Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 4

कुशवंशवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

क्रियतां पालनं पुत्रा: धर्मं प्राप्स्यथ पुष्कलम्।।।।ऋषेस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा चत्वारो लोकसम्मता:।निवेशं चक्रिरे सर्वे पुराणां नृवरास्तदा।।।।

Transliteration

kriyatāṃ pālanaṃ putrāḥ dharmaṃ prāpsyatha puṣkalam ||

Translation

Mes fils, exercez une gouvernance selon le dharma ; par un tel règne vous obtiendrez un mérite abondant.

Word by Word

• क्रियताम्: let (it) be done
• क्रियताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; passive/impersonal sense: ‘let it be done’

• पालनम्: governance; protection
• पालनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन (प्रातिपदिक; √पाल् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; object of injunction

• पुत्राः: O sons
• पुत्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/Vocative), बहुवचन

• धर्मम्: merit; righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्स्यथ: you will obtain
• प्राप्स्यथ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुष्कलम्: abundant
• पुष्कलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण) of धर्मम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), एकवचन; qualifying धर्मम्

• ऋषेः: of the sage
• ऋषेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/Genitive), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (emphasis/contrast)

• वचनम्: words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म) (of श्रुत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having heard’

• चत्वारः: the four
• चत्वारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), बहुवचन; numeral used substantively

• लोकसम्मताः: esteemed in the world
• लोकसम्मताः: Visheshana (विशेषण) of चत्वारः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + सम्मत (कृदन्त; √मन् (धातु) + क्त with सम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘approved by the world’

• निवेशम्: settlement; abode
• निवेशम्: Karma (कर्म) (of चक्रिरे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/Accusative), एकवचन

• चक्रिरे: made/established
• चक्रिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to चत्वारः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पुराणाम्: of the cities
• पुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/Genitive), बहुवचन

• नृवराः: best of men
• नृवराः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘best of men’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb of time

Context

Having heard the words of those maidens, the most powerful and venerable Wind-god became furious. He entered all the limbs of their bodies, twisted and distorted them.

Characters & Entities

• Kuśa
• dharma

FAQs

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

Rulership is legitimate only when it is exercised as dharmic pālana—protective governance that prioritizes righteousness over personal gain.

What is the narrative situation?

Kuśa gives a concise directive to his sons: govern in a way aligned with dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility in leadership—seeing power as a duty of protection and moral order.