Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

तस्याम् पुर्याम् अयोध्यायाम् वेदवित् सर्व संग्रहः
दीर्घदर्शी महातेजाः पौर जानपद प्रियः

tasyām puryām ayodhyāyām vedavit sarva saṃgrahaḥ
dīrghadarśī mahātejāḥ paura jānapada priyaḥ

SYNONYMS

-4| veda vit: Veda-s, knower of [well-versed in Veda-s] | sarva sangrahaḥ: all, gatherer [of all riches, forces, learned men etc] | dīrgha darśī: foreseer | mahatejā: very resplendent one | paura janapada priyaḥ: urbanites, countrymen, esteemed by | ikśvakūṇām ati rathaḥ: among Ikshwaku kings, top-speeded, chariot-warrior | yajñva: one who performed Vedic rituals | dharma paraḥ: to probity, dedicated one | vaśī: controller | maharṣi kalpaḥ rajarṣi: saint, like, kingly, sage | triṣu lokeśu visrutaḥ: among three, worlds, renowned one | balavān: mighty one | nihata a mitraḥ: one who eradicated, unfriendly ones [enemies] | mitravān: one who has many friends | vijita indriyaḥ: one who conquered, his senses | dhanaiḥ ca anyaiḥ sancayaiḥ ca: with wealth, also, with accumulations, with other, too | śakraḥ vaisravanaḥ upamaḥ: Indra and Kubera, similar to | yatha manuḥ mahāteja: as with, Manu, great magnificent one | lokasya parirakśitā: world, protected. | tatha raja daśarathaḥ: likewise, king, Dasharatha, | tasyām puryām ayodhyayām: in that, city, Ayodhya | [vasan: while dwelling] |

TRANSLATION

He who is well-versed in Veda-s, who is a gatherer of all scholars, riches and forces as well, a foreseer and a great resplendent one, also one who is esteemed by urbanites and countrymen alike, one who is a top-speeded chariot-warrior aamong the emperors of Ikshwaku kings, one who has performed many Vedic rituals, a virtuous one, a great controller, a saint-like kingly sage, one who he is renowned in all the three worlds, a mighty one with all his enemies eradicated, nevertheless who has friends, one who conquered all his senses, one who is similar to Indra, or Kubera on earth with his wealth, accumulations and other possessions, he that king Dasharatha while dwelling in the city of Ayodhya protected the world, like Manu, the foremost protector of mankind. [1-6-3,4,5]

VERSE 5

तेन सत्याभिसंधेन त्रिवर्गम् अनुष्टिता
पालिता सा पुरी श्रेष्टा इन्द्रेण इव अमरावती

tena satyābhisaṃdhena trivargam anuṣṭitā
pālitā sā purī śreṣṭā indreṇa iva amarāvatī

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

He that truth-abiding king, who adheres to the three-fold virtues rules the vast of that kingdom from that best city Ayodhya, as Indra rules heaven from his capital Amaravati. [1-6-5]

VERSE 6

तस्मिन् पुरवरे हृष्टा धर्मात्मनो बहुश्रुताः
नराः तुष्ठाः धनैः स्वैः स्वैः अलुब्धाः सत्यवादिनः

tasmin puravare hṛṣṭā dharmātmano bahuśrutāḥ
narāḥ tuṣṭhāḥ dhanaiḥ svaiḥ svaiḥ alubdhāḥ satyavādinaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

In that best city Ayodhya all are exuberant yet virtuous ones, and scholars are variously learned ones, people are satisfied with their own riches, they have no greed, and they advocate truthfulness alone. [1-6-6]

VERSE 7

न अल्प संनिचयः कश्चिद् आसीत् तस्मिन् पुरोत्तमे
कुटुंबी यो हि असिद्धर्थः अगवा अश्व धन धान्यवान्

na alpa saṃnicayaḥ kaścid āsīt tasmin purottame
kuṭuṃbī yo hi asiddharthaḥ agavā aśva dhana dhānyavān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

None with meagre accumulations is there in that great city and no householder is there without unearned means, and without cows, horses, monies or cereals and who could not sustain his family. [1-6-7]

PURPORT

An ordinary family kuTumba is an assemblage of the householder, his wife, two of his parents, two sons, two daughters-in-law, one daughter, and one guest, totalling to ten members.

