बालकाण्डम्Bālakāṇḍa

A knower of the Vedas, a sustainer of all his people, far-sighted and of great majesty, beloved of townsfolk and country-folk alike — such a king dwelt in that city of Ayodhyā.

He was a mighty chariot-warrior of the Ikṣvākus, a performer of sacrifices, devoted to dharma and master of his senses, the peer of a great sage, a royal seer, renowned throughout the three worlds.

Mighty, his foes all slain, rich in allies, his senses conquered, and with his other riches and hoarded treasures too, he was the equal of Indra and Kubera.

Just as the mighty Manu was the protector of the world, so too did King Daśaratha, dwelling here, govern the world.

By him, true to his every word, and ever pursuing the three aims of life, that city — she — was guarded as Amarāvatī is guarded by the sovereign of the gods.

In that noble city, men dwelt joyful under their righteous-souled king, widely learned, content each with his own wealth, free of greed, and truthful of tongue.

No man of scanty savings was there in that finest of cities — no householder who, indeed, had failed to achieve his ends or wanted for cattle, horses, wealth, or grain.

Nowhere could one see in Ayodhyā a man who was a lecher, or a miser, or a brute — none unlearned and no denier of the sacred.

All the men and the women too were of righteous conduct, well-disciplined, and glad — spotless in character and conduct like great sages.

And there was found none without earrings, none without a diadem, none without a garland, none of scant means, none unbathed, none with unanointed limbs, none lacking sweet fragrance.

None ate unclean food; none was a withholder of gifts; not even one was without armlets and golden necklaces; no one was ever seen without ornaments upon his hands either, nor even one without self-command.

There was in Ayodhyā no brahmin who had not kindled the sacred fires, nor one who did not sacrifice, nor even one who gave not thousands in charity — and none of mixed and corrupted descent.

The brahmins were ever intent on their own duties, their senses conquered, given to charity and sacred study, and restrained even in the accepting of gifts.

At that time there was found no unbeliever, none false of speech, no man of little learning, none spiteful, nor any incapable, and none unlearned.

No one wretched, deranged in mind, or distressed was to be found at all; nor in Ayodhyā could one see any man or woman who was graceless, nor even ill-formed, nor even one wanting in loyalty to the king.

Among the four classes, foremost to last, they were worshippers of gods and guests; all the people were long-lived, firmly devoted to dharma and truth.

The Kṣatriya order stood with the brahmins at its head, and the Vaiśyas were obedient to the Kṣatriyas; the Śūdras, devoted to their own duty, served the three other classes.

That city was well-guarded by him, the lord of the Ikṣvākus, just as in olden days it was guarded by Manu, lord of men, the wise.

It thronged with warriors fierce as fire, deft and brooking no affront, accomplished in the whole of their craft, like lions in their mountain caves.

It was filled with the finest horses, bred in the land of Kāmboja, and with Bāhlīka steeds — horses of Vanāyu and of the riverlands, the very likeness of Indra's bay chargers.

It was filled with elephants born in the Vindhya hills and in rut, and also with Himālayan ones, streaming with must, exceedingly strong, huge as mountains.

That city teemed with elephants descended even from Añjana and even from Vāmana — of the bhadra-mandra, the bhadra-mr̥ga, and the mr̥ga-mandra breeds.

Ever filled with elephants perpetually in rut, vast as mountains, always so — that city, moreover, stretching two yojanas and more, shone resplendent, true to its name.

A king equal to Indra, the lord of the earth, truly ruled that city of Ayodhyā, true to its name, its gateway-arches and bolt-bars strong, adorned with splendid, many-hued houses, blessed and thronged with thousands of men.