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.
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