VERSE 8

कामी वा न कदर्यो वा नृशंसः पुरुषः क्वचित्
द्रष्टुम् शक्यम् अयोध्यायाम् न अविद्वान् न च नास्तिकः

kāmī vā na kadaryo vā nṛśaṃsaḥ puruṣaḥ kvacit
draṣṭum śakyam ayodhyāyām na avidvān na ca nāstikaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

None can see a lustful person, or a miser or a cruel one anywhere in that Ayodhya, along with nondescripts or non-believers, for there are no such persons. [1-6-8]

VERSE 9

सर्वे नराः च नार्यः च धर्मशीलाः सु संयताः
मुदिताः शील वृत्ताभ्याम् महर्षय इव अमलाः

sarve narāḥ ca nāryaḥ ca dharmaśīlāḥ su saṃyatāḥ
muditāḥ śīla vṛttābhyām maharṣaya iva amalāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

All the ladies and gentlemen in that city are virtuous in mind, self-controlled ones, they are all self-satisfied like great saints, and both in their conduct and character they are blameless. [1-6-9]

VERSE 10

न अकुण्डली न अमुकुटी न अस्रग्वी न अल्पभोगवान्
न अमृष्टो न अलिप्ताङ्गो न असुगन्धः च विद्यते

na akuṇḍalī na amukuṭī na asragvī na alpabhogavān
na amṛṣṭo na aliptāṅgo na asugandhaḥ ca vidyate

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

In that city none is there without his earrings, headgear, or garlands, none is an enjoyer of lowly things, or misses his regular oil-baths, or with an un-creamed body with sandalwood paste or with other body cream, or with an un-perfumed physique. [1-6-10]

PURPORT

Earrings are the indicators of scholarship, and there are grades in their make and design, on par with the education one receives. The headgears present their social status, while other decorations are to exhibit their lavishness.

VERSE 11

न अमृष्ट भोजी न अदाता न अपि अनङ्दनिष्कधृक्
न अहस्ताभरणो वा अपि दृश्यते न अपि अनात्मवान्

na amṛṣṭa bhojī na adātā na api anaṅdaniṣkadhṛk
na ahastābharaṇo vā api dṛśyate na api anātmavān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

There is none who is famsihed, an uncharitable one in his nature, one with an undecorated body with ornaments like bracelets or chest plates, and there is none without a heart. [1-6-11]

VERSE 12

न अनाहित अग्नीः न अयज्वा न क्षुद्रो वा न तस्करः
कश्चित् असीत् अयोध्यायाम् न च आवृत्तो न संकरः

na anāhita agnīḥ na ayajvā na kṣudro vā na taskaraḥ
kaścit asīt ayodhyāyām na ca āvṛtto na saṃkaraḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

There is none someone who is without sacrificial fires, and none without performing sacrificial rituals, and none is low in living; neither an immoral, nor a bastard nor even a thief, can be found in Ayodhya. [1-6-12]

VERSE 13

स्व कर्म निरता नित्यम् ब्राह्मणा विजितेन्द्रियाः
दान अध्यन शीलाः च संयताः च प्रतिग्रहे

sva karma niratā nityam brāhmaṇā vijitendriyāḥ
dāna adhyana śīlāḥ ca saṃyatāḥ ca pratigrahe

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

The sense-controlled scholarly Vedic Brahmans are always engaged in their rituals, and they donate the education of Vedas to their students, as well practice their own, and while receiving donations they are principle-minded. [1-6-13]

PURPORT

The donations received by Vedic scholars are not alms to beggars or charities to the destitute. The Vedic scholars do not receive them from anybody or everybody. There are set rules to accept such donations like cows, gold coins, villages, temples etc., from a befitting hand. Otherwise, the recipient is destined to go to Hell for having received greedily. Thus, if ever somebody wants to donate to such a scholar he should first notify his bona fides, which are verifiable by the recipient. Another kind of donation is referred here as daana adhyana , meaning that these scholars while receiving donations from a righteous source, they also have to donate something to others. It is the education in Veda, which they have to impart to their students free of any charge and that too, to the befitting students only. Thus, the words, daana and pratigrahaNa mean all these rules to accept a donation or to accord it.

