Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 18

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

प्रजापतिसुतश्चासीत्कुशो नाम महीपति:।कुशस्य पुत्रो बलवान् कुशनाभस्सुधार्मिक:।।।।

Transliteration

prajāpatisutaś cāsīt kuśo nāma mahīpatiḥ |

kuśasya putro balavān kuśanābhaḥ sudhārmikaḥ ||

Translation

Il y eut un roi nommé Kuśa, fils de Prajāpati. Le fils de Kuśa fut Kuśanābha, puissant par la force et inébranlablement juste.

Word by Word

• prajāpatisutaḥ: son of Prajāpati
• prajāpatisutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati-suta (प्रातिपदिक; प्रजापति + सुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रजापतेः सुतः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kuśaḥ: Kuśa
• kuśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नामनिर्देश-अव्यय (particle: 'named')

• mahīpatiḥ: king/lord of earth
• mahīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī-pati (प्रातिपदिक; मही + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महेः/मह्याः पतिः)

• kuśasya: of Kuśa
• kuśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• balavān: strong
• balavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessing strength)

• kuśanābhaḥ: Kuśanābha
• kuśanābhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśanābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sudhārmikaḥ: very righteous
• sudhārmikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-dhārmika (प्रातिपदिक; सु + धार्मिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (kuśanābhaḥ)

Context

There was a king named Kusa who was the son of Brahma. His son was Kusanabha who was supremely righteous and strong.

Characters & Entities

• Prajāpati
• Kuśa
• Kuśanābha

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds rajadharma: true kingship is measured not only by power (bala) but by steadfast righteousness (su-dhārmikatva).

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra begins recounting his royal-ancestral line, starting from Kuśa and Kuśanābha, as part of a broader backstory.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kuśanābha’s virtue is dharmic steadfastness—strength governed by righteousness rather than mere conquest.