Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 20

कुशवंशवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

कुशनाभसुतास्सर्वा: समर्थास्त्वां सुरोत्तम।स्थानाच्च्यावयितुं देवं रक्षामस्तु तपो वयम्।।।।

Transliteration

kuśanābhasutāḥ sarvāḥ samarthās tvāṃ surottama |

sthānāc cyāvayituṃ devaṃ rakṣāmas tu tapo vayam || 1.32.20 ||

Translation

「神々のうち最勝なるお方よ、私たちは皆クシャナーバの娘。神でさえその位から退かせ得る力があります。けれども私たちは自らを抑え、未婚の乙女としてタパス（苦行の力）を守っているのです。」

Word by Word

• कुशनाभसुताः: daughters of Kuśanābha
• कुशनाभसुताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशनाभ + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष 'कुशनाभस्य सुताः'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• समर्थाः: capable
• समर्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• सुरोत्तम: O best among gods
• सुरोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• स्थानात्: from (your) position
• स्थानात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• च्यावयितुम्: to dislodge
• च्यावयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: च्यावय् (धातु; causative of च्यु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), हेत्वर्थ (purpose)

• देवम्: the god (you)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रक्षामः: we protect
• रक्षामः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (निपात/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक 'but/indeed'

• तपः: austerity/ascetic merit
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd) एकवचन (object of रक्षामः)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

O wicked one, do not dishonour our father who always speaks the truth. He will choose the bridegrooms righteously. Do not invite death (father may be the cause of your death).

Characters & Entities

• Kuśanābha
• Vāyu
• tapas

FAQs

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

Dharma includes self-restraint: even when one has the power to retaliate (through tapas), one may choose restraint to protect spiritual merit and uphold rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

The maidens warn Vāyu that they possess the ascetic potency to punish, but they refrain in order to preserve their vow and merit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣamā and saṃyama (forbearance and restraint) grounded in tapas—power governed by principle.