, and livable public spaces.