VERSE 14

नास्तिको न अनृती वा अपि न कश्चित् अबहुश्रुतः
न असूयको न च अशक्तो न अविद्वान् विद्यते क्वचित्

nāstiko na anṛtī vā api na kaścit abahuśrutaḥ
na asūyako na ca aśakto na avidvān vidyate kvacit

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

There is no atheist, no liar, and none is less learnt in Veda-s, and no one is found to be jealous, or disabled, or unscholarly person. [1-6-14]

VERSE 15

न अषड्ंग वित् न अस्ति न अव्रतो न असहस्रदः
न दीनः क्षिप्त चित्तओ वा व्यथितो वा अपि कश्चन

na aṣaḍṃga vit na asti na avrato na asahasradaḥ
na dīnaḥ kṣipta cittao vā vyathito vā api kaścana

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

None can be found anywhere in Ayodhya without the knowledge of the six ancillaries of Veda-s like astrology, prosody, grammar etc., none a non-performer of the prescribed rituals, and none a non-donor in thousands, thus none with a saddened heart, turmoil in mind or agonised in will is there. [1-6-15]

VERSE 16

कश्चिन् नरो वा नारी वा न अश्रीमान् न अपि अरूपवान्
द्रष्टुम् शक्यम् अयोध्यायाम् न अपि राजन्य अभक्तिमान्

kaścin naro vā nārī vā na aśrīmān na api arūpavān
draṣṭum śakyam ayodhyāyām na api rājanya abhaktimān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Whoever it may be, either a gentleman or a lady, none is without wealth, even none without elegance or devoid of devotion to their king, and it is impossible to see suchlike person in Ayodhya. [1-6-16]

VERSE 17

वर्णेषु अग्र्य चतुर्थेषु देवता अतिथि पूजकाः
कृतज्ञाः च वदान्यः च शूरा विक्रम संयुताः

varṇeṣu agrya caturtheṣu devatā atithi pūjakāḥ
kṛtajñāḥ ca vadānyaḥ ca śūrā vikrama saṃyutāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

In the four-caste system, from the first caste to the last, everyone is a worshipper of deities and guests and everyone is also faithful, illustrious, valiant, and each one is a brave one. [1-6-17]

PURPORT

Though the word 'caste - Spanish and Portuguese casta - lineage, race, breed' is distasteful, it is used here for an easy communication. Latin classis - assembly' or section of society would be more suitable.

VERSE 18

दीर्घ आयुषो नराः सर्वे धर्मम् सत्यम् च संश्रिताः
सहिताः पुत्र पौत्रैः च नित्यम् स्त्रीभिः पुरोत्तमे

dīrgha āyuṣo narāḥ sarve dharmam satyam ca saṃśritāḥ
sahitāḥ putra pautraiḥ ca nityam strībhiḥ purottame

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Longevity is there for all of the people, all are with virtuosity and truthfulness, and they lived in that best city along with their sons, grandsons and their ladies. [1-6-18]

VERSE 19

क्षत्रम् ब्रह्ममुखम् च आसीत् वैश्याः क्षत्रम् अनुव्रताः
शूद्राः स्व धर्म निरताः त्रीन् वर्णान् उपचारिणः

kṣatram brahmamukham ca āsīt vaiśyāḥ kṣatram anuvratāḥ
śūdrāḥ sva dharma niratāḥ trīn varṇān upacāriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

