Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 1

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

.सर्वा पूर्वमियं येषामासीत्कृत्स्ना वसुन्धरा ।प्रजापतिमुपादाय नृपाणां जयशालिनाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sarvā pūrvam iyaṁ yeṣām āsīt kṛtsnā vasundharā | prajāpatim upādāya nṛpāṇāṁ jayaśālinām ||

Translation

Pada masa lampau, seluruh bumi ini adalah milik para raja penakluk, bermula dari Prajāpati (Manu) beserta garis keturunannya.

Word by Word

• येषाम्: of whom
• येषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• सः: that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सगरः: Sagara
• सगरः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निपात (quotative/"by name")

• सागरः: the ocean
• सागरः: Karta (कर्ता) (of खानितः; subject in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by whom)

• खानितः: was dug
• खानितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि: "was dug"

• षष्टिः: sixty
• षष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता) (with पुत्रसहस्राणि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्या (numeral)

• पुत्रसहस्राणि: thousands of sons
• पुत्रसहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता) (of पर्यवारयन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: पुत्राणां सहस्राणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यान्तम्: going; marching
• यान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of यम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; यम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पर्यवारयन्: surrounded
• पर्यवारयन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-आ-वृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Formerly, this entire earth belonged to those victorious kings starting from Prajapati (Manu).

Characters & Entities

• Prajāpati (Manu)
• vasundharā (earth)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma: rightful sovereignty is framed as inherited responsibility rooted in an acknowledged lineage, implying duty to protect and govern the earth.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator introduces an ancient royal succession, situating later events within a legitimizing history of kings from Manu onward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The ideal of victorious yet legitimate rulership—power is presented as grounded in continuity, order, and inherited duty.