Shloka 25

अयोध्यावर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha

Devanagari script

भद्रैर्मन्द्रैर्मृगैश्चैव भद्रमन्द्रमृगैस्तथा।भद्रमन्द्रैर्भद्रमृगैर्मृगमन्द्रैश्च सा पुरी।नित्यमत्तैस्सदा पूर्णा नागैरचलसन्निभै:।।1.6.25।।

Transliteration

bhadrair mandrair mṛgaiś caiva bhadramandramṛgais tathā |

bhadramandrair bhadramṛgair mṛgamandraiś ca sā purī |

nityamattaiḥ sadā pūrṇā nāgair acalasannibhaiḥ || 1.6.25 ||

Translation

那座城常常充满如山般的巨象，恒在象酥之狂：有跋陀罗（Bhadra）、曼陀罗（Mandra）、牟利伽（Mṛga）诸类，亦有其杂交之种——跋陀罗–曼陀罗、跋陀罗–牟利伽、牟利伽–曼陀罗。

Word by Word

• सा: that (city)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• योजने: at yojanas (in extent)
• योजने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (measure/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), द्विवचन/एकवचन-रूप (locative; here with numeral sense: ‘at (a distance of) yojanas’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of योजने
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (numeral)

• भूयः: further; beyond
• भूयः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अधिक्य-अव्यय (adverb: further/more)

• सत्यनामा: true to its name
• सत्यनामा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of सा (पुरी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सत्यं नाम यस्याः’ (sense close to bahuvrīhi: ‘true to its name’)

• प्रकाशते: shines; is manifest
• प्रकाशते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + काश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यस्याम्: in which
• यस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (relative pronoun: in which)

• दशरथः: Daśaratha
• दशरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Apposition (समनाधिकरण) to दशरथः
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वसन्: dwelling; residing
• वसन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) (concomitant action)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस् (धातु) → वसत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपालयत्: ruled; protected
• अपालयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ + पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

Context

The city (of Ayodhya) was always full of intoxicated elephants resembling mountains belonging to the races of Bhadra, Mandra, Mriga and interbreed of these three races, interbreed of races of Bhadra and Mandra, Bhadra and Mriga, Mriga and Mandra.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Mṛga (elephant breed)
• elephants (nāga)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly supports dharma through the ideal of a stable, well-resourced capital: prosperity and power are portrayed as instruments for protection and public order.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā’s abundance is elaborated by listing elephant breeds and crossbreeds, emphasizing the city’s continuous readiness and wealth.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Institutional strength: the capital’s enduring capacity reflects organized governance and preparedness.