Valmiki Ramayana 1.6.23-24: Bala Kanda, Sarga 6, Shlokas 23-24
अयोध्यावर्णनम् · Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha
विन्ध्यपर्वतजैर्मत्तैः पूर्णा हैमवतैरपि ।
मदान्वितैरतिबलैर्मातङ्गैः पर्वतोपमैः ॥२३॥
ऐरावतकुलीनैश्च महापद्मकुलैस्तथा ।
अञ्जनादपि निष्पन्नैर्वामनादपि च द्विपैः ॥२४॥
vindhyaparvatajairmattaiḥ pūrṇā haimavatairapi |
madānvitairatibalairmātaṅgaiḥ parvatopamaiḥ ||23||
airāvatakulīnaiśca mahāpadmakulaistathā |
añjanādapi niṣpannairvāmanādapi ca dvipaiḥ ||24||
अयोध्या में बड़े-बड़े हाथी थे। विंध्य पर्वत और हिमालय से लाए हुए, नशीले और बड़े ताकतवाले। कुछ ऐरावत और महापद्म के खानदान के थे, कुछ अंजन और वामन के खानदान के। हाथी इतने बड़े थे जैसे कोई पर्वत खड़ा हो।
It was full of intoxicated elephants born in Vindhya mountains, elephants of enormousstrength looking like mountains and born in the Himalayas. Elephants of good breed hailing from the family of Airavata (Indra's vehicle), Mahapadma, Anjana and Vamana.
FAQs
While primarily descriptive, this verse illustrates the principle of Aishvarya (royal opulence) as a manifestation of righteous governance. A king's Dharma includes maintaining a well-equipped and majestic kingdom, symbolizing the prosperity that flows from just rule. The elephants represent strength and grandeur befitting a Dharmic king.
Valmiki continues his detailed description of Ayodhya's magnificence under King Dasaratha, specifically highlighting the royal stables filled with magnificent war elephants from various renowned lineages, demonstrating the kingdom's military might and wealth.
The virtue of royal magnificence (Aishvarya) is emphasized. The detailed listing of prestigious elephant lineages (Airavata, Mahapadma, Anjana, Vamana) shows Dasaratha's commitment to maintaining the highest standards befitting an Ikshvaku king, reflecting his dedication to royal Dharma.
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