Opening the text
अयोध्यावर्णनम् · Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha
. तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित्सर्वसङ्ग्रहः ।
दीर्घदर्शी महातेजाः पौरजानपदप्रियः ॥१॥
इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मरतो वशी ।
महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः ॥२॥
बलवान्निहतामित्रो मित्रवान्विजितेन्द्रियः ।
धनैश्च सङ्ग्रहैश्चान्यैश्शक्रवैश्रवणोपमः ॥३॥
यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता ।
तथा दशरथो राजा वसञ्जगदपालयत् ॥४॥
tasyāṃ purīm ayodhyāyāṃ vedavit sarvasaṅgrahaḥ |
dīrghadarśī mahātejāḥ paurajānapadapriyaḥ ||1||
ikṣvākūṇām atiratho yajvā dharmarato vaśī |
maharṣikalpo rājarṣis triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ ||2||
balavān nihatāmitro mitravān vijitendriyaḥ |
dhanaiś ca saṅgrahaiś cānyaiḥ śakravaiśravaṇopamaḥ ||3||
yathā manur mahātejā lokasya parirakṣitā |
tathā daśaratho rājā vasan jagad apālayat ||4||
अयोध्या शहर में दशरथ नाम का राजा रहता था। वो वेद के बारे में सब जानता था। उसके पास सब कुछ था। वो दूर तक का सोचने वाला था। उसमें बहुत ताकत थी। शहर के लोग और गाँव के लोग सब उसे प्यार करते थे। वो इक्ष्वाकु वंश में बड़ा योद्धा था। यज्ञ करता था, धरम पे चलता था, अपने आप को कंट्रोल में रखता था। बड़े रिशि जैसा था, और तीनों दुनिया में उसका नाम था। बहुत स्ट्रॉन्ग था, दुश्मनों को हराता था। दोस्त बहुत थे, अपनी इंद्रियों पर कंट्रोल था। धन और संपत्ति में इंद्र और कुबेर जैसा था। जैसे मनु ने लोगों की रक्षा की थी, वैसे दशरथ राजा ने भी दुनिया को प्रोटेक्ट किया।
From that city of Ayodhya, king Dasaratha ruled the entire world, following the tradition of Manu who was a highly powerful protector of the people. Dasaratha waswell versed in the Vedas. He commanded all resources. Far-sighted, he possessed great prowess. He was dear to the inhabitants of towns and villages. Among Ikshvaku kings, he was a great charioteer capable of fighting with many maharathas single-handed. He performed many sacrifices and was devoted to the practice of dharma. He was in full control over his subjects. He was a great sage, a royal saint and renowned in the three worlds (Bhooloka, Bhuvarloka and Suvarloka). He was mighty. He was a destroyer of enemies. He had scores of good friends. He had perfect control over his senses. In riches, he was comparable to Indra and Kubera.
Rājadharma: the king’s righteousness is expressed as protection of the world, self-control, Vedic learning, and public welfare—rule as guardianship, not exploitation.
Early in Bālakāṇḍa, the poem establishes Ayodhyā’s setting and portrays Daśaratha’s ideal qualities before the events leading to Rāma’s birth and mission.
Daśaratha’s kingly excellence—discipline, generosity, strength, and devotion to dharma—modeling the ethical ideal of a ruler.
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.