 इक्ष्वाकूणामिदं तेषां राज्ञां वंशे महात्मनाम् ।महदुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतम् ।।  
 It was from the family of mighty monarchs with Ikshvaku as its founder and the kings born in that race, the celebrated epic known as the Ramayanam arose. 