Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 5

अयोध्यावर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha

Devanagari script

तेन सत्याभिसन्धेन त्रिवर्गमनुतिष्ठता ।पालिता सा पुरी श्रेष्ठा इन्द्रेणेवामरावती ।।1.6.5।।

Transliteration

tena satyābhisandhena trivargam anutiṣṭhatā |

pālitā sā purī śreṣṭhā indreṇevāmarāvatī ||1.6.5||

Translation

Par ce roi—ferme dans la vérité et observant avec droiture les trois buts de la vie—cette cité suprême fut gouvernée, telle Amarāvatī par Indra.

Word by Word

• तेन: by him (by that king)
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्गे (Masculine)

• सत्याभिसन्धेन: by (his) truthful resolve / by his promise
• सत्याभिसन्धेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य + अभिसन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (determinative: 'true' + 'resolve'), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• त्रिवर्गम्: the three aims (dharma, artha, kāma)
• त्रिवर्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अनुतिष्ठता: while strictly observing / practicing
• अनुतिष्ठता: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमाने (Present), शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त-प्रायः प्रयोगः; परस्मैपद-धातु 'स्था' (to stand/undertake) with उपसर्ग 'अनु'; तृतीया-एकवचन-सम्बद्ध (agreeing with 'तेन' as agent in instrumental absolute-like construction)

• पालिता: was protected/ruled
• पालिता: कर्म (Karma; patient as subject in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सा: that
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रेष्ठा: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (Adjective), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); 'पुरी' इति विशेष्येण सह समन्वयः

• इन्द्रेण: by Indra
• इन्द्रेण: उपमान-करण (Upamāna in simile; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha; simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), उपमा-निपात (simile particle)

• अमरावती: Amarāvatī
• अमरावती: उपमेय/उपमान-सम्बन्ध (standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमरावती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

King Dasaratha, who always kept his word and followed dharma, attained prosperity and pleasure in equal measure by righteous means ruled that best of the cities as Indra ruled Amaravati.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā
• Indra
• Amarāvatī

FAQs

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

Satya as a foundation of rule: a king who is true to his word and aligns artha and kāma under dharma creates an orderly, flourishing society.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā is being portrayed as an ideal city because its ruler upholds truth and balanced life-goals.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness/faithfulness to promises (satyābhisandha) together with disciplined pursuit of life’s aims.