Shloka 19

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

विमानमिव सिद्धानां तपसाधिगतं दिवि ।सुनिवेशितवेश्मान्तां नरोत्तमसमावृताम् ।।।।

Transliteration

vimānam iva siddhānāṃ tapasādhigataṃ divi | suniveśitaveśmāntāṃ narottamasamāvṛtām ||

Translation

ਸਿੱਧਾਂ ਨੇ ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਨਾਲ ਦਿਵਿ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕੀਤੇ ਵਿਮਾਨ ਵਾਂਗ ਉਹ ਨਗਰੀ ਸੀ; ਘਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਤਾਰਾਂ ਸੁਚੱਜੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਜੀਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਨਰੋਤਮਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਭਰੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• विमानम्: an aerial car
• विमानम्: उपमान (Standard of simile/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा (Simile marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• सिद्धानाम्: of the siddhas
• सिद्धानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अधिगतम्: attained, acquired
• अधिगतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म) — उपमान-वर्णन
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → अधिगत
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP), विशेषणम् (qualifying विमानम्)

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक) / द्यौः-शब्द (लोकप्रयोगः: दिवि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् स्थिर-रूपम् ‘दिवि’

• सुनिवेशितवेश्मान्ताम्: having well-laid-out houses/palaces
• सुनिवेशितवेश्मान्ताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-निवेशित-वेश्म-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित); सु + निवेशित + वेश्म + अन्त
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निवेशित = नि-विश्+णिच्+क्त; विशेषणम् (qualifying ताम्/पुरीम्)

• नरोत्तमसमावृताम्: inhabited/filled with the best of men
• नरोत्तमसमावृताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर-उत्तम-समावृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित); नर + उत्तम + समावृत
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समावृत = सम्-आ-वृ (धातु)+क्त; विशेषणम्

Context

Like an aerial car acquired by the siddhas in heaven through their austerities, the palaces were perfectly constructed in rows and inhabited by the noblest of men.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Siddha
• Vimāna

FAQs

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

The imagery links prosperity to merit (tapas) and virtue: dharma and disciplined effort are presented as the foundation of excellence in both people and institutions.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā’s elevated status is emphasized through a celestial comparison and by praising the quality of its inhabitants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Nobility of character among citizens—ethical excellence as the real ornament of the city.