March 17,2013.Day 119. Srimad Valmiki Ramayan - The First Epic Poem Of India. (Continued)

Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

City Ayodhya detailed

Chapter [Sarga] 5

Introduction

We enter the capital of the Emperor Dasharatha. The pomp and glory of his capital is depicted along with its town planning and grandeur of the city, and its residents.

सर्वा पूर्वम् इयम् येषाम् आसीत् कृत्स्ना वसुंधरा |

प्रजपतिम् उपादाय नृपाणम् जय शालिनाम् ||१-५-१

येषाम् स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानितः |

षष्टिः पुत्र सहस्राणि यम् यान्तम् पर्यवारयन् ||१-५-२

इक्ष्वाकूणाम् इदम् तेषाम् राज्ञाम् वंशे महात्मनाम् |

महद् उत्पन्नम् आख्यनम् रामायणम् इति श्रुतम् || १-५-३

1-3. iyam kR^itsnaa vasundharaa = this, entire, earth; sarvaa = sakala dwiipaatmaka = with all islands; upaadaaya prajapatim = starting from, Prajapati; jaya shaalinaam = victorious ones; yeSaam nR^ipaaNam = [under] which, kings; puurvam aasiit = once, it is there; yena saagaraH khaanitaH= by whom, oceans, deepened; yam yaantam = whom, while setting out in battles] SaSTiH sahasraaNiputra = sixty-thousand, sons; paryavaarayan = [going with him] fencing in; yeSaam = in which kings; saH saagaraH naama = he, that Sagara, named [king was there]; teshaam mahaatmanaam = such of those, great-souled; Ikshwakunaam raaj~aam vamshe = Ikshvaku, kings', dynasty; raaamayanam = Ramayana; iti shrutam = thus, heard [reputed];idam mahat aakhyanam utpannam = this, highly revered, epic, originated.

Once upon a time, under which victorious kings, starting from Prajapatithi-s, this entire earth with all its islands is there, among which kings one king named Sagara is there, well-known for his deepening the oceans, and whom his sixty thousand sons were fencing in when he is set out for action, in the dynasty of such Ikshvaku kings this highly revered and reputed epic Ramayana is originated. [1-5-1, 3]

तदिदम् वर्तयिष्यावः सर्वम् निखिलम् आदितः |
धर्म काम अर्थ सहितम् श्रोतव्यम् अनसूयता || १-५-४

4. tat = such an epic; idam = this Ramayana; sarvam = in its entirety; varta yiSyaavaH = we two wish to relate [to the world]; dharma kaama artha sahitam = probity, prosperity, pleasures [values of,] endowed with; nikhilam = completely; aaditaH = from beginning; an asuuyataa shrotavyam = without cavilling, [this may] be listened.

Being such a legend, we two wish to relate this Ramayana entirely and completely from the beginning, which is endowed with the values and means of probity, prosperity, and pleasure seeking... and this be listened without any caviling. [1-5-4]

कोसलो नाम मुदितः स्फीतो जनपदो महान् |
निविष्ट सरयू तीरे प्रभूत धन धान्यवान् || १-५-५

5. prabhuuta dhana dhaanyavaan = well flourishing with, monies, cereals; muditaH sphiitaH = joyous one, vast one; kosalaH naama = Kosala, named; mahaan janapadaH = great, kingdom; sarayuu tiire niviSTaH = River Sarayu, on the banks of, is snugly situated.

A great kingdom named Kosala, a joyous and a vast one well flourishing with monies and cereals, is snugly situated on the riverbanks of Sarayu. [1-5-5]