Valmiki Ramayana 1.32.2: Bala Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 2

कुशवंशवर्णनम् · The Line of Kuśa and the Disfigurement of Kuśanābha’s Daughters by Vāyu

Addressed to Rama and LakshmanaSetting: Vidarbha (implied by the princess’s origin)

Devanagari script

स महात्मा कुलीनायां युक्तायां सुगुणोल्बणान् ।

वैदर्भ्यां जनयामास चतुरस्सदृशान् सुतान् ॥२॥

कुशाम्बं कुशनाभं च अधूर्तरजसं वसुम् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.32.2

Transliteration

sa mahātmā kulīnāyāṃ yuktāyāṃ suguṇolbaṇān |

vaidarbhyāṃ janayāmāsa caturas sadṛśān sutān ||2||

kuśāmbaṃ kuśanābhaṃ ca adhūrtarajasaṃ vasum |

Translation

Jener Großherzige, vereint mit einer edelgeborenen Prinzessin aus Vidarbha, die ihm ebenbürtig und reich an Tugenden war, zeugte vier Söhne, tugendvoll und ihm gleich: Kuśāmba, Kuśanābha, Adhūrtarajasa und Vasu.

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Word by Word

• सः: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), एकवचन; epithet
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• कुलीनायाम्: in a noble (lady)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/Locative), एकवचन; qualifying implied स्त्री/भार्या
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• युक्तायाम्: in (one) suitable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/Locative), एकवचन; ‘suitable/fit’ qualifying same noun as कुलीनायाम्
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• सुगुणोल्बणान्: abounding in virtues
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + गुण + उल्बण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘abounding in good qualities’
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (of जनयामास)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वैदर्भ्याम्: by the Vidarbha princess
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदर्भी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by/through the Vidarbha princess’ (mother)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• जनयामास: begot
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) (causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative stem जनय-; ‘begot/caused to be born’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• चतुरः: four
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन; numeral adjective qualifying सुतान्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण) of सुतान्

• सदृशान्: worthy; similar
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘similar/equal’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण) of सुतान्

• सुतान्: sons
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• कुशाम्बम्: Kushamba
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशाम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), एकवचन; proper noun
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (appositional list)

• कुशनाभम्: Kushanabha
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशनाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), एकवचन; proper noun
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• अधूर्तरजसम्: Adhūrtarajasa
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधूर्तरजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), एकवचन; proper noun (compound name)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वसुम्: Vasu
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), एकवचन; proper noun
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• सुगुणोल्बणान् = सु + गुण + उल्बणान्
• वैदर्भ्यां = वैदर्भ्याम् (anusvāra/ya-sandhi in recitation)

Context

That great soul, Kusa, married the princess of Vidarbha born in a noble family and a match for him. He begot four virtuous sons who resembled him. They were Kusamba, Kusanabha, Adhurtarajas and Vasu.

The teaching

Righteous household life, matched partnership, and virtue-rich progeny are portrayed as auspicious supports of social dharma.

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma / vaṃśa-dharma

For your practice

Encourages reflection on dharmic family life and cultivation of guṇas in progeny/disciples.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Genealogical, auspicious, composed

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Lineage
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kuśanābha
• Vasu

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained through righteous household life and worthy alliances; the text highlights a proper match and virtuous progeny as foundations for social and moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Background genealogy is given: the noble marriage and the birth of four sons, including Kuśanābha—father of the maidens in the later episode.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Suguṇa (good qualities) and suitability (yuktatā) in marriage—virtues that support stable dharmic lineage.