Bala Kanda, Sarga 5

. सर्वा पूर्वमियं येषामासीत्कृत्स्ना वसुन्धरा । प्रजापतिमुपादाय नृपाणां जयशालिनाम् ।।1.5.1।।

. sarvā pūrvamiyaṃ yeṣāmāsītkṛtsnā vasundharā | prajāpatimupādāya nṛpāṇāṃ jayaśālinām

Formerly, this entire earth belonged to those victorious kings starting from Prajapati (Manu).

येषां स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानित: । षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि यं यान्तं पर्यवारयन् ।।1.5.2।।

yeṣāṃ sa sagaro nāma sāgaro yena khānita: | ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi yaṃ yāntaṃ paryavārayan

Among them a king named Sagara got the ocean dug and his sixty thousand sons surrounded him whenever he went (to battle).

इक्ष्वाकूणामिदं तेषां राज्ञां वंशे महात्मनाम् । महदुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतम् ।।1.5.3।।

ikṣvākūṇāmidaṃ teṣāṃ rājñāṃ vaṃśe mahātmanām | mahadutpannamākhyānaṃ rāmāyaṇamiti śrutam

It was from the family of mighty monarchs with Ikshvaku as its founder and the kings born in that race, the celebrated epic known as the 'Ramayanam' arose.

तदिदं वर्तयिष्यामि सर्वं निखिलमादित: । धर्मकामार्थसहितं श्रोतव्यमनसूयया ।।1.5.4।।

tadidaṃ vartayiṣyāmi sarvaṃ nikhilamādita: | dharmakāmārthasahitaṃ śrotavyamanasūyayā

I shall propagate this Ramayanam, incorporating the merits of dharma, artha and kama, and complete in all respects. It deserves to be heard right from the start without prejudice.

कोसलो नाम मुदितस्स्फीतो जनपदो महान् । निविष्टस्सरयूतीरे प्रभूतधनधान्यवान् ।।1.5.5।।

kosalo nāma muditassphīto janapado mahān | niviṣṭassarayūtīre prabhūtadhanadhānyavān

On the banks of river Sarayu, a great and prosperous country named Kosala, abundant in foodgrains and wealth and inhabited by contended people, was situated.

अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्रासील्लोकविश्रुता । मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण या पुरी निर्मिता स्वयम् ।।1.5.6।।

ayodhyā nāma nagarī tatrāsīllokaviśrutā | manunā mānavendreṇa yā purī nirmitā svayam

In the country called Kosala was the famous capital city of Ayodhya built by the lord of men, Manu .

आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी । श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सुविभक्तमहापथा ।।1.5.7।।

āyatā daśa ca dve ca yojanāni mahāpurī | śrīmatī trīṇi vistīrṇā suvibhaktamahāpathā

With welllaid out thoroughfares, the beautiful and prosperous city of Ayodhya extended for twelve yojanas in length and three yojanas in breadth.

राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिता । मुक्तपुष्पावकीर्णेन जलसिक्तेन नित्यश: ।।1.5.8।।

rājamārgeṇa mahatā suvibhaktena śobhitā | muktapuṣpāvakīrṇena jalasiktena nityaśa:

It looked splendid with its welllaid out and broad highway strewn with flowers and regularly sprinkled with water.

तां तु राजा दशरथो महाराष्ट्रविवर्धन: । पुरीमावासयामास दिवं देवपतिर्यथा ।।1.5.9।।

tāṃ tu rājā daśaratho mahārāṣṭravivardhana: | purīmāvāsayāmāsa divaṃ devapatiryathā

King Dasartha, augmenting the prosperity of the great kingdom, lived in the city of Ayodhya like Indra in heaven.

कवाटतोरणवतीं सुविभक्तान्तरापणाम् । सर्वयन्त्रायुधवतीमुपेतां सर्वशिल्पिभि: ।।1.5.10।।

kavāṭatoraṇavatīṃ suvibhaktāntarāpaṇām | sarvayantrāyudhavatīmupetāṃ sarvaśilpibhi:

The city where all kinds of artificers lived had arched outer gateways, wellarranged local markets and all kinds of instruments and weapons.

