Bala Kanda — Sarga 6

तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित् सर्वसंग्रहः। दीर्घदर्शी महातेजाः पौरजानपदप्रियः॥

In that city of Ayodhyā resided king Dasaratha, versed in the Vedas, commanding all resources, far-sighted, of mighty prowess, dear to the inhabitants both rural and urban.

Bala Kanda 6.1

इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मपरो वशी। महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः॥

He was an Athiratha in the Ikşvāku line, performing sacrifices, engaged in the performance of duties, self-controlled like a Maharși, a royal saint famed in the three worlds.

Bala Kanda 6.2

बलवान् निहतामित्रो मित्रवान् विजितेन्द्रियः। धनैश्च संचयैश्चान्यैः शक्रवैश्रवणोपमः॥

He possessed of strength, the destroyer of foes, having friends, of subdued senses, comparable to ſakra and Vaiśravaņa by virtue of accumulated riches and other possessions.

Bala Kanda 6.3

यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता। तथा दशरथो राजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता।४॥

As the highly-powerful Manu protected the people, Dasaratha did the same.

Bala Kanda 6.4

तेन सत्याभिसंधेन त्रिवर्गमनुतिष्ठता। पालिता सा पुरी श्रेष्ठा इन्द्रेणेवामरावती॥

As Indra rules Amarāvatī, that one firm in promise, and following duty, profit, and pleasure, ruled that best of cities.

Bala Kanda 6.5

तस्मिन् पुरवरे हृष्टा धर्मात्मानो बहुश्रुताः। नरास्तुष्टा धनैः स्वैः स्वैरलुब्धाः सत्यवादिनः॥

In that excellent city, the men were happy and righteous-souled, and widely-read, and each contented with his possessions, and devoid of covetousness, and speaking the truth.

Bala Kanda 6.6

नाल्पसंनिचयः कश्चिदासीत् तस्मिन् पुरोत्तमे। कुटुम्बी यो ह्यसिद्धार्थो गवाश्वधनधान्यवान्॥

In that prime of cities, there was none who had not at his command a plenteous supply of the good things, and there was no householder who was not well off in horses and kine, and corn and wealth.

Bala Kanda 6.7

कामी वा न कदर्यो वा नृशंसः पुरुषः क्वचित्। द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नाविद्वान् न च नास्तिकः॥

And one could see nowhere in Ayodhyā persons given up to lust, or unsightly, or crooked-minded, or unlettered, or atheistical.

Bala Kanda 6.8

सर्वे नराश्च नार्यश्च धर्मशीला: सुसंयताः। मुदिताः शीलवृत्ताभ्यां महर्षय इवामलाः॥

And all the men and all the women were of excellent character, and subdued senses, and a happy frame of mind, and both on respect of occupation and conduct spotless like to the Maharsis.

Bala Kanda 6.9

नाकुण्डली नामुकुटी नास्रग्वी नाल्पभोगवान्। नामृष्टो न नलिप्ताङ्गो नासुगन्धश्च विद्यते ॥

And all wore ear-rings and tiaras and garlands, and abundantly enjoyed the good things of life. And all were clean, daubing their limbs, and perfuming their persons.

Bala Kanda 6.10

नामृष्टभोजी नादाता नाप्यनङ्गदनिष्कधृक् । नाहस्ताभरणो वापि दृश्यते नाप्यनात्मवान्॥

And feeding on pure food, and giving away, and wearing Angadas (A bracelet worn upon the upper arm) and Niskas (An ornament for the breast or neck.) and hand-ornaments, and repressing passions.

Bala Kanda 6.11

नानाहिताग्नि यज्वा न क्षुद्रो वा न तस्करः। कश्चिदासीदयोध्यायां न चावृत्तो न संकरः॥

There were not on Ayodhyā persons not lighting the sacrificial fire, or not performing sacrifices, or mean-minded, or thieving, or engaged in improper occupations, or of impure descent.

Bala Kanda 6.12

स्वकर्मनिरता नित्यं ब्राह्मणा विजितेन्द्रियाः। दानाध्ययनशीलाश्च संयताश्च प्रतिग्रहे ॥

The Brāhmaṇas of subdued senses were always engaged in the performance of their own duties, giving away in charity, and studying, and receiving gifts with discrimination.

Bala Kanda 6.13

नास्तिको नानृती वापि न कश्चिदबहुश्रुतः। नासूयको न चाशक्तो नाविद्वान् विद्यते क्वचित्॥

None of them was atheistical or untruthful or be reft of hearing scriptures or detracting or incompetent or illiterate.

