Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 16

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

ते प्रीतमनसस्सर्वे मुनयो धर्मवत्सला:।प्रशशंसु: प्रशस्तव्यौ गायमानौ कुशीलवौ।।1.4.16।।

Transliteration

te prītamanasaḥ sarve munayo dharmavatsalāḥ | praśaśaṃsuḥ praśastavyau gāyamānau kuśīlavau || 1.4.16 ||

Translation

Todos los munis, amantes del dharma y gozosos de corazón, alabaron a los dignos de alabanza, los cantores Kuśa y Lava, mientras continuaban su canto.

Word by Word

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रीतमनसः: with delighted minds
• प्रीतमनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: प्रीतं मनः येषाम् (whose minds are pleased)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (qualifying मुनयः)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• धर्मवत्सलाः: loving dharma
• धर्मवत्सलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः: धर्मे वत्सलाः (fond of dharma)

• प्रशशंसुः: praised
• प्रशशंसुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• प्रशस्तव्यौ: praiseworthy (the two)
• प्रशस्तव्यौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/पद्यमान), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (object-complement for the praised pair)

• गायमानौ: singing/chanting
• गायमानौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गै (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/Present Participle, Ātmanepada), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, द्विवचन (qualifying कुशीलवौ; ‘while singing’)

• कुशीलवौ: the two bards (Kuśa and Lava)
• कुशीलवौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशीलव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

Context

All the sages steeped in dharma, pleased with them, praised the admirable Kusa and Lava as they sang.

Characters & Entities

• Kuśa
• Lava
• muni (sages)

FAQs

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

Dharma is honored through reverent listening and rightful appreciation: sages devoted to dharma recognize and praise worthy speech/song that preserves righteous tradition.

What is the narrative situation?

Kuśa and Lava are chanting the Rāmāyaṇa; the assembled sages, pleased by the performance, openly praise them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sages’ dharma-minded discernment (recognizing what is praiseworthy) and the twins’ disciplined artistry in sacred recitation.