Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 27

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

श्रूयतामिदमाख्यानमनयोर्देववर्चसो:।विचित्रार्थपदं सम्यग्गायकौ तावचोदयत्।।1.4.27।।

Transliteration

śrūyatām idam ākhyānam anayor devavarcasoḥ | vicitrārthapadaṃ samyag gāyakau tāv acodayat || 1.4.27 ||

Translation

「この物語を聞きなさい。神々のごとく光り輝くこの二人が、意味も言葉も多彩に歌い上げるのだ。」そう言って、二人の歌い手に始めるよう促した。

Word by Word

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive): "let it be heard"

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आख्यानम्: narrative; tale
• आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनयोः: of these two
• अनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• देववर्चसोः: of the two god-radiant (ones)
• देववर्चसोः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of अनयोः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): देवस्य वर्चः (lustre of the gods); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (as adjective), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• विचित्रार्थपदम्: having varied meaning and wording
• विचित्रार्थपदम्: Karma (कर्म) (object described)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र + अर्थ + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/समाहार-भावः (descriptive compound): विचित्रः अर्थः यस्य तत् / विचित्रार्थं पदं; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सम्यक्: properly; completely
• सम्यक्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गायकौ: the two singers
• गायकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता) (co-referential with गायकौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual)

• अचोदयत्: urged; prompted
• अचोदयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; causative sense in meaning: "urged/impelled"

Context

The chanting of the kavya in the assembly of men comforted the sense of hearing. The listeners rejoiced in their mind, heart and the whole being.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kusha
• Lava
• assembly

FAQs

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

Dharma includes śravaṇa—attentive listening to truthful history and moral teaching. Rama models respect for meaningful speech that conveys satya with aesthetic excellence.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama asks the assembly to listen and prompts Kuśa and Lava to begin their recitation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s discernment (he recognizes quality and meaning) and reverence for truth-bearing narration.