The warrior class Kshatriya-s is turned towards the Brahmans, the scholarly class, for intellectual and religious support. The trading class, Vyasya-s, is the follower of the Kshatriya-s, the ruling class, for the state's economy is dependent on the rulership. And the fourth one, Shuudra-s, the working class, while performing its own duties, is always working for the other castes. [1-6-19]

VERSE 20

सा तेन इक्ष्वाकु नाथेन पुरी सु परिरक्षिता
यथा पुरस्तात् मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण धीमता

sā tena ikṣvāku nāthena purī su parirakṣitā
yathā purastāt manunā mānavendreṇa dhīmatā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That city is well protected by that king from Ikshwaku dynasty namely Dasharatha, like Manu, the foremost king of mankind in earlier times. [1-6-20]

VERSE 21

योधानाम् अग्नि कल्पानाम् पेशलानाम् अमर्षिणाम्
संपूर्णा कृत विद्यानाम् गुहा केसरिणाम् इव

yodhānām agni kalpānām peśalānām amarṣiṇām
saṃpūrṇā kṛta vidyānām guhā kesariṇām iva

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That city Ayodhya is replete with firebrand like skillful warriors that are intolerant of insults, and who have prosecuted their education in archery, chariot-wars, swordplay etc. and with them it is like a cave replete with lions. [1-6-21]

VERSE 22

कांभोज विषये जातैः बाह्लिकैः च हय उत्तमैः
वनायुजैः नदीजैः च पूर्णा हरिहय उत्तमैः

kāṃbhoja viṣaye jātaiḥ bāhlikaiḥ ca haya uttamaiḥ
vanāyujaiḥ nadījaiḥ ca pūrṇā harihaya uttamaiḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That city is full with best horses born in countries like Kaambhoja, Baahlika, Vanaayu, and also in river-bed counties, which are like the horse of Indra namely ucChiashrava. [1-6-22]

PURPORT

It is said that the horses born in the rivers nadii+ja are brought to the city Ayodhya. They are not water horses but horses born at the place where the historically prominent Seven Rivers of Indus Valley Rivers flow. Here again an account of countries is given as a glimpse. These countries Kambhoja, Bahlika, Vanayu may not be taken as the provincial countries within the present day India. Prior to the present-day peninsular India, the belt from Himalayas to Alps had a great rapport in cultural and trade exchanges without demarcations of east or west, which paved the way for Alexander, the Great, towards India. Sometime back, say during 1985-87, the National Geography magazine contained a beautiful article under the heading " IRAQ, the crucible of civilisation ," Merle Severy, as its Asst. Editor. In its carefully worded introduction, it is stated that Iraq is " the traditional birthplace of man for Jews, Christians and Muslims... " On the other hand, Hindus naturally believe that the Southward Himalayan region is the birthplace of man. In the same article, the regions around Euphrates and Tigris are said to be the " Fertile Crescent, the cradle of Western civilization ... in the third millennium BC ". Further that " To the east a similar florescence occurred in the Indus and Yellow River Valleys... " This florescence in Indus Valley and far eastward did not occur later to Mesopotamian or Babylonian civilisations but flourished much earlier, as per Hindu scripts and the dating of which is the eternal question like Aryan Question. However, Hindu scripts centre the present world, Bhuuloka, surrounding Meru Mountain and its geography includes the land unto Rome, Russia, China. We will refer to Meru mountain-oriented geography and its geographical account at the appropriate place. Since Ramayana dates back to Buddhism and Buddhism's westward spread is unto Afghanistan, the Kings of Ramayana must have had no problem to draft horses from Persian, Arabian or the other of Middle East countries. These countries are always famous for horse breeding, right from the days of Ramayana to Moses. Hence the accounts of horses and the countries from where they are brought may be treated as cross-continental culture. Since history believes only in the unearthed iconography and the epics or their content can not stand to the carbon-testing, the countries named here as Kambhoja, Baahlika may nearly mean Babylonian, Mesopotamian, Arabian or other unknown or unearthed historic countries of the crucible of Western civilisation, Iraq. Vanaayu, another country referred may nearly mean Roman, as Persians term Greeks as Unani in India, advent to the arrival of Alexander, the Great. We still have an herbal medication called Unani, a hybrid between Ayurveda, Greek and Persian herbal treatments.