Bala Kanda 6.14

नाषडङ्गविदन्नास्ति नाव्रतो नासहस्रदः। नदीनः क्षिप्तचित्तो वा व्यथितो वापि कश्चन ॥

There was no Brāhmaṇa who was not versed in the Vedas and Vedangas, or poor-spirit, or of insane mind, or afflicted.

Bala Kanda 6.15

कश्चित्ररो वा नारी वा नाश्रीमान् नाप्यरूपवान्। द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नापि राजन्यभक्तिमान्॥

And no man and no woman was seen devoid of grace or beauty, or lacking in reverence for their monarch.

Bala Kanda 6.16

वर्णेष्वर्यचतुर्थेषु देवतातिथिपूजकाः। कृतज्ञाच वदान्याच शूरा विक्रमसंयुताः॥

The four orders with Brāhmanas at their head contained persons serving gods and guests, and endowed with gratitude, and munificent, and heroic, and possessing prowess.

Bala Kanda 6.17

दीर्घायुषो नराः सर्वे धर्म सत्यं च संश्रिताः। सहिताः पुत्रपौत्रैश्च नित्यं स्त्रीभिः पुरोत्तमे॥

And the men were long-lived; and ever abode by duty and truth; and lived in that best of cities, always surrounded by sons and grandsons and wives.

Bala Kanda 6.18

क्षत्रं ब्रह्ममुखं चासीत् वैश्याः क्षत्रमनुव्रताः। शूद्राः स्वकर्मनिरतास्त्रीन् वर्णानुपचारिणः॥

The Kşatriyas were obedient the Brahmanas, and the Vaisyas followed the Kșatriyas, and the sadras, occupied with their proper vocations, ministered to the three other orders.

Bala Kanda 6.19

सा तेनेक्ष्वाकुनाथेन पुरी सुपरिरक्षिता। यथा पुरस्तान्मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण धीमता॥

That city was ably govered by Dasaratha that lord of Ikşvāku's line, even as that foremost of men, the intelligent Manu, had governed it before him.

Bala Kanda 6.20

योधानामग्निकल्पानां पेशलानाममर्षिणाम्। सम्पूर्णा कृतविद्यानां गुहा केसरिणामिव।२१।।

And as a mountain-cavern abounds with lions, it was filled with warriors resembling flaming fire, of straight ways, unforbearing, and of accomplished learning. to

Bala Kanda 6.21

काम्बोजविषये जातैर्बाहीकैश्च हयोत्तमैः। वनायुजैनदीजैश्च पूर्णा हरिहयोत्तमैः॥

And the city abounded with excellent horses sprung in Kamboja, and Vahlika, and Vanayu, and the banks of the Sindhu, and like to that best of horses, Hari's charger.

Bala Kanda 6.22

विन्ध्यपर्वतजैर्मतैः पूर्णा हैमवतैरपि। मदान्वितैरतिबलैर्मातङ्गैः पर्वतोपमैः॥

With fierce elephants sprung on the Vindhya mountain, and the Himavat, filled with juice, and of exceeding strength, and resembling hills.

Bala Kanda 6.23

ऐरावतकुलीनैश्च महापद्मकुलैस्तथा। अञ्जनादपि निष्क्रान्तैमिनादपि च द्विपैः॥ भद्रैर्मन्दैमूंगैश्चैव भद्रमन्द्रमृगैस्तथा। भद्रमन्द्रर्भद्रमृगैर्मुगमन्द्रश्च सा पुरी॥ नित्यमनैः सदा पूर्णा नागैरचलसंनिभैः। सा योजने द्वे च भूयः सत्यनामा प्रकाशते।॥

And with Bhadra, Mandra, and Mrga* elephants; and those sprung from the mixture of the three, and from the mixture of Bhadra and Mandra, and froin Bhadra and Mrga, and from Mrga and Mandra, superior like to Airāvata, and coming from Mahapaama, Anjana, and Vamana breeds, fierce, and looking like hills. And that city was over two Yojanas; and truly it was called Ayodhya. (incapable of being conquered.) *(Those elephants whose limbs are contracted are bhadras; those whose bodies are fat, slack, and contracted are Mandras: and those whose bodies are lean and large are Mrgas.)

Bala Kanda 6.24

तां पुरी स महातेजा राजा दशरथो महान्। शशास शमितामित्रो नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमाः॥ तां सत्यनामां दृढतोरणार्गलां गृहैविचित्रैरुपशोभितां शिवाम्। पुरीमयोध्यां नृसहस्रसंकुला शशास वै शक्रसमो महीपतिः॥

Repressing enemies, that city was governed by the great and the exceedingly. And that lord of earth resembling Sakra govemed that city of Ayodhya bearing a true name furnished with strong gates and bolts, and auspicious, and graced with excellent edifices, and teeming with thousands.

Bala Kanda 6.25