सर्वा पूर्वमियं येषामासीत् कृत्स्ना वसुंधरा । प्रजापतिमुपादाय नृपाणां जयशालिनाम् ॥१-५-
All this earth once belonged entirely to those kings, victorious in battle, beginning with Prajāpati himself.
येषां स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानितः । षष्टिपुत्रसहस्राणि यं यान्तं पर्यवारयन् ॥१-५-
Among them was Sagara by name, by whom the ocean was dug; sixty thousand sons surrounded him as he journeyed.
इक्ष्वाकूणामिदं तेषां राज्ञां वंशे महात्मनाम् । महदुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतम् ॥१-५-
In the line of those great-souled kings of the Ikṣvāku dynasty, this great tale arose, known as the Rāmāyaṇa.
तदिदं वर्तयिष्यावः सर्वं निखिलमादितः । धर्मकामार्थसहितं श्रोतव्यमनसूयता ॥१-५-
Now we shall recount this entire story from the beginning, accompanied by righteousness, desire, and wealth; it is to be heard without envy.
अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्रासील्लोकविश्रुता । मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण या पुरी निर्मिता स्वयम् ॥१-५-
There was a city called Ayodhyā, famed throughout the world, which was built by Manu, the lord of men, himself.
आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी । श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सुविभक्तमहापथा ॥१-५-
That great and splendid city stretched twelve yojanas in length and three in breadth, with well-divided main roads.
राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिता । मुक्तपुष्पावकीर्णेन जलसिक्तेन नित्यशः ॥१-५-
It was adorned with a great royal road, well laid out, always strewn with fresh flowers and sprinkled with water.
तां तु राजा दशरथो महाराष्ट्रविवर्धनः । पुरीमावासयामास दिवि देवपतिर्यथा ॥१-५-
King Daśaratha, the increaser of his great realm, dwelled in that city as the lord of the gods dwells in heaven.
कपाटतोरणवतीं सुविभक्तान्तरापणाम् । सर्वयन्त्रायुधवतीमुषितां सर्वशिल्पिभिः ॥१-५-
It was furnished with gates and archways, with well-divided marketplaces, filled with all kinds of machines and weapons, and inhabited by all artisans.
सूतमागधसम्बाधां श्रीमतीमतुलप्रभाम् । उच्चाट्टालध्वजवतीं शतघ्नीशतसंकुलाम् ॥१-५-
It was crowded with charioteers and bards, possessing unmatched splendor, with tall mansions and banners, and thronged with hundreds of engines of war.
वधूनाटकसङ्घैश्च संयुक्तां सर्वतः पुरीम् । उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतां महतीं सालमेखलाम् ॥१-५-
The city was surrounded on all sides by troupes of actresses and dancers, adorned with gardens and mango groves, and encircled by a great belt of śāla trees.
दुर्गगम्भीरपरिखां दुर्गामन्यैर्दुरासदाम् । वाजिवारणसम्पूर्णां गोभिरुष्ट्रैः खरैस्तथा ॥१-५-
It had deep and fortified moats, was difficult for others to approach, and was filled with horses, elephants, cattle, camels, and donkeys.
सामन्तराजसङ्घैश्च बलिकर्मभिरावृताम् । नानादेशनिवासैश्च वणिग्भिरुपशोभिताम् ॥१-५-
It was encircled by assemblies of vassal kings performing tribute, and beautified by merchants from many lands.
प्रासादै रत्नविकृतैः पर्वतैरिव शोभिताम् । कूटागारैश्च सम्पूर्णामिन्द्रस्येवामरावतीम् ॥१-५-
It shone with palaces adorned with jewels, like mountains, and was filled with lofty mansions, resembling Amarāvatī, the city of Indra.
चित्रामष्टापदाकारां वरनारीगणायुताम् । सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णां विमानगृहशोभिताम् ॥१-५-
It was splendid, shaped like a chessboard, filled with hosts of noble women, crowded with every kind of jewel, and adorned with celestial mansions.
