Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 21
अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्
Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting
ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् ।
शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लघुहस्ता विशारदा: ।।1.5.20।।
सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नर्दतां वने ।
हन्तारो निशितैश्शस्त्रैर्बलाद्बाहुबलैरपि ।।1.5.21।।
तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथै: ।
पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा ।।1.5.22।।
tām agnimadbhir guṇavadbhir āvṛtāṃ dvijottamair vedaṣaḍaṅgapāragaiḥ | sahasradaiḥ satyaratair mahātmabhir maharṣikalpai ṛṣibhiś ca kevalaiḥ ||
Ayodhyā ấy được bao bọc bởi những bậc tối thượng trong hàng lưỡng sinh (dvija), những người giữ lửa tế, đầy đức hạnh, tinh thông Veda và sáu Vedāṅga; các bậc đại tâm bố thí ngàn lần, chuyên nhất nơi chân thật, tựa như các đại ṛṣi, và còn có những hiền thánh độc đáo giữa họ.
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.