Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 6

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

स तु मेधाविनौ दृष्ट्वा वेदेषु परिनिष्ठितौ।वेदोपबृंहणार्थाय तावग्राहयत प्रभु:।।1.4.6।।

Transliteration

sa tu medhāvinau dṛṣṭvā vedeṣu pariniṣṭhitau |

vedopabṛṃhaṇārthāya tāv agrāhayata prabhuḥ || 1.4.6 ||

Translation

Seeing the two as intelligent and firmly accomplished in Vedic learning, the master initiated them, so that this work might serve to enrich and support the Vedas.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (Valmiki)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• medhāvinau: the two intelligent ones
• medhāvinau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: medhāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), द्विवचन (Dual)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) → dṛṣṭvā (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययभाव-क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive): having seen

• vedeṣu: in the Vedas
• vedeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• pariniṣṭhitau: well-accomplished
• pariniṣṭhitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari + √sthā (धातु) → pariniṣṭhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; ‘well-established/accomplished’

• veda-upabṛṃhaṇa-arthāya: for the purpose of nourishing the Vedas
• veda-upabṛṃhaṇa-arthāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + upabṛṃhaṇa + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (for the purpose of strengthening the Vedas)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• agrāhayat: made (them) learn/initiated
• agrāhayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु) + ā (णिच् causative implied)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): caused to learn/initiated

• prabhuḥ: the master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Valmiki, the master, having found both Kusa and Lava endowed with intellect and accomplished in the Vedas initiated them into the Ramayana composed by him for the purpose of nourishing the Vedas.

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Kuśa
• Lava
• Veda(s)

FAQs

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

Dharma is preserved through right transmission: a qualified teacher initiates worthy students so sacred knowledge and moral order remain continuous and reliable.

What is the narrative situation?

Vālmīki, recognizing Kuśa and Lava’s aptitude and Vedic grounding, formally instructs them so they can carry the Ramayana as a Veda-supporting tradition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ācāryatva (responsible teaching): the guru’s discernment in choosing capable students and framing learning as service to a larger sacred and ethical order.