Valmiki Ramayana — Bala Kanda · Chapter 5
Description of Ayodhya
अयोध्यावर्णनम्
The glory of Ayodhya, capital of King Dasharatha
Translated by Manmatha Nath Dutt (1894), public domain — modernised
Partial chapter. Opening verses only — the full sarga gives an extended description of the city's prosperity.
VERSE 1
सर्वा पूर्वमियं येषामासीत्कृत्स्ना वसुंधरा। प्रजापतिमुपादाय नृपाणां जयशालिनाम्॥
sarvā pūrvam iyaṁ yeṣām āsīt kṛtsnā vasundharā । prajāpatim upādāya nṛpāṇāṁ jaya-śālinām ॥
The whole earth in former times belonged to those victorious kings — beginning with Prajapati himself.
VERSE 2
येषां स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानितः। षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि यं यान्तं पर्यवारयन्॥
yeṣāṁ sa sagaro nāma sāgaro yena khānitaḥ । ṣaṣṭiḥ putra-sahasrāṇi yaṁ yāntaṁ paryavārayan ॥
Among them was that Sagara by whom the ocean was dug out — surrounded as he marched by sixty thousand sons.
VERSE 3
इक्ष्वाकूणामिदं तेषां राज्ञां वंशे महात्मनाम्। महदुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतम्॥
ikṣvākūṇām idaṁ teṣāṁ rājñāṁ vaṁśe mahātmanām । mahad utpannam ākhyānaṁ rāmāyaṇam iti śrutam ॥
In the lineage of those great-souled kings of the Ikshvaku house arose this mighty narrative — known as the Ramayana.
VERSE 4
कोसलो नाम मुदितः स्फीतो जनपदो महान्। निविष्टः सरयूतीरे प्रभूतधनधान्यवान्॥
kosalo nāma muditaḥ sphīto janapado mahān । niviṣṭaḥ sarayū-tīre prabhūta-dhana-dhānyavān ॥
There was a great country called Kosala, joyful and prosperous, situated on the bank of the Sarayu, abounding in wealth and grain.