सर्वा पूर्वमियं येषामासीत्कृत्स्ना वसुंधरा | प्रजापतिमुपादाय नृपाणां जयशालिनाम् ||१-५-१ येषां स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानितः | षष्टिः पुत्रसहस्राणि यं यान्तं पर्यवारयन् ||१-५-२ इक्ष्वाकूणामिदं तेषां रज्ञां वंशे महात्मनाम् | महदुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतम् || १-५-३
sarvaa puurvam iyam yeShaam aasiit kR^itsnaa vasuMdharaa | prajapatim upaadaaya nR^ipaaNam jaya shaalinaam ||1-5-1 yeShaam sa sagaro naama saagaro yena khaanitaH | ShaShTiH putra sahasraaNi yam yaantam paryavaarayan ||1-5-2 ikshvaakuuNaam idam teShaam raaj~naam vaMshe mahaatmanaam | mahad utpannam aakhyanam raamaayaNam iti shrutam || 1-5-3
Once upon a time, under which victorious kings, starting from Prajapati-s, this entire earth with all its islands is there, among which kings one king named Sagara is there, well-known for his deepening the oceans, and whom his sixty thousand sons were fencing in when he is set out for action, in the dynasty of such Ikshvaku kings this highly revered and reputed epic Ramayana is originated. [1-5-1, 3]
तदिदं वर्तयिष्यावः सर्वं निखिलमादितः | धर्मकामार्थसहितं श्रोतव्यमनसूयया || १-५-४
ayodhyaa naama nagarii tatra aasiit loka vishrutaa | manunaa maanava indreNa yaa purii nirmitaa svayam || 1-5-6
Being such a legend, we two wish to relate this Ramayana entirely and completely from the beginning, which is endowed with the values and means of probity, prosperity, and pleasure seeking... and this be listened without any caviling. [1-5-4]
कोसलो नाम मुदितः स्फीतो जनपदो महान् | निविष्टः सरयूतीरे प्रभूतधनधान्यवान् || १-५-५
aayataa dasha cha dve cha yojanaani mahaapurii | shriimatii triiNi vistiirNaa su vibhak{}taa mahaapathaa || 1-5-7
A great kingdom named Kosala, a joyous and a vast one well flourishing with monies and cereals, is snugly situated on the riverbanks of Sarayu. [1-5-5]
अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्रासील्लोकविश्रुता | मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण या पुरी निर्मिता स्वयम् || १-५-६
raaja maargeNa mahataa suvibhak{}tena shobhitaa | muk{}taa puShpa avakiirNena jala sik{}tena nityashaH || 1-5-8
A world-renowned city is there in that kingdom, which is personally built by Manu, the foremost ruler of mankind. [1-4-6]
आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी | श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सुविभक्ता महापथा || १-५-७
taam tu raajaa dasharatho mahaaraaShTra vivardhanaH | puriim aavaasayaamaasa divi devapatiH yathaa || 1-5-9
That glorious city with well-devised highways is twelve yojana-s lengthwise and three yojana-s breadth wise. [1-5-7]
राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिता | मुक्तपुष्पावकीर्णेन जलसिक्तेन नित्यशः || १-५-८
kapaaTa toraNavartii su vibhak{}ta antaraapaNaam | sarva yaMtra ayudhavatiim uShitaam sarva shilpibhiH || 1-5-10
That city shines forth with well-laid great royal highways that are always wetted with water, and with flowers strewn and scattered on them. [1-5-8]
तां तु राजा दशरथो महाराष्ट्रविवर्धनः | पुरीमावासयामास दिवं देवपतिर्यथा || १-५-९
suuta maagadha saMbaadhaam shriimatiim atula prabhaam | ucchaaTTaala dhvajavatiim shataghnii shata saMkulaam || 1-5-11
As an improver of great kingdom Dasharatha the king made her as his abode, as Indra made heavens as his abode. [1-5-9]
कवाटतोरणवतीं सुविभक्तान्तरापणाम् | सर्वयन्त्रायुधवतीमुषितां सर्वशिल्पिभिः || १-५-१०
vadhuu naaTaka sanghaiH cha saMyuk{}taam sarvataH puriim | udyaana aamra vaNopetaam mahatiim saala mekhalaam || 1-5-12
That city is surrounded with gateways and archways; the front yards of buildings are well laid; it is lodges all kinds of machinery, weaponry and craftsmen, and king Dasharatha dwells in such a city. [1-4-10]
सूतमागधसंबाधां श्रीमातीमतुलप्रभाम् | उच्चाट्टालध्वजवतीं शतघ्नीशतसंकुलाम् || १-५-११
durga gaMbhiira parikhaam durgaam anyaiH duraasadam | vaajiivaaraNa saMpuurNaam gobhiH uShTraiH kharaiH tathaa || 1-5-13
She that prosperous city Ayodhya is muchly crammed with many a eulogist and panegyrist, yet she is highly splendorous with many a bastion, flag and hundreds of batteries of canons, and Dasharatha dwells therein. [1-5-11]
वधूनाटकसंङ्घैश्च संयुक्तां सर्वतः पुरीम् | उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतां महतीं सालमेखलाम् || १-५-१२
saamaMta raaja sanghaiH cha bali karmabhiH aavR^itam | naanaa desha nivaasaiH cha vaNigbhiH upashobhitaam || 1-5-14
That city Ayodhya accommodates groups of danseuses and theatrical personnel, and she is surrounded everywhere with the gardens and brakes of mango trees, and her wide fort-wall is like her cincture ornament. [1-5-12]
दुर्गगंभीरपरिखां दुर्गामन्यैर्दुरासदाम् | वाजिवारणसपूर्णां गोभिरुष्ट्रैः खरैस्तथा || १-५-१३
