Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 17

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

अहो गीतस्य माधुर्यं श्लोकानां च विशेषत:।चिरनिर्वृत्तमप्येतत्प्रत्यक्षमिव दर्शितम्।।1.4.17।।

Transliteration

aho gītasya mādhuryaṃ ślokānāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ | ciranirvṛttam apy etat pratyakṣam iva darśitam || 1.4.17 ||

Translation

« Quelle douceur dans ce chant, et surtout dans ces ślokas ! Bien que ces événements soient anciens, ils sont montrés comme si nous les voyions de nos propres yeux », s’exclamèrent les auditeurs.

Word by Word

• अहो: oh! how wonderful!
• अहो: Sambodhana/Exclamation (सम्बोधन/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: आश्चर्यसूचक-अव्यय (interjection/particle)

• गीतस्य: of the song
• गीतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• माधुर्यम्: sweetness, melody
• माधुर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhurya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd nominative/accusative), एकवचन

• श्लोकानाम्: of the verses
• श्लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• चिरनिर्वृत्तम्: done long ago, long since occurred
• चिरनिर्वृत्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cira + nirvṛtta (कृदन्त; √vṛt (वृत्) + नि + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले (past passive participle)

• अपि: even though
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; concessive 'even/though')

• एतत्: this (narrative/thing)
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• प्रत्यक्षम्: directly visible, present before the eyes
• प्रत्यक्षम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• इव: as if, like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा/like)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• दर्शितम्: has been shown/depicted
• दर्शितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: darśita (कृदन्त; √dṛś (दृश्) + णिच् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle)

Context

How melodious is this chanting, especially the verses! Though it (the events) had happened long ago, it is described as if it is happening at the present moment, exclaimed the audience.

Characters & Entities

• muni (sages)
• gīta (song/chant)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by truthful remembrance: the past is transmitted so vividly and faithfully that it feels ‘seen,’ strengthening moral learning through itihāsa.

What is the narrative situation?

The audience marvels at the sweetness and vividness of Kuśa and Lava’s recitation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The performers’ clarity and fidelity in narration—making ancient truth feel immediate—reflecting disciplined learning and truthful delivery (satya).