Valmiki Ramayana 1.5.14: Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 14

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Setting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

सामन्तराजसङ्घैश्च बलिकर्मभिरावृताम् ।

नानादेशनिवासैश्च वणिग्भिरुपशोभिताम् ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.5.14

Transliteration

sāmantarājasaṅghaiś ca balikarmabhir āvṛtām |

nānādēśanivāsaiś ca vaṇigbhir upaśobhitām ||14||

Translation

आस-पास के राजा आए थे अपना तोहफा ले के। वो सब शहर में भर गए थे। बहुत देशों से सौदागर आकर वहाँ रहते थे। उनसे शहर और भी सुंदर लग रहा था।

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Word by Word

• sāmanta-rāja-saṅghaiḥ: with hosts of feudatory kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmanta (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (“groups of neighbouring/feudatory kings”)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument—association)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)

• bali-karmabhiḥ: with tribute-payments
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (कर्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (“tribute” + “acts/payments” = “tribute-payments/tribute duties”)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument—means/association)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• āvṛtām: surrounded / thronged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āvṛta (कृदन्त; ā-√vṛ/वृ “to cover, surround” + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (surrounded/thronged)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier of purīm)

• nānā-deśa-nivāsaiḥ: with inhabitants from many lands
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्ययवत्) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + nivāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (“residents of various countries”)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument—association)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)

• vaṇigbhiḥ: with merchants
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṇij (वणिज् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument—association)

• upa-śobhitām: adorned / embellished
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√śubh (शुभ् धातु) + क्त (śobhita) with upa-
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (adorned/embellished)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)

Sandhi Notes

• sāmantarājasaṅghaiḥ + ca → sāmantarājasaṅghaiśca
• balikarmabhiḥ + āvṛtām → balikarmabhirāvṛtām
• nānādēśanivāsaiḥ + ca → nānādēśanivāsaiśca
• vaṇigbhiḥ + upaśobhitām → vaṇigbhirupaśobhitām.

Context

It was embellished with a host of tributary kings who used to pay tributes and with merchants from different countries.

The teaching

A righteous capital attracts orderly allegiance and lawful commerce; prosperity is shown as a fruit of stable rājadharma.

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / social order

For your practice

Contemplation on dharmic prosperity (śrī) arising from order, restraint, and rightful exchange; supports gratitude and non-covetousness.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Cosmopolitan, prosperous, orderly

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Rājadharma
• Political order
• Economic ethics

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• bali (tribute)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as orderly polity and fair prosperity: tribute and trade indicate a structured political network and flourishing commerce under stable rule.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator depicts the capital’s regional influence and cosmopolitan trade, showing it as a center of power and wealth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Statesmanship: the implied virtue is the ability to sustain alliances, secure loyalty, and foster lawful economic exchange.