Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 6

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्रासील्लोकविश्रुता ।मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण या पुरी निर्मिता स्वयम् ।।।।

Transliteration

ayodhyā nāma nagarī tatrāsīl loka-viśrutā | manunā mānavendreṇa yā purī nirmitā svayam ||

Translation

在那国土中矗立着名城阿踰陀（Ayodhyā），为世人所共闻；此城乃人类之主摩奴（Manu）亲自建造。

Word by Word

• ayodhyā: Ayodhyā
• ayodhyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition with nagarī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nāma: by name / namely
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Specifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक-निपात

• nagarī: city
• nagarī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (appositional to ayodhyā)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location—adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: “there”)

• āsīt: was / existed
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• loka-viśrutā: world-famous
• loka-viśrutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of nagarī/ayodhyā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + viśruta (कृदन्त; √śru “to hear” + vi- + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (locative/genitive sense: “in the world” → “world-famous”); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• manunā: by Manu
• manunā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument—agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन

• mānava-indreṇa: by the lord of men
• mānava-indreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument—agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (“of men” + “lord” = “lord of men”)

• yā: which / that
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun) referring to nagarī/purī

• purī: city
• purī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण to yā (apposition)

• nirmitā: built
• nirmitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of purī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-mita (कृदन्त; √mā/मा “to measure, build” + nir- + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle: “built/constructed”)

• svayam: personally / himself
• svayam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (reflexive adverb: “personally/by oneself”)

Context

In the country called Kosala was the famous capital city of Ayodhya built by the lord of men, Manu .

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Kosala
• Manu

FAQs

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

Ayodhyā is linked to Manu, emblem of law and social order; the verse frames the setting as a seat of dharma and maryādā (normative right conduct).

What is the narrative situation?

The narration moves from the realm of Kosala to its celebrated capital, Ayodhyā, establishing the epic’s royal center.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Institutional virtue: legitimacy and order rooted in tradition (Manu), suggesting governance aligned with dharma.