Shloka 23
अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्
Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting
तामग्निमद्भिर्गुणवद्भिरावृतांद्विजोत्तमैर्वेदषडङ्गपारगै: ।सहस्रदैस्सत्यरतैर्महात्मभिर्महर्षिकल्पै ऋषिभिश्च केवलै: ।।।।
tām agnimadbhir guṇavadbhir āvṛtāṃ dvijottamair vedaṣaḍaṅgapāragaiḥ | sahasradaiḥ satyaratair mahātmabhir maharṣikalpai ṛṣibhiś ca kevalaiḥ ||
ਉਹ ਅਯੋਧਿਆ ਅਗਨਿਹੋਤ੍ਰ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ, ਗੁਣਵਾਨ, ਵੇਦਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਛੇ ਵੇਦਾਂਗਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਰੰਗਤ ਦਵਿਜੋਤਮਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਰੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ; ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਦਾਨ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੇ, ਸਤਿ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਤ ਮਹਾਤਮਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ—ਮਹਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਸਮਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਰਿਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ—ਪਰਿਪੂਰਨ ਸੀ।
The city was inhabited by thousands of warriors known as maharathas. They were skilled archers and sharphanded. They would not pierce with arrows, solitary persons, persons without defence, fleeing foes who could be tracked down through hints from sound. With sharp arrows or with the strength of their arms, they would kill roaring and inebriated lions, tigers, boars etc. in the forest. It was in that city (of Ayodhya) that king Dasaratha lived.
FAQs
Satya and dharma as social foundations: truthfulness, ritual responsibility, learning, and generosity are presented as the pillars that sustain an ideal kingdom.
The description culminates by praising Ayodhyā’s learned, truthful, and charitable community, closing the sarga’s portrayal of the capital’s excellence.
Truth-devotion (satya-rati) and generosity (dāna), supported by learning and disciplined religious practice.