Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 1

कुशवंशवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

Description of the four sons of Brahma and the dynasty of Kusanabha-- enraged Windgod turns the daughters of Kusanabha into humpedback ones.ब्रह्मयोनिर्महानासीत्कुशो नाम महातपा:।अक्लिष्टव्रतधर्मज्ञः सज्जनप्रतिपूजक:।।।।

Transliteration

brahmayonir mahān āsīt kuśo nāma mahātapāḥ | akliṣṭavratadharmajñaḥ sajjanapratipūjakaḥ || 1.32.1 ||

Translation

Hubo un gran y poderoso asceta llamado Kuśa, nacido de Brahmā: firme en votos incansables, conocedor del dharma y venerador de los virtuosos.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मयोनिः: Brahmā-born
• ब्रह्मयोनिः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to कुशः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः योनि: = born from Brahmā

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण) of कुशः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), एकवचन

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुशः: Kusha
• कुशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), एकवचन; proper noun

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Nirdharana/Name-marker (नामनिर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle indicating name (‘by name’)

• महातपाः: great ascetic
• महातपाः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), एकवचन; epithet

• अक्लिष्टव्रतधर्मज्ञः: knowing dharma, with untiring vows
• अक्लिष्टव्रतधर्मज्ञः: Visheshana (विशेषण) of कुशः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिष्ट + व्रत + धर्मज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), एकवचन; multi-member compound: ‘knower of dharma with unwearied vows’

• सज्जनप्रतिपूजकः: one who honors the virtuous
• सज्जनप्रतिपूजकः: Visheshana (विशेषण) of कुशः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्जन + प्रतिपूजक (प्रातिपदिक; √पूज् (धातु) + ण्वुल्/अक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), एकवचन; agent-noun ‘one who honors good people’

Context

There was a great ascetic named Kusa, born to Brahma, as ascetic indefatigable in vows, knowldegeable in dharma and a respector of the virtuous.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Kuśa

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as knowledge of righteousness joined with lived discipline: vows, tapas, and honoring the good form the moral foundation of a lineage.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration begins a genealogical account, introducing Kuśa as a foundational ancestor connected to Brahmā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in vows and reverence toward virtuous persons—markers of ethical and spiritual excellence.