In that city of Ayodhya, lived king Dasaratha, who was well versed in Vedas, who kept everyone under his control, who was gifted with foresight, who was highly valorous and loved by all his people from both cities and villages. Among the Emperors of Ikshwaku dynasty, Dasaratha was a mighty warrior, who performed many a sacrificial ritual and who always took delight in virtuousness. He was like a Maharshi, a real saint who is above all worldly affairs and also raajarshi, a kingly-saint. Dasaratha was a mighty emperor who killed all his enemies. He had many friends, and had controlled senses. With his wealth, property and other possessions, he was equal to Indra and Kubera. King Dasaratha living in that fabulous city of Ayodhya, ruled the world, like the first king Manu who once protected the entire world. By King Dasaratha, who adheres the three-fold virtues viz. Dharma [virtuousness] Artha [rightful wealth] Kama [rational desires], that best capital Ayodhya and the country Kosala as well, were ruled like Amaravati, the capital of heavens, by Indra.

In that best city Ayodhya, the people were virtue minded, well read  in many a scripture and were satisfied with what they owned. They were content with their riches and possessions, without greed or avarice and they always spoke truth. In that great city there was none with meagre accumulated wealth. There was no householder who could not sustain his kutumba. (A kutumba is an assemblage of the householder, his wife, two of his parents, two sons, two daughters-in-law, one daughter, and one guest totalling to ten members). Further, there is no one in that city who did not achieve his goals, and there was no one without cows, horses, moneys and food. Anywhere in that city of Ayodhya one cannot find a lustful person, or a miser or a cruel one. One also could not see unscholarly people or atheists. All the ladies and gentlemen in that city were virtuous, with controlled senses. They were enlightened souls, like great saints both in their conduct and character, without any blemish. In that city there is no one without ear rings, without his headgear as per his social status, without garlands adoring his chest, with limited luxuries, who does not take bath, who does not smear body with sandal paste and who does not use scents. Nobody could be seen in that city with an unsavoury palate, uncharitable in nature, and with an undecorated body without ornaments like bracelets or neck ornaments and none without controlled senses.

In that city of Ayodhya, no one lived without sacrificial fires which were to glow three times a day, none without performing yajña - the sacrificial ritual, and no one is mean or low in living. Neither a thief nor a person of impure origin could be found in that city. The Brahmins, scholars in Vedas were always engaged in their rituals as ordained in the scriptures, duly conquering their own senses and duty bound. They were donating the education of Vedas to their students as well practising the same for themselves. They were principled in mind while receiving donations and accepted only those that were from a befitting hand. In that city Ayodhya there is no atheist, no liar, and none was less learned in Vedas, [for Vedas are learnt by listening and recitation, hence the word 'heard'] or other faculties of the day. No one is found jealous, disabled in strength, or unscholarly in his pursuit, in Ayodhya. In this city of Ayodhya, there is none without the knowledge of Vedas and their six ancillary subjects like astrology, prosody, grammar etc., and there is no one not performing the prescribed rituals. Also none can be found there with a saddened heart, turmoil in mind or agonized in will. In that city of Ayodhya, there is none, either a lady or a gentleman, without wealth, elegance or devotion to the king. In the four-caste system, from the first one to the last, everyone was  a worshipper of deities and guests. They never forgot any good deed done to them, were generous, valiant and brave. In that best city all the people lived with virtuosity, truthfulness, along with their ladies, sons and grandsons and above all in longevity. In the four-caste system, Kshatriyas, the warrior-class followed Brahmanas, the scholarly-class, for intellectual and religious support. Vysyas, the trading-class, were the followers of Kshatriyas.  And the fourth caste Shoodras, the working class, while performing their own caste-bound duties served the other three castes.

That city was well protected by Dasaratha, the Lord from Ikshwaku dynasty, like the wise Manu who ruled humans once upon a time. Ayodhya was filled with skilful warriors who were as brilliant as Agni - the sacred fire, who could not bear an insult, who completed their prescribed education successfully, just as a cave is filled with groups of lions. The city was filled with the best horses born and brought from countries like Kaambhoja, Baahlika, Vanaayu and also Indus Valley. These horses equalled Ucchaisrava, the horse belonging to Indra, the Lord of Heavens. The city had elephants from Vindhya Mountains in the present day central India, and also from Himalayan regions. These rutting elephants were mighty like a huge mountain. These elephants of Ayodhya were of high breed from the lines of Airavata, Mahapadma, Anjana and Vamana. That city was crowded with mountain like elephants bred from the three classes Bhadra, Mandra and Mriga. There was also inter-breeding among these three main classes. That city of Ayodhya in which King Dasaratha had been residing and ruling the country from, was shining true to its name (Ayodhya = unassailable) further more to a distance of two yojanas. That city was ruled by great resplendent king Dasaratha, with enemies in control, just as moon rules stars in the sky. Ayodhya was the city true to its name with strong gates and bars, and had been shone by houses constructed with amazing architecture. King Dasaratha, who equalled Indra, ruled that auspicious city filled with thousands of people.