praasaadai ratna vikR^itaiH parvataiH iva shobhitaam | kuuTaagaaraiH cha saMpuurNaam indrasya iva amaraavatiim |1-5-15
That Ayodhya is an impassable one for trespassers, or for others invaders, owing to her impassable and profound moats, and she is abounding with horses, camels, likewise with cows and donkeys. [1-5-13]
सामन्तराजसंङ्घैश्च बलिकर्मभिरावृताम् | नानादेशनिवासैश्च वणिग्भिरुपशोभिताम् || १-५-१४
chitram aShTaapada aakaaraam vara naarii gaNair yutaam | sarva ratna samaakiirNaam vimaana gR^iha shobhitaam || 1-5-16
With the throngs of provincial kings who come hither to pay dues pervade that city, and she is verily lustrous with residents of various other countries, and with traders, too. In such a city Dasharatha dwells. [1-5-14]
प्रासादै रत्नविकृतैः पर्वतैरुपशोभिताम् | कूटागारैश्च सम्पुर्णामिन्द्रस्येवामरावतीम् |१-५-१५
gR^iha gaaDhaam avicChidraam sama bhuumau niveshitaam | shaali taNDula saMpuurNaam ikshu kaaNDa rasaH udakaam ||1-5-17
Buildings are ornamentally studded with precious gems, and with such multi-storied sky scrappers she is adorned, and filled with them she is like Amaravati, the capital of Indra. [1-5-15]
चित्रामष्टापदाकारां वरनारीगणैर्युताम् | सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णां विमानगृहशोभिताम् || १-५-१६
dundubhiibhiH mR^idangaiH cha viiNaabhiH paNavaiH tathaa | naaditaam bhR^isham atyartham pR^ithivyaam taam anuttamaam ||1-5-18
Amazing is Ayodhya for its lay-out is like a game board called aSTapadi, and with its flocks of beautiful women moving thereabout, where all kinds of precious gems are heaped up, and where its seven storied buildings are picturesque. [1-5-16]
गृहगाढामविच्छिद्रां समभूमौ निवेशिताम् | शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णामिक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम् ||१-५-१७
vimaanam iva siddhaanaam tapasa adhigatam divi | su niveshita veshmaantaam narottama samaavR^itaam ||1-5-19
The housing is very dense and there is no place or ground unutilized, and all are constructed on well-levelled lands, and rice-grain is plentiful while the drinking water tastes like sugar cane juice. [1-5-17]
दुन्दुभीभिर्मृदङ्गैश्च वीणाभिः पणवैस्तथा | नादितां भृशमत्यर्थं पृथिव्यां तामनुत्तमाम् ||१-५-१८
ye cha baaNaiH na vidhyanti vivik{}tam aparaa param | shabda vedhyam cha vitatam laghu hastaa vishaaradaaH || 1-5-20
That city is sounding with the drumbeats of great drums, and with musical rhythm instruments like mridanga, cymbals, and with string instruments like Veena etc., and on earth she is uniquely the best city. [1-5-18]
विमानमिव सिद्धानां तपसाधिगतं दिवि | सुनिवेशितवेश्मान्तां नरोत्तमसमावृताम् ||१-५-१९
siMha vyaaghra varaahaaNaam mattaanaam nadataam vane | hantaaro nishitaiH shastraiH balaat baahu balair api || 1-5-21
Ayodhya is like a hovering space station attained by sages by their ascesis, and its edifices are well planned and it is teeming with best people. [1-4-19]
ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् | शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लयुहस्ता विशारदाः || १-५-२०
taadR^ishaanaam sahasraiH taam abhi puurNaam mahaarathaiH | puriim aavasayamaasa raajaa dasharathaH tadaa || 1-5-22
They the skilful archers of that Ayodhya will not kill a lone one with their arrows, one that does not have either a predecessor or a successor in his family, a fleeing one, or by listening to the sound of the target, as is done in sonic-archery, and their skills, acumen and handiness are thus benevolent. [1-5-20]
सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नर्दतां वने | हन्तारो निशितैः शस्त्रैर्बलाद्बाहुबलैरपि || १-५-२१
taam agnimadbhiH guNavadbhiH aavR^itaam dvijottamaiH veda ShaDa~Nga paaragaiH | sahasradaiH satya rataiH mahaatmabhiH maharShi kalpaiH R^iShibhiH cha kevalaiH || 1-5-23
They kill the fattened and roaring lions, tigers and wild boars with the might of their sharp weaponry, or even with the might of their own arms alone. [1-4-21]
तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथैः| पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा || १-५-२२
With that kind of thousands of archers, and with speediest chariot-warriors she that Ayodhya is filled with, and King Dasharatha made his abode in such a city. [1-5-22]
तामग्निमद्भिर्गुणवद्भिरावृताम् द्विजोत्तमैः वेदषडङ्गपारगैः | सहस्रदैः सत्यरतैर्महात्मभिः महर्षिकल्पैः ऋषिभिश्च केवलैः || १-५-२३
She that Ayodhya is encompassed with Vedic scholars who always worship the ritual fire by enkindling the three kinds of ritual-fires continuously, virtuous Brahman scholars in Veda-s and their six ancillary subjects, and other great souls that are in similitude with great saints, and who are just like sages that are charitable donors, and that abide by the truth. [1-5-23]