VERSE 23

विंध्य पर्वतजैः मत्तैः पूर्णा हैमवतैः अपि
मदान्वितैः अतिबलैः मातङ्गैः पर्वतौपमैः

viṃdhya parvatajaiḥ mattaiḥ pūrṇā haimavataiḥ api
madānvitaiḥ atibalaiḥ mātaṅgaiḥ parvataupamaiḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Born in Vindhya Mountains, and also from Himalayan regions, mighty are the elephants fully vigorous and fattened ones, and most powerful in their strength and each in similitude is a huge mountain. [1-6-23]

VERSE 24

इरावत कुलीनैः च महापद्म कुलैः तथा
अंजनादपि निष्क्रान्तैः वामनादपि च द्विपैः

irāvata kulīnaiḥ ca mahāpadma kulaiḥ tathā
aṃjanādapi niṣkrāntaiḥ vāmanādapi ca dvipaiḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

High bred from the classes of Iravata, the Elephant of Lord Indra, and from Mahapadma, Anjana and Vamana, too...are the elephants [of that city] [1-6-24]

PURPORT

It is said that eight elephants from eight corners called aSTa diggaja support the Universe. And these eight elephants have their presiding deities. From those eight elephants, four are prominent. They are iravata , the Elephant of Indra, anjana , the Elephant of varuNa , the Rain-god, vaamana , the Elephant of Yama, the Lord of Death, and another is punDariika . Thus, the elephants of Ayodhya are termed as divine breed.

VERSE 25

भद्रैः मन्द्रैः मृगैः च एव भद्र मन्द्र मृगैः थथा
भद्र मन्द्रैः भद्र मृगैः मृग मन्द्रैः च सा पुरी

bhadraiḥ mandraiḥ mṛgaiḥ ca eva bhadra mandra mṛgaiḥ thathā
bhadra mandraiḥ bhadra mṛgaiḥ mṛga mandraiḥ ca sā purī

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That city is always full with vigorous and mountain like elephants bred mainly from three classes viz., Bhadra, Mandra and Mriga. And inter-bred among these three main classes are Bhadra-Mandra, Mandra-Mriga, Bhadra-Mriga and the like. [1-6-25-26a]

PURPORT

The bhadra is the elephant class for King's ride, called bhadra gaja . It is a state elephant with high honors and for occasional or ceremonial use. mandra and mR^iga are classes of breed tamed and used in wars or for the ride of other nobility. These are the essential mammals used for other lifting and carrying works.

VERSE 26

सा योजने च द्वे भूयः सत्यनामा प्रकाशते
यस्याम् दशरथो राजा वसन् जगत् अपालयत्

sā yojane ca dve bhūyaḥ satyanāmā prakāśate
yasyām daśaratho rājā vasan jagat apālayat

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

While residing in which city King Dasharatha ruled the world that city is further fortified up to two more yojana-s outside city, true to its name a yodhya , an un-assailable one. [1-6-26]

VERSE 27

ताम् पुरीम् स महातेजा राजा दशरथो महान्
शशास शमित अमित्रो नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमाः

tām purīm sa mahātejā rājā daśaratho mahān
śaśāsa śamita amitro nakṣatrāṇīva candramāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

In which city the great resplendent and admirable king Dasharatha resided, he ruled the world from that city with silenced enemies, like the moon governing the stars. [1-6-27]

VERSE 28

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे षष्ठः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe ṣaṣṭhaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

With gorgeous arches, castle-door-bars and with amazingly built houses that city is magnificent and auspicious one, and full with thousands of provincial kings too, and king Dasharatha, a coequal of Indra, indeed ruled that city which is true to its name. [1-6-28]