गृहगाढामविच्छिद्रां समभूमौ निवेशिताम् । शालितण्डुलसम्पूर्णामिक्षुकाण्डरसोदकाम् ॥१-५-
A residence, deep-rooted and unbroken, established on level ground, filled with rice and barley, and water sweetened by sugarcane stalks.
दुन्दुभीभिर्मृदङ्गैश्च वीणाभिः पणवैस्तथा । नादितां भृशमत्यर्थं पृथिव्यां तामनुत्तमाम् ॥१-५-
That supreme abode resounded greatly upon the earth with drums, mridangas, veenas, and panavas.
विमानमिव सिद्धानां तपसाधिगतं दिवि । सुनिवेशितवेश्मान्तां नरोत्तमसमावृताम् ॥१-५-
Like the celestial palace attained by the Siddhas through austerity in heaven, its dwellings were well-arranged and filled with noble men.
ये च बाणैर्न विध्यन्ति विविक्तमपरापरम् । शब्दवेध्यं च विततं लघुहस्ता विशारदाः ॥१-५-
Those who do not miss with arrows, whether at distant or close targets, and who are skilled in striking by sound, with light hands and expertise.
सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां मत्तानां नदतां वने । हन्तारो निशितैः शस्त्रैर्बलाद् बाहुबलैरपि ॥१-५-
Slayers in the forest of roaring lions, tigers, and wild boars, using sharp weapons and the strength of their arms.
तादृशानां सहस्रैस्तामभिपूर्णां महारथैः । पुरीमावासयामास राजा दशरथस्तदा ॥१-५-
With thousands of such great chariot-warriors, King Dasharatha then filled that city.
तामग्निमद्भिर्गुणवद्भिरावृतां ::द्विजोत्तमैर्वेदषडङ्गपारगैः । सहस्रदैः सत्यरतैर्महात्मभि- ::र्महर्षिकल्पैर्ऋषिभिश्च केवलैः ॥१-५-
That city, surrounded by fire-like, virtuous, eminent twice-borns, masters of the six branches of the Vedas, by thousands of truth-devoted great souls, and by sages resembling great rishis and pure ascetics.
thumb|षष्ठः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे षष्ठः सर्गः ॥१-
The sixth section is to be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa.
तस्यां पुर्यामयोध्यायां वेदवित् सर्वसंग्रहः । दीर्घदर्शी महातेजाः पौरजानपदप्रियः ॥१-६-
In that city of Ayodhyā, there was one learned in the Vedas, possessing all knowledge, farsighted, of great brilliance, beloved by citizens and country folk.
इक्ष्वाकूणामतिरथो यज्वा धर्मपरो वशी । महर्षिकल्पो राजर्षिस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः ॥१-६-
Among the Ikṣvākus, he was a mighty charioteer, a sacrificer, devoted to righteousness, self-controlled; a royal sage like a great rishi, renowned in the three worlds.
बलवान् निहतामित्रो मित्रवान् विजितेन्द्रियः । धनैश्च संचयैश्चान्यैः शक्रवैश्रवणोपमः ॥१-६-
Strong, destroyer of enemies, friendly, master of his senses, and in wealth and treasures, equal to Indra and Kubera.
यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता । तथा दशरथो राजा लोकस्य परिरक्षिता ॥१-६-
Just as Manu, of great brilliance, was the protector of the world, so King Dasharatha was the protector of the world.
तेन सत्याभिसंधेन त्रिवर्गमनुतिष्ठता । पालिता सा पुरी श्रेष्ठा इन्द्रेणेवामरावती ॥१-६-
By his truthful resolve and observance of the threefold aim of life, that excellent city was governed, as Amaravati by Indra.
नाल्पसंनिचयः कश्चिदासीत् तस्मिन् पुरोत्तमे । कुटुम्बी यो ह्यसिद्धार्थोऽगवाश्वधनधान्यवान् ॥१-६-
In that foremost city, no one had little wealth; every householder was accomplished, possessing cows, horses, riches, and grain.
कामी वा न कदर्यो वा नृशंसः पुरुषः क्वचित् । द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नाविद्वान् न च नास्तिकः ॥१-६-
No one desirous or miserly, nor cruel man, could be seen in Ayodhyā; nor anyone ignorant or atheistic.