Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 14

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

सामन्तराजसङ्घैश्च बलिकर्मभिरावृताम् ।नानादेशनिवासैश्च वणिग्भिरुपशोभिताम् ।।।।

Transliteration

sāmantarājasaṅghaiś ca balikarmabhir āvṛtām | nānādēśanivāsaiś ca vaṇigbhir upaśobhitām ||

Translation

ସାମନ୍ତ ରାଜମଣ୍ଡଳୀ ଓ ବଲିକର୍ମରୂପ ଉପହାର ନେଇ ଆସିଥିବା ରାଜାମାନଙ୍କର ଭିଡ଼ରେ ସେ ନଗରୀ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଥିଲା; ନାନା ଦେଶରେ ବସୁଥିବା ବଣିକମାନେ ତାହାକୁ ଅଧିକ ଶୋଭାୟିତ କରୁଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Context

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

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.