Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 10

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

कवाटतोरणवतीं सुविभक्तान्तरापणाम् ।सर्वयन्त्रायुधवतीमुपेतां सर्वशिल्पिभि: ।।।।

Transliteration

kavāṭatoraṇavatīṁ suvibhaktāntarāpaṇām | sarvayantrāyudhavatīm upetāṁ sarvaśilpibhiḥ ||

Translation

അവിടെ കവാടങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയ തോരണദ്വാരങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; അകത്തെ വിപണികൾ നന്നായി വിഭജിച്ചും ക്രമപ്പെടുത്തിയുമിരുന്നു; എല്ലാ യന്ത്രായുധങ്ങളാലും സജ്ജമായി, സകല ശില്പികളാലും സമൃദ്ധമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• kavāṭa-toraṇa-vatīm: having door-panels and archways
• kavāṭa-toraṇa-vatīm: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier of purīm/tām)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kavāṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + toraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + -vat (वत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (“she/it whose gateways have doors and arches”); वत्-प्रत्ययान्त

• su-vibhakta-antara-āpaṇām: having well-arranged inner markets
• su-vibhakta-antara-āpaṇām: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + vibhakta (कृदन्त; √bhaj + vi- + क्त) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + āpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (“having well-arranged inner markets/shops”)

• sarva-yantra-āyudha-vatīm: having all kinds of instruments and weapons
• sarva-yantra-āyudha-vatīm: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + yantra (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक) + -vat (वत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (“having all instruments and weapons”)

• upetām: endowed with
• upetām: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upeta (कृदन्त; upa-√i/इ “to go/attain” + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle: “endowed with/possessed of”)

• sarva-śilpibhiḥ: with all artisans
• sarva-śilpibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument—association: “with/by artisans”)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śilpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (“all” + “artisans”)

Context

The city where all kinds of artificers lived had arched outer gateways, well-arranged local markets and all kinds of instruments and weapons.

Characters & Entities

• āyudha (weapons)

FAQs

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

Dharma of governance includes public welfare and protection: a well-built city with markets, crafts, and defenses reflects responsible kingship.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes the city’s infrastructure—gates, markets, artisans, and armaments—to show its prosperity and preparedness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative competence: the implied royal virtue is foresight—supporting livelihoods (crafts/markets) while ensuring security (weapons).