सूतमागधसम्बाधां श्रीमतीमतुलप्रभाम् । उच्चाट्टालध्वजवतीं शतघ्नीशतसङ्कुलाम् ।।1.5.11।।

sūtamāgadhasambādhāṃ śrīmatīmatulaprabhām | uccāṭṭāladhvajavatīṃ śataghnīśatasaṅkulām

With matchless splendour, it abounded in eulogists and genealogists. It contained stately edifices decorated with flags and hundreds of sataghnis (missiles).

वधूनाटकसङ्घैश्च संयुक्तां सर्वत: पुरीम् । उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतां महतीं सालमेखलाम् ।।1.5.12।।

vadhūnāṭakasaṅghaiśca saṃyuktāṃ sarvata: purīm | udyānāmravaṇopetāṃ mahatīṃ sālamekhalām

The city with suburban towns on all sides had several female dancers and actors.It was filled with gardens and mangogroves. And girdled by sal trees.

दुर्गगम्भीरपरिघां दुर्गामन्यैर्दुरासदाम् । वाजिवारणसम्पूर्णां गोभिरुष्ट्रै: खरैस्तथा ।।1.5.13।।

durgagambhīraparighāṃ durgāmanyairdurāsadām | vājivāraṇasampūrṇāṃ gobhiruṣṭrai: kharaistathā

It was enclosed by strong fortifications and a deep moat. No enemy can ever enter and occupy that city. It abounded with several elephants and horses, cattle, camels and mules.

सामन्तराजसङ्घैश्च बलिकर्मभिरावृताम् । नानादेशनिवासैश्च वणिग्भिरुपशोभिताम् ।।1.5.14।।

sāmantarājasaṅghaiśca balikarmabhirāvṛtām | nānādeśanivāsaiśca vaṇigbhirupaśobhitām

It was embellished with a host of tributary kings who used to pay tributes and with merchants from different countries.

प्रासादै रत्नविकृतै: पर्वतैरुपशोभिताम् । कूटागारैश्च सम्पूर्णामिन्द्रस्येवामरावतीम् ।।1.5.15।।

prāsādai ratnavikṛtai: parvatairupaśobhitām | kūṭāgāraiśca sampūrṇāmindrasyevāmarāvatīm

Like Indra's Amaravati, it was adorned by mountains and mansions with precious stones.

चित्रामष्टापदाकारां नरनारीगणैर्युताम् । सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णां विमानगृहशोभिताम् ।।1.5.16।।

citrāmaṣṭāpadākārāṃ naranārīgaṇairyutām | sarvaratnasamākīrṇāṃ vimānagṛhaśobhitām

With groups of men and women and adorned with sevenstoried palaces, it looked wonderful like a board where the game of ashtapada, is played. It was rich in all kinds of gems.

गृहगाढामविच्छिद्रां समभूमौ निवेशिताम् । शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णामिक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम् ।।1.5.17।।

gṛhagāḍhāmavicchidrāṃ samabhūmau niveśitām | śālitaṇḍulasampūrṇāmikṣukāṇḍarasodakām

Its dwellings were constructed on levelled ground with no space left unutilised. It was abundantly stocked with fine-grained rice and water which tasted sweet like sugarcane juice.

दुन्दुभीभिर्मृदङ्गैश्च वीणाभि: पणवैस्तथा । नादितां भृशमत्यर्थं पृथिव्यां तामनुत्तमाम् ।।1.5.18।।

dundubhībhirmṛdaṅgaiśca vīṇābhi: paṇavaistathā | nāditāṃ bhṛśamatyarthaṃ pṛthivyāṃ tāmanuttamām

The city echoed with the sounds of trumpets, mrudangas, vinas and panavas. There was no city on earth superior to Ayodhya.

विमानमिव सिद्धानां तपसाधिगतं दिवि । सुनिवेशितवेश्मान्तां नरोत्तमसमावृताम् ।।1.5.19।।

vimānamiva siddhānāṃ tapasādhigataṃ divi | suniveśitaveśmāntāṃ narottamasamāvṛtām

Like an aerial car acquired by the siddhas in heaven through their austerities, the palaces were perfectly constructed in rows and inhabited by the noblest of men.

ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् । शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लघुहस्ता विशारदा: ।।1.5.20।। सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नर्दतां वने । हन्तारो निशितैश्शस्त्रैर्बलाद्बाहुबलैरपि ।।1.5.21।। तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथै: । पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा ।।1.5.22।।

ye ca bāṇairna vidhyanti viviktamaparāparam | śabdavedhyaṃ ca vitataṃ laghuhastā viśāradā: siṃhavyāghravarāhāṇāṃ mattānāṃ nardatāṃ vane | hantāro niśitaiśśastrairbalādbāhubalairapi tādṛśānāṃ sahasraistāmabhipūrṇāṃ mahārathai: | purīmāvāsayāmāsa rājā daśarathastadā

The city was inhabited by thousands of warriors known as maharathas. They were skilled archers and sharphanded. They would not pierce with arrows, solitary persons, persons without defence, fleeing foes who could be tracked down through hints from sound. With sharp arrows or with the strength of their arms, they would kill roaring and inebriated lions, tigers, boars etc. in the forest. It was in that city (of Ayodhya) that king Dasaratha lived.

ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् । शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लघुहस्ता विशारदा: ।।1.5.20।। सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नर्दतां वने । हन्तारो निशितैश्शस्त्रैर्बलाद्बाहुबलैरपि ।।1.5.21।। तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथै: । पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा ।।1.5.22।।

ye ca bāṇairna vidhyanti viviktamaparāparam | śabdavedhyaṃ ca vitataṃ laghuhastā viśāradā: siṃhavyāghravarāhāṇāṃ mattānāṃ nardatāṃ vane | hantāro niśitaiśśastrairbalādbāhubalairapi tādṛśānāṃ sahasraistāmabhipūrṇāṃ mahārathai: | purīmāvāsayāmāsa rājā daśarathastadā

The city was inhabited by thousands of warriors known as maharathas. They were skilled archers and sharphanded. They would not pierce with arrows, solitary persons, persons without defence, fleeing foes who could be tracked down through hints from sound. With sharp arrows or with the strength of their arms, they would kill roaring and inebriated lions, tigers, boars etc. in the forest. It was in that city (of Ayodhya) that king Dasaratha lived.

ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् । शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लघुहस्ता विशारदा: ।।1.5.20।। सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नर्दतां वने । हन्तारो निशितैश्शस्त्रैर्बलाद्बाहुबलैरपि ।।1.5.21।। तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथै: । पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा ।।1.5.22।।

ye ca bāṇairna vidhyanti viviktamaparāparam | śabdavedhyaṃ ca vitataṃ laghuhastā viśāradā: siṃhavyāghravarāhāṇāṃ mattānāṃ nardatāṃ vane | hantāro niśitaiśśastrairbalādbāhubalairapi tādṛśānāṃ sahasraistāmabhipūrṇāṃ mahārathai: | purīmāvāsayāmāsa rājā daśarathastadā

The city was inhabited by thousands of warriors known as maharathas. They were skilled archers and sharphanded. They would not pierce with arrows, solitary persons, persons without defence, fleeing foes who could be tracked down through hints from sound. With sharp arrows or with the strength of their arms, they would kill roaring and inebriated lions, tigers, boars etc. in the forest. It was in that city (of Ayodhya) that king Dasaratha lived.

तामग्निमद्भिर्गुणवद्भिरावृतां द्विजोत्तमैर्वेदषडङ्गपारगै: । सहस्रदैस्सत्यरतैर्महात्मभि र्महर्षिकल्पै ऋषिभिश्च केवलै: ।।1.5.23।।

tāmagnimadbhirguṇavadbhirāvṛtāṃ dvijottamairvedaṣaḍaṅgapāragai: | sahasradaissatyaratairmahātmabhi rmaharṣikalpai ṛṣibhiśca kevalai:

That city (of Ayodhya) was filled with excellent dwijas (brahmana, kshatriya and vaisyas) performing rituals of sacrificial fire, virtuous and wellversed in the Vedas and Vedangas. They were generous, truthful and dignified. They were almost equal to rishis and maharshis. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे पञ्चमस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the fifth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.