Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 3

कुशवंशवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

दीप्तियुक्तान् महोत्साहान् क्षत्रधर्मचिकीर्षया।।।।तानुवाच कुश: पुत्रान् धर्मिष्ठान् सत्यवादिन:।

Transliteration

dīptiyuktān mahotsāhān kṣatradharmacikīrṣayā | tān uvāca kuśaḥ putrān dharmiṣṭhān satyavādinaḥ ||

Translation

Désirant qu’ils accomplissent le dharma des guerriers, Kuśa s’adressa à ses fils, rayonnants, pleins d’ardeur, fermes dans le dharma et voués à la vérité.

Word by Word

• दीप्तियुक्तान्: brilliant
• दीप्तियुक्तान्: Visheshana (विशेषण) of पुत्रान्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्ति + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘endowed with brilliance’

• महोत्साहान्: high-spirited
• महोत्साहान्: Visheshana (विशेषण) of पुत्रान्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘of great energy’

• क्षत्रधर्मचिकीर्षया: with desire to perform warrior-duty
• क्षत्रधर्मचिकीर्षया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रधर्म + चिकीर्षा (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative noun from √कृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे: ‘with the desire to perform kṣatriya-dharma’

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन

• धर्मिष्ठान्: very righteous
• धर्मिष्ठान्: Visheshana (विशेषण) of पुत्रान्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + इष्ठन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन; superlative sense ‘most righteous’

• सत्यवादिनः: truth-speaking
• सत्यवादिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण) of पुत्रान्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यवादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘truth-speakers’ (acc. pl. of -in stem)

Context

Our father is our lord. Our father is god to us. Whomsoever our father offers us shall become our husband".

Characters & Entities

• Kuśa

FAQs

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

Dharma here is kṣatriya-dharma—righteous duty in leadership and protection—grounded in satya (truthfulness) as a defining virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

Kuśa is instructing his sons, preparing them for rulership and the responsibilities of governance according to righteous norms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness (satya) and firm commitment to dharma, paired with heroic energy suitable for responsible rule.