Valmiki Ramayana 1.47.11-12: Bala Kanda, Sarga 47, Shlokas 11-12
दितेर्गर्भभङ्गो मरुत्प्रतिष्ठा च
Diti’s Severed Embryo and the स्थापना of the Maruts; Viśālā-nagara Lineage
Spoken by Viśvāmitra to RamaSetting: Vaiśālī region (Mithilā-side narrative setting)Places named: VaiśālīRāma-Lakṣmaṇa traveling with Viśvāmitra toward Mithilā; passing through/near Vaiśālī
इक्ष्वाकोऽस्तु नरव्याघ्र पुत्रः परमधार्मिकः ॥११॥
अलम्बुषायामुत्पन्नो विशाल इति विश्रुतः ।
तेन चासीदिह स्थाने विशालेति पुरी कृता ॥१२॥
ikṣvāko ’stu naravyāghra putraḥ paramadhārmikaḥ ||11||
alambuṣāyām utpanno viśāla iti viśrutaḥ |
tena cāsīd iha sthāne viśāleti purī kṛtā ||12||
इक्ष्वाकु का एक बेटा था जो बहुत धरम में माना जाता था। उसका नाम विशाल था, अलम्बुषा से पैदा हुआ था। उसने यहीं अपनी राजधानी बनायी जिसको विशाल ही कहते हैं।
Sandhi Notes
- ikṣvāko 'stu = ikṣvākaḥ + astu (visarga sandhi: o ')
- alambuṣāyām utpannaḥ = alambuṣāyām + utpannaḥ
- tena ca āsīt = tena + ca + āsīt
- viśāla iti = viśālaḥ + iti (visarga before vowel dropped)
- viśāleti = viśāla + iti
- kṛtā (with āsīt) forms passive periphrastic sense ‘was built’
"O Tiger among men (Rama)! this highly virtuous and well-known son named Vishala was born to Ikshvakus in Alambusa. Where, a city named Vishala was built.
The teaching
Dharmic kingship expresses itself in founding and sustaining orderly civic life; righteous lineage is remembered through beneficent works.
- Ethical theme
- Rājadharma / itihāsa-smṛti
For your practice
Supports svādhyāya as contemplation of dharmic exemplars and sacred geography.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Genealogical, grounding, reverent
Themes
- Itihasa
- Dharma
- Royal lineage
- Civic foundation
- Righteous kingship
Name and form (nāma-rūpa) persist as cultural memory; dharmic action leaves saṃskāra in the world as 'city' and 'fame'.
Subtle echo of lineage as a vehicle of dharma—knowledge transmitted through paramparā (teacher-to-student), mirrored here as royal genealogy.
Rāmāyaṇa (later tradition): references to Ikṣvāku lineage across Bāla/Ayodhyā kāṇḍa genealogies; Purāṇic city-foundation lists mentioning Vaiśālī/Viśāla (varies by Purāṇa)
Itihāsa-purāṇa style vaṃśānucarita (dynastic narration)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.47 (Viśvāmitra’s account of the region and its origins)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative
Even, kathā-pravāha; slight lift on 'viśāla' and 'vaiśālī'
FAQs
Dharma is righteous kingship expressed through lineage and civic duty: a dhārmic ruler (Viśāla) establishes orderly habitation (a city) for social flourishing.
While identifying the region, Viśvāmitra explains the origin of Vaiśālī, tracing it to Ikṣvāku’s son Viśāla born of Alambuṣā.
Viśāla’s paramadharma—ideal royal conduct that leads to constructive public works and stable community life.
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