Part 2: Description of Ayodhyā

Now in the division named Bharata in this continent Jambūdvīpa there is a city, Ayodhyā, equal to Purandara’s city. In each of its houses the moon, reflected in jeweled pillars, attained the beauty of a permanent, handsome mirror. There the trees of the householders’ courtyards resembled wishing-trees because of necklaces shaken by peacocks kept for sport who kept pulling at them. Rows of lofty shrines gave the appearance of mountains with high cascades bursting forth because of streams from moon-stones.^[1] The roofs paved with jewels on the tops of the shrines with stars reflected in them looked as if handfuls of flowers had been scattered by the gods. Its pleasure-pools in the houses filled with people amusing themselves steal the beauty of the Ocean of Milk with Apsarases coming forth. Its house-pools shine instantly with wreaths of golden lotuses from the faces of fair women submerged to the neck. Outside the city the grounds were dark with extensive gardens, like mountain-plateaux with new clouds. The wall, encircled by a large lake, looked just like Mt. Aṣṭāpada with the lake of the gods. In every house in it there were givers, like kalpa-trees in heaven, always very easy to find, hut beggars were very difficult to find.