Shloka 16

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

चित्रामष्टापदाकारां नरनारीगणैर्युताम् ।सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णां विमानगृहशोभिताम् ।।।।

Transliteration

citrām aṣṭāpadākārāṃ naranārīgaṇair yutām | sarvaratnasamākīrṇāṃ vimānagṛhaśobhitām ||

Translation

ਅਦਭੁਤ ਰੂਪ ਨਾਲ, ਅਸ਼ਟਾਪਦ ਦੇ ਪੱਟੇ ਵਾਂਗ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ, ਨਰ-ਨਾਰੀ ਦੇ ਸਮੂਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਭਰੀ; ਹਰ ਕਿਸਮ ਦੇ ਰਤਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਛਿੜਕੀ ਹੋਈ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਮਾਨ ਵਰਗੇ ਬਹੁ-ਮੰਜ਼ਿਲਾ ਮਹਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਸ਼ੋਭਿਤ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• चित्राम्: wonderful, splendid
• चित्राम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) — वर्ण्य-वस्तु
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ताम्/पुरीम् understood)

• अष्टापदाकाराम्: having the form of an aṣṭāpada-board
• अष्टापदाकाराम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) — वर्ण्य-वस्तु
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टापद-आकार (प्रातिपदिक); अष्टापद + आकार
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• नरनारीगणैः: by groups of men and women
• नरनारीगणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-नारी-गण (प्रातिपदिक); नर + नारी + गण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• युताम्: endowed/filled with
• युताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) — वर्ण्य-वस्तु
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → युत (प्रातिपदिक-भाव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), विशेषणम्

• सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णाम्: strewn/abounding with all gems
• सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) — वर्ण्य-वस्तु
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-रत्न-समाकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक); सर्व + रत्न + समाकीर्ण
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• विमानगृहशोभिताम्: adorned with lofty palace-houses
• विमानगृहशोभिताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) — वर्ण्य-वस्तु
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमान-गृह-शोभित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित); विमान + गृह + शोभित
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शोभित = शोभ्(धातु)+क्त, विशेषणम्

Context

With groups of men and women and adorned with seven-storied palaces, it looked wonderful like a board where the game of ashtapada, is played. It was rich in all kinds of gems.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is suggested as social order and harmony: a well-structured city with thriving communities indicates governance aligned with justice and welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator continues a panoramic description of Ayodhyā’s design, population, and opulence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective civic virtue: disciplined, harmonious living under righteous rule.