Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.105

c6.105

According to the Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā was a city, full of wealth and granaries of paddy. It had spacious streets and roads, well-watered and decorated with flowers. It had lofty gates furnished with doors and bolts. It was fully protected. It was the home of skilful artisans and craftsmen. It contained palatial buildings, green bowers and mango-groves. The city was rendered impregnable being surrounded by a deep ditch filled with water. A large number of pinnacled houses and lofty seven-storied buildings existed there. It was a crowded city and frequently resounded by musical instruments. This city had Kamboja horses and mighty elephants.³ In the Mahābhārata, it is called ‘puṇyalakṣaṇa’ that is, endowed with auspicious signs. It was a delightful spot on earth.⁴ According to the Rāmāyaṇa there were four grades of social order at Ayodhyā, e.g., the Brāhmaṇas, the Kṣatriyas, the Vaiśyas and the Śūdras. They had to fulfil their respective duties and obligations.⁵