The World of Valmiki-39

The World of Valmiki-39

Towns and villages

अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्रासील्लोकविश्रुता ।१/५/६॥

There was the city of Ayodhya well known to all.

मिथिलाधिपतिं शूरं जनकं सत्यवादिनम् ।१/१३/२१॥

Lord of Mithila, Janaka who is always truthful.

तथा काशिपतिं स्निग्धं सततं प्रियवादिनम् ।१/१३/२३॥

There lord of Kashi, who always speaks pleasantly.

कुशांबस्तु महातेजा कौशाम्बीमकरोत् पुरीम् ।

कुशनाभस्तु धर्मात्मा पुरं चक्रे महोदयम् ॥१/३२/६॥

Kushamba built the city Kaushambi and Kushanabha built city Mahodaya.

असूर्तरजसो नाम धर्मारण्यम् महामतिः ।

चक्रे पुरवरं राजा वसु नाम गिरिव्रजम् ॥१/३२/७॥

Asurtarajas of great intellect built the city of Dharmaranya and king by name Vasu built Girivraja.

स राजा ब्रह्मदत्तस्तु पुरीमध्यवसत्तदा ।

काम्पिल्यां परया लक्ष्म्या देवराजो यथादिवम् ॥१/३३/१९॥

King Brahmadatta lived in city of Kampilya like the chief of Gods (Vishnu) with Lakshmi.

गङ्गाकूले निविष्टास्ते विशालां ददृशुः पुरीम् ।१/४५/९॥

They saw the city of Vishala on the banks of Ganga.

उभौ भरतशत्रुघ्नौ केकयेषु परन्तपौ ।

पुरे राजगृहे रम्ये मातामहनिवेशने ॥२/६७/७॥

Both Bharata and Shatrughna (stayed) in Kekaya kingdoom in the beautiful city of Rajagriha, in maternal grandparents' place.

न्यन्तेनापरतालस्य प्रलम्बस्योत्तरं प्रति ।

निषेवमाणास्ते जग्मुर्नदीं मध्येन मालिनीम् ॥

ते हास्तिनपुरे गङ्गां तीर्त्वा प्रत्यङ्मुखा ययुः ।

पाञ्चालदेशमासाद्य मध्येन कुरुजाङ्गलम् ॥२/६८/१२-१३॥

They traveled along Malini river that flows between southern end of Aparatala mountain and the northern end of Pralamba mountain. They then crossed Ganga at Hastinapura and travelled westward, passing  through Panchala country and Kurujangala.

ते प्रसन्नोदकां दिव्यां नानाविहगसेविताम् ।

उपातिजग्मुर्वेगेन शरदण्डां जलाकुलाम् ॥

निकूलवृक्षमासाद्य दिव्यं सत्योपयाचनम् ।

अभिगम्याभिवाद्यं तं कुलिङ्गां प्राविशन्पुरीम् ॥

अभिकालं ततः प्राप्य ते बोधिभवनाच्च्युताः ।

पितृपैतामहीं पुण्यां तेरुरिक्षुमतीं नदीम् ॥

अवेक्ष्याञ्जलिपानांश्च ब्राह्मणान् वेदपारगान् ।

ययुर्मध्येन बाह्लीकान् सुदामानं च पर्वतम् ॥

विष्णोः पदं प्रेक्षमाणा विपाशां चापि शाल्मलीम् ।२/६८/१५-१९॥

They travelled beyond Sharadanda river which had clear water and which sheltered a large number of birds. They reached a holy tree called Satyopayachana, went round it with respect and then entered Kulinga city. After leaving behind Bodhibhavana they reached Abhikala and crossed the river Ikshumati dear to ancestors. Having observed Brahmins, well-versed in Vedas, who drank water with their palms they went through Bahlika seeing on the way Sudama mountain and Vishnupada and rivers Shalmali and Vipasha. 

गिरिव्रजं पुरवरं शीघ्रमासेदुरञ्जसा ।२/६८/२१॥

They reached quickly the great city Girivraja.

Go: Rajagriha is called Girivraja here.

मुरलीपत्तनं चैव रम्यं चैव जटापुरम् ।४/४२/१३॥

( In the western direction of Kishkindha) you will see Muralipattana and Jatapura.

तत्र प्राग्ज्योतिषं नाम जातरूपमयं पुरम् ।४/४२/३१॥

There you will see the city of Pragjyotisha.

Note: Pragjyotisha is normally associated with Eastern India, namely Assam. But here Valmiki mentions it in the Western direction!

ऐलधाने नदीं तीर्त्वा प्राप्य चापरपर्वतान् ।२/७१/३॥

- - - after crossing the river at Ailadhana and reaching western hills,

उपायात् राघवस्तूर्णं प्राग्वटे विश्रुते पुरे ।२/७१/९॥

Bharata quickly reached Pragvata, the famous town.

कलिङ्गनगरीं चापि प्राप्य सालवनं तदा ।

मैत्रे मुहूर्ते प्रययौ प्रयागवनमुत्तमम् ॥२/८९/२१॥

After reaching Kalinganagari and then the forest of Sala trees, he went to Prayaga forest at the auspicious time of Maitra.

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