In ancient times, a gathering of sages, each having sought refuge in various sacred places, assembled and engaged in deep discussions about the highest truths. When their thoughtful deliberations drew to a close, among those pure-hearted sages sat Romaharṣaṇa, the illustrious disciple of Vyāsa, revered as Sūta, who was renowned for his profound knowledge of the Purāṇas. At the sages’ request and in accordance with tradition, Sūta, that best of sages, took his seat among them. They turned to him with humility and eagerness, for he was famed as a master of all the Purāṇas and their innermost secrets. “O wise Sūta,” they said, “we long to hear from you the eternal secret in its entirety. Tell us of Ayodhyā, the ever-pure city so dear to Viṣṇu. What is its true nature? What is its form, and who are the illustrious rulers that have graced that city? What fruits do people gain by serving Ayodhyā? What merit arises from bathing in its waters and giving gifts there? O learned one, you alone know all these things in precise detail, just as they are. You are the knower of all histories, the revealer of all hidden truths.” Having thus entreated him, the sages bowed in reverence. Sūta, in turn, prepared to reveal the greatness of Ayodhyā before them. He offered his respects to his own preceptor, Vyāsa, that blessed sage of boundless splendor—foremost in the knowledge of Veda and Vedāṅga, tranquil, self-restrained, and radiant with purity. “Om, I bow to that glorious Vyāsa,” he intoned. He then addressed the assembled sages and their disciples, urging them to listen attentively. “What I am about to recount,” Sūta declared, “was once spoken to Agastya and heard by Nārada from Skanda. This sacred knowledge I have received from Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa himself. I bow to the Supreme Self, to Rāma, the lotus-eyed Lord.” He began to describe Ayodhyā: “That Ayodhyā is supreme and pure, a city difficult for wrongdoers to attain. It stands divine and supremely beautiful upon the banks of the Sarayū River, abounding in elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, and flourishing with great prosperity. Its quarters are well-arranged and divided into four harmonious sections. Everywhere, ponds shimmer, adorned with blooming lotuses. The air resounds with the melodious strains of vīṇā, flute, mṛdaṅga, and other instruments, and the city is adorned with groves of śāla, tāla, coconut, jackfruit, and āmalaka trees. “There too are mango, wood-apple, aśoka, mālatī, jāti, bakula, pāṭalī, nāga, and campaka trees, along with nimba, jamvīra, kadalī, mātuliṅga, and many other great fruits. Princes radiant as the gods themselves dwell there, accompanied by honored poets and brahmins whose wisdom rivals that of Bṛhaspati. The city is graced with horses as swift as Uccaiḥśravas and elephants as mighty as the guardians of the directions. “Upon the banks of the Sarayū were born kings descended from the solar dynasty. The river’s shores, sanctified by holy waters, are alive with the songs of bees and birds. The Sarayū flows with the very essence of dharma, bearing the purest waters. From its southern toe emerged Jahnavi, the sacred river of Hari, so that these two rivers—the Sarayū and the Ganga—are the most revered, honored by the gods themselves. “In time, the great sage Agastya, born from a pot, arrived at Ayodhyā. He performed the pilgrimage in the prescribed order, worshipping all the deities with proper rites. Having fulfilled his purpose, he rejoiced, his heart filled with wonder and delight at the greatness of that holy place.” Thus did Sūta, the wise disciple of Vyāsa, reveal the glory of Ayodhyā to the assembled sages, his words steeped in reverence and truth.