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Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 8

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

पाठ्ये गेये च मधुरं प्रमाणैस्त्रिभिरन्वितम्।जातिभिस्सप्तभिर्बद्धं तन्त्रीलयसमन्वितम्।।1.4.8।। रसैश्शृङ्गारकारुण्यहास्यवीरभयानकै:।रौद्रादिभिश्च संयुक्तं काव्यमेतदगायताम्।।1.4.9।। तौ तु गान्धर्वतत्त्वज्ञौ मूर्छनास्थानकोविदौ।भ्रातरौ स्वरसम्पन्नौ गन्धर्वाविव रूपिणौ।।1.4.10।। रूपलक्षणसम्पन्नौ मधुरस्वरभाषिणौ।बिम्बादिवोद्धृतौ बिम्बौ रामदेहात्तथाऽपरौ।।1.4.11।।

pāṭhye geye ca madhuraṃ pramāṇais tribhir anvitam |

jātibhiḥ saptabhir baddhaṃ tantrī-laya-samanvitam || 1.4.8 ||

rasaiḥ śṛṅgāra-kāruṇya-hāsya-vīra-bhayānakaiḥ |

raudrādibhiś ca saṃyuktaṃ kāvyam etad agāyatām || 1.4.9 ||

tau tu gāndharva-tattva-jñau mūrchanā-sthāna-kovidau |

bhrātarau svara-sampannau gandharvāv iva rūpiṇau || 1.4.10 ||

rūpa-lakṣaṇa-sampannau madhura-svara-bhāṣiṇau |

bimbād ivoddhṛtau bimbau rāma-dehāt tathā ’parau || 1.4.11 ||

その叙事詩は、誦読にも歌唱にも甘美であり、三つの韻律の尺度にかなって、七つの音階(旋法)に結ばれ、弦の拍とラヤ(速度)に調和していた。恋(愛)、哀れみ、笑い、勇、恐れ、さらに憤怒などの諸ラサを具えたこの詩を、二人の兄弟は歌い上げた。彼らはガンダルヴァ音楽の要を知り、旋律の移ろいと音位に通じ、声もまた麗しく、人の姿をとったガンダルヴァのようであった。姿かたちと相好に恵まれ、言葉も声色も柔らかく、まるでラーマの身体そのものから映し出された二つの影像のようであった。

तत्that (song/recitation)
तत्:
Karma (कर्म) (object of hearing)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); object of श्रुत्वा
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Kriyā (क्रिया) (prior action to main verb)
TypeVerb
Root√श्रु (धातु) (श्रवणे)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): 'having heard'
मुनयःsages
मुनयः:
Karta (कर्ता) (subject)
TypeNoun
Rootमुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)
सर्वेall
सर्वे:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); विशेषण of मुनयः
बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणाःwith tear-filled eyes
बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणाः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (qualifier of मुनयः)
TypeAdjective
Rootबाष्प + पर्याकुल + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक); components: बाष्प (tears) + पर्याकुल (agitated/filled) + ईक्षण (eyes/look)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); बहुव्रीहि: 'येषाम् ईक्षणानि बाष्पेण पर्याकुलानि ते' = whose eyes were filled with tears
साधुwell done!
साधु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (exclamation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसाधु (अव्यय/निपात; here used as interjection)
Formप्रशंसार्थक अव्यय (interjection of approval); first occurrence
साधुwell done!
साधु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसाधु (अव्यय/निपात)
Formप्रशंसार्थक अव्यय (repetition for emphasis)
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)
तौthose two (Kuśa and Lava)
तौ:
Karma (कर्म) (person(s) addressed)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Dual); object of ऊचुः (addressed/praised persons)
ऊचुःsaid/exclaimed
ऊचुः:
Kriyā (क्रिया) (main verb)
TypeVerb
Root√वच् (धातु) (वचने) (suppletive perfect form from √वच्)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person plural, Perfect, Parasmaipada)
परम्great/utter
परम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); degree/intensity qualifier of विस्मयम्
विस्मयम्wonder/amazement
विस्मयम्:
Karma (कर्म) (attained state/object)
TypeNoun
Rootविस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); object with āgatāḥ (attained/experienced)
आगताःhaving attained/overcome by
आगताः:
Karta (कर्ता) with implied 'became/attained' (state predicate)
TypeVerb
Root√गम् (धातु) (गत्यर्थे) + आ- (उपसर्ग); आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, past participle)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Active Participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); agrees with मुनयः

The twin brothers Kusa and Lava, endowed with a melodious voice, possessed auspicious form and beauty. They were gandharvas in human form. They looked like the two reflected images of Rama. The contents of this epic, apart from being memorable are sweet and suitable for verbal recitation as well as singing. This charming and attractive kavya is fit to be adapted to the three measures of time and to stringed instruments. It possesses seven notes together with various moods-amorous, compassionate, humorous, heroic, fearful and also violent.

K
Kuśa
L
Lava
R
Rāma
G
gandharva (celestial musicians)

FAQs

Dharma is communicated effectively through disciplined artistry: sacred history is preserved and taught by precise, beautiful recitation that makes truth memorable and transmissible.

Kuśa and Lava perform the Ramayana as a refined musical-oral composition, described in terms of tempo, modes, and rasas, and praised for their resemblance to Rāma.

Śruti-smṛti-saṃrakṣaṇa (guardianship of tradition): mastery of voice, music, and disciplined performance used in service of truthful narration.