Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 12

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

वधूनाटकसङ्घैश्च संयुक्तां सर्वत: पुरीम् ।उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतां महतीं सालमेखलाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

vadhūnāṭakasaṅghaiś ca saṁyuktāṁ sarvataḥ purīm | udyānāmravaṇopetāṁ mahatīṁ sālamekhalām ||

Translation

وہ عظیم نگری ہر سمت سے وधूؤں کے ناٹک و رقص کے جتھوں سے بھری ہوئی تھی؛ باغوں اور آم کے جھنڈوں سے آراستہ تھی، اور یوں پھیلی ہوئی تھی گویا سال کے درختوں کی پٹی نے اسے کمر بند کر رکھا ہو۔

Word by Word

• vadhū-nāṭaka-saṅghaiḥ: with troupes of female dancers/actors
• vadhū-nāṭaka-saṅghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument—association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadhū (प्रातिपदिक) + nāṭaka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgha (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (“groups of female performers/actors”)

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

• saṅyuktām: furnished with / joined with
• saṅyuktām: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅyukta (कृदन्त; sam-√yuj/युज् “to join” + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (endowed/connected with)

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: “on all sides/everywhere”)

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• udyāna-āmra-vaṇa-upetām: having gardens and mango-groves
• udyāna-āmra-vaṇa-upetām: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + āmra (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त; upa-√i + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (“endowed with gardens and mango-groves”)

• mahatīm: vast / great
• mahatīm: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sāla-mekhalām: girdled with sāla trees (as a rampart)
• sāla-mekhalām: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāla (प्रातिपदिक) + mekhalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (“girdle/rampart of sāla trees”)

Context

The city with suburban towns on all sides had several female dancers and actors.It was filled with gardens and mango-groves. And girdled by sal trees.

Characters & Entities

• udyāna (gardens)
• śāla trees

FAQs

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

Dharma in society includes well-being and refinement: arts and a well-tended environment indicate a harmonious civic life under righteous governance.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator depicts the city’s cultural vibrancy and natural abundance as marks of an ideal capital.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied royal virtue is patronage and care—supporting arts and maintaining a flourishing, livable city.