Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 16

कुशवंशवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

अहं व: कामये सर्वा भार्या मम भविष्यथ।मानुषस्त्यज्यतां भावः दीर्घमायुरवाप्स्यथ।।।।

Transliteration

ahaṃ vaḥ kāmaye sarvā bhāryā mama bhaviṣyatha |

mānuṣas tyajyatāṃ bhāvaḥ dīrgham āyur avāpsyatha || 1.32.16 ||

Translation

「我は汝らすべてを望む。わが妻となれ。人としての死すべき思いを捨てよ、さすれば長き寿命を得るであろう。」

Word by Word

• चलम्: unstable, fickle
• चलम्: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of यौवनम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• यौवनम्: youth
• यौवनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of implied ‘is’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-रूप (adverbial accusative)

• मानुषेषु: among humans
• मानुषेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; location/domain

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (especially)

• अक्षय्यम्: imperishable
• अक्षय्यम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of यौवनम् (object)

• यौवनम्: youth
• यौवनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of प्राप्ताः (having obtained)

• प्राप्ताः: having obtained
• प्राप्ताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण; resultant state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agrees with implied ‘you (women)’

• अमर्यः: immortal (women)
• अमर्यः: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate adjective with भविष्यथ

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• भविष्यथ: you will become
• भविष्यथ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Youth is always unstable, especially in human beings. If you marry me, you will be ever youthful like devatas.

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu
• Kuśanābha (implied via daughters in later verses)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires that marriage be aligned with rightful procedure, consent, and familial duty; a powerful being’s desire and promises (longevity) cannot override moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Vāyu directly proposes to all the maidens at once, offering divine benefits in exchange for marriage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The forthcoming virtue is the maidens’ steadfastness and chastity; this verse highlights Vāyu’s attempt to persuade through power and reward.