Valmiki Ramayana 1.34.20: Bala Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 20

कुशिकवंश

प्रसङ्गः / Genealogy of the Kuśika Line and the Kausikī River

Spoken by Viśvāmitra to Rama

Devanagari script

कुशिकानामयं वंशो महान् धर्मपरस्सदा ।

ब्रह्मोपमा महात्मानः कुशवंश्या नरोत्तमाः ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.34.20

Transliteration

kuśikānām ayaṃ vaṃśo mahān dharmaparaḥ sadā |

brahmopamā mahātmānaḥ kuśavaṃśyā narottamāḥ ||20||

Translation

यह कुशिक परिवार बहुत बड़ा है। यह लोग हमेशा धरम पे चले हैं। कुश के वंश के लोग बड़े लोग हैं। इनकी शान ब्रह्मा जैसी है। इंसानों में यह सब से ऊपर हैं।

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Word by Word

• kuśikānām: of the Kuśikas
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (plural)
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• ayam: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)
• Role: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)

• vaṁśaḥ: dynasty
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṁśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mahān: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of vaṁśaḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• dharmaparaḥ: devoted to dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of vaṁśaḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• sadā: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• brahmopamāḥ: comparable to Brahmā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण of mahātmānaḥ/narottamāḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• mahātmānaḥ: great-souled ones
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (plural)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• kuśavaṁśyāḥ: born in Kuśa’s line
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśa + vaṁśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण of narottamāḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• narottamāḥ: foremost men
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (plural)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• कुशिकानामयं = कुशिकानाम् + अयम्
• ब्रह्मोपमा = ब्रह्म + उपमाः

Context

This is the family of the Kusas, venerable always devoted to dharma, foremost of men, great like Lord Brahma.

The teaching

Noble lineage is measured by sustained devotion to dharma and inner greatness (mahātmatā), not merely by birth.

Ethical theme

Ācāra / kula-dharma

Devotion and practice

Smaraƺ of dharma-nihahaā and brahma-tejas as aspirational virtues; useful for daily reflection on conduct.

Deity praised

Brahmā (as honorific comparison)

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Genealogical, laudatory, dharma-centered

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Lineage
• Ethics
• Praise (praśasti)

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Kūśa (Kusa)
• Brahmā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is depicted as the sustaining force of a dynasty’s greatness: enduring excellence is defined by continual devotion to righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra summarizes and praises the Kuśika/Kūśa lineage while narrating his ancestral background to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dharma-paratā—consistent commitment to virtue—presented as the hallmark of the Kuśika line.