Shloka 28

अयोध्यावर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha

Devanagari script

तां सत्यनामां दृढतोरणार्गलांगृहैर्विचित्रैरुपशोभितां शिवाम् ।पुरीमयोध्यां नृसहस्रसङ्कुलांशशास वै शक्रसमो महीपति: ।।1.6.28।।

Transliteration

tāṃ satyanāmāṃ dṛḍhatoraṇārgalāṃ gṛhair vicitrair upaśobhitāṃ śivām |

purīm ayodhyāṃ nṛsahasrasaṅkulāṃ śaśāsa vai śakrasamo mahīpatiḥ || 1.6.28 ||

Translation

那吉祥的阿踰陀城——名副其实，城门坚固、门闩牢实，华宅辉映，千人万众云集——由大地之主达沙拉陀统治，其威严可比释迦天帝。

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (city)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• सत्यनामाम्: true to its name
• सत्यनामाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (having a true name / true to its name), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृढतोरणार्गलाम्: with strong gates and bolts
• दृढतोरणार्गलाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + तोरण + अर्गला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (with firm gates and bolts), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गृहैः: by houses/buildings
• गृहैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विचित्रैः: variegated, splendid
• विचित्रैः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'गृहैः' इति विशेष्येण सह

• उपशोभिताम्: adorned
• उपशोभिताम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिवाम्: auspicious
• शिवाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुरीम्: city
• पुरीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to 'ताम्')
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhyā
• अयोध्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; name in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'पुरीम्' इति विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (apposition)

• नृसहस्रसङ्कुलाम्: teeming with thousands of men
• नृसहस्रसङ्कुलाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृ + सहस्र + सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (crowded with thousands of men), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शशास: ruled
• शशास: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• शक्रसमः: equal to Indra
• शक्रसमः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (equal to Śakra/Indra), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महीपतिः: the king
• महीपतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (lord of the earth), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

The king who equalled Indra (in splendour) ruled the invincible city of Ayodhya true to its name with its strong gates and solid locks. It was adorned with wonderful edifices teeming with thousands of men.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ṣaṣṭhassarga:৷৷Thus ends the sixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Daśaratha
• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is the creation of an auspicious civic life through security, truthful reputation, and righteous rule: the city is ‘satyanāmā’ (true to its name) because governance makes invincibility and wellbeing real, not merely claimed.

What is the narrative situation?

This verse caps the sarga’s depiction of Ayodhyā, presenting it as secure, prosperous, populous, and righteously ruled by Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Majesty in service of order: Daśaratha’s Indra-like splendor is linked to effective protection and the flourishing of the city.