Founders of a Great Ikshvaku Dynasty
Balakanda - Sarga 5
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Balakanda - Sarga 5
Long ago, mighty kings ruled the entire earth. Their lineage began with Prajapati (the lord of creation) and included the famous King Sagara. Sagara dug the ocean and had 60,000 sons who always surrounded him in battle.
From this family of great Ikshvaku kings came the famous story called the Ramayana. I will now tell this story from the beginning. It teaches about duty (dharma), desire (kama), and wealth (artha). Listen without prejudice.
There was a rich and happy country called Kosala on the banks of the Sarayu river. Its capital was the famous city of Ayodhya, built by Manu himself. Ayodhya was twelve yojanas (about 96 miles) long and three yojanas (about 24 miles) wide.
The city had well-planned, wide streets always sprinkled with water and strewn with flowers. King Dasharatha, who increased the kingdom's wealth, lived in Ayodhya like the god Indra lives in heaven.
Ayodhya was a marvel to behold:
It had decorated gates and well-organized markets
All kinds of craftsmen lived there
It had many weapons and instruments
Poets and historians filled the city, praising the kings
Tall buildings flew colorful flags
It had hundreds of sataghnis (a type of weapon)
Gardens and mango groves surrounded the city
A ring of sal trees protected it
Strong walls and deep moats made it hard for enemies to enter
It was full of horses, elephants, cows, camels, and mules
Kings from nearby lands came to pay tribute
Merchants from many countries lived there
Beautiful palaces decorated with gems dotted the city
It looked like Indra's heavenly city, Amaravati
The city was shaped like a game board, full of precious stones
Its buildings were close together, leaving no space unused
It had plenty of fine rice, and its water tasted sweet like sugarcane juice
The city echoed with the sounds of trumpets, drums, string instruments, and other music. No other city on Earth could match Ayodhya's greatness. Its perfect palaces, home to the noblest men, made it look like a heavenly city earned by holy men through their good deeds.
King Dasharatha's city was home to thousands of great warriors called maharathas. These skilled archers were known for their honor:
They wouldn't shoot at lone travelers or those without family
They could hit targets just by following sounds
They were quick and expert fighters
In the forests, they could kill fierce lions, tigers, and wild boars using arrows or just their bare hands
Ayodhya was also filled with learned and virtuous people:
Brahmins (priests) who tended sacred fires
Scholars who knew the four Vedas and six Vedangas (ancient texts)
Generous people who gave thousands in charity
Truth-lovers with great wisdom
Sages as wise as the greatest holy men
This concludes the fifth chapter (sarga) of Balakanda, the first book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.