Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 31

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

ततस्तु तौ रामवच:प्रचोदितावगायतां मार्गविधानसम्पदा।स चापि राम: परिषद्गतः शनैर्बुभूषयासक्तमना बभूव।।1.4.31।।

Transliteration

tatas tu tau rāmavacaḥ-pracoditau agāyatāṃ mārgavidhāna-sampadā | sa cāpi rāmaḥ pariṣadgataḥ śanaiḥ bubhūṣayāsakta-manā babhūva || 1.4.31 ||

Translation

Then, urged by Rama’s words, the two sang with the full discipline of the classical ‘mārga’ method. And Rama too, seated in the assembly, gradually became intent in mind—seeking inner calm—as he listened.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/काल-निर्देशक (adverb: thereafter)

• तु: then; indeed
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय-निपात (but/indeed)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• रामवचःप्रचोदितौ: urged by Rama's words
• रामवचःप्रचोदितौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of तौ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम + वचस् + प्रचोदित (प्रातिपदिक; √चुद् क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: रामस्य वचः (Rama's words) तेन प्रचोदितौ (urged); कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• अगायताम्: they two sang
• अगायताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद

• मार्गविधानसम्पदा: with the skill of the mārga-style arrangement
• मार्गविधानसम्पदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग + विधान + सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: मार्गस्य विधानम् (the 'mārga' mode/arrangement) तस्य सम्पदा (with the accomplishment/skill); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कारः

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता) (of बभूव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परिषद्गतः: having gone to (being in) the assembly
• परिषद्गतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of रामः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिषद् + गत (प्रातिपदिक; √गम् क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: परिषदं गतः; कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शनैः: quietly; gradually
• शनैः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: slowly/quietly)

• बुभूषया: with the desire (to hear/know)
• बुभूषया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुभूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (instrumental of cause): "due to desire"

• आसक्तमना: with mind intent/attached
• आसक्तमना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of रामः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसक्त + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: आसक्तं मनः यस्य सः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बभूव: became; was
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kusha
• Lava
• assembly (pariṣad)
• mārga (classical mode)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma includes disciplined practice and attentive reception: truthful narration (satya) should be performed with rule-governed excellence, and heard with a mind oriented toward peace and understanding.

What is the narrative situation?

Kuśa and Lava proceed to sing in the classical style after Rama’s encouragement; Rama listens with increasing concentration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s inward steadiness and receptivity—he seeks serenity and focuses his mind, showing how a ruler also learns through listening.