The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c7.334

v1.c7.334

In the story of Nala allusion is made to a lofty balcony from which men were seen from a great distance; and in the *Rāmāyaṇa*, the mischievous harridan, Mantharā, looks out from an upper window of the palace to notice the rejoicings of the people in the street on the nomination of Rāma to the Vice-kingship of Kośala. The description of the metropolis of Ayodhyā is even more remarkable, and may be noticed as containing unmistakable proofs of the existence of stone, or brick, houses in Aryan India, at the time when that work was composed. It occurs in the 5th canto of the first book from which the following extract is taken. “On the banks of the Sarayū there was a great country named Kośala: it was happy and prosperous; and abounded in cattle, grain, and riches. In that country was the renowned city of Ayodhyā which had been of yore built by Manu, the lord of mankind. That great and magnificient city was twelve *yojanas* in length, and three in breadth, and included nine sub-divisions. Its principal gates, placed at proper intervals, were large and lofty, and its thoroughfares broad; it was embellished with numerous highways, the dust on which was always allayed with showers of water. And there were crowds of merchants, and a profusion of jewels; as also many large mansions, fortified places (*durga*), and pleasant gardens. It was surrounded by a deep and unassailable moat, and contained an immensity of arms of various kinds. Its arched gate-way (*toraṇa*) was provided with doors, and always guarded by numerous bodies of archers. The noble king, Daśaratha, who advanced the prosperity of the country, protected that city as his own, even as Indra protects his capital. The high roads of the city were provided with strong gateways, and its market-places were well-arranged and regularly disposed. There were in it lots of instruments, and arms, and numerous works of art. There were arms which could kill a hundred persons at a time (*śataghnī*, centicide, a primitive mittrailleuse generally supposed to have been a kind of rocket), and mighty clubs mounted with iron blades, and flags were flying over its triumphal gateways. There were also horses, and elephants, and war-chariots, and conveyances of various kinds. Ambassadors and travellers paced its streets, the sides of which were embellished by the wares of merchants and traders. The temples (*devāyatana*) in this city were as resplendent as the sky. Its assembly-halls, gardens, and alms-house (*prapā*, lit, where water is distributed gratis) were most elegant; and everywhere were arranged extensive buildings crowded with men and women, with learned men, and seniors wise as the Devas. The houses were as mines of gems, and the abodes of the goddess of fortune. The steeples of the houses were as resplendent as the crests of mountains, and bore hundreds of pavilions, like the celestial palace of the chief among the Devas. The rooms were full of riches and corn, exquisitely gilt and decorated, and seemed as charming as pictures; and they were so arranged [**20**] that men could pass from one room to another without perceiving any inequality (in the floor), while the dulcet sound of enchanting music proceeding from the *mṛdaṅga*, and the flute, and the *vīṇā*, filled every place.”²¹