Page 23 - Ramayana - Eng
P. 23
ā a āṇ a
The arched gateways of Ayodhyā were made of
marble, and the gates were wrought with gold and
silver and embedded with precious jewels. Cannons
and catapults, capable of repulsing any enemy, protected
the city walls. The marketplaces were well planned,
and seven-story houses symmetrically lined the streets.
Adorned with multi-storied palaces and surrounded with
exquisite gardens, Ayodhyā resounded with the vibrations
of musical instruments, rivaling Amarāvatī, the abode of
the heavenly king, Indra. Throughout the city, bards and
singers recited the glories of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, and dancers acted out the Lord’s pastimes for
everyone’s benefit.
Within Ayodhyā were many beautiful gardens abounding
with flowers and shaded by fruit trees. Blue, red, and golden
lotuses filled the ponds, and fountains shot water high into
the air. Gentle breezes carried the aromatic spray from the
fountains, cooling the citizens by their touch, and making
even a hot summer day seem like spring. The sounds of
cranes and peacocks could be heard everywhere. The water
flowing through Ayodhyā’s streams and rivulets tasted as
sweet as sugarcane sap, and it was used not only for drinking
but for irrigating numerous mango orchards. Many houses
and palaces, perfectly designed, were built of precious stones
and decorated with flags and festoons. Their beauty rivaled
the palaces of Vaikuṇṭha.
Thousands of warriors protected the great city: skilled
archers, well versed in the use of weapons, and chariot
fighters who were able to fight with thousands of men at
a time.