Shloka 3

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

कृत्वापि तन्महाप्राज्ञस्सभविष्यं सहोत्तरम्।चिन्तयामास कोन्वेतत्प्रयुञ्जीयादिति प्रभु:।।1.4.3।।

Transliteration

kṛtvāpi tan mahāprājñaḥ sabhaviṣyaṃ sahottaram | cintayāmāsa ko nv etat prayuñjīyād iti prabhuḥ || 1.4.3 ||

Translation

ਮਹਾਪ੍ਰਾਜ्ञ ਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਨੇ ਆਗਾਮੀ ਭਾਗਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਉੱਤਰਕਾਂਡ ਸਮੇਤ ਉਹ ਮਹਾਕਾਵ੍ਯ ਰਚ ਕੇ, ਸਮਰੱਥ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਵਾਂਗ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ— “ਇਸ ਕਾਵ੍ਯ ਦਾ ਯਥੋਚਿਤ ਗਾਨ-ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਕੌਣ ਕਰ ਸਕੇਗਾ?”

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• cintayamānasya: while (he was) pondering
• cintayamānasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cint (धातु) (शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त आधारः)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle: ‘pondering’), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (qualifying ‘maharṣeḥ’)

• maharṣeḥ: of the great sage
• maharṣeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• bhāvitātmanaḥ: of the self-controlled one
• bhāvitātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvita (कृदन्त; √bhū/√bhāv) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘bhāvita ātmā yasya’ = whose self is cultivated), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (qualifying ‘maharṣeḥ’)

• agṛhṇītām: the two took/held (touched)
• agṛhṇītām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु) with a- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• pādau: feet (two)
• pādau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• muni-veṣau: wearing ascetic garb
• muni-veṣau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + veṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘muneḥ veṣaḥ’), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (qualifying ‘kuśīlavau’)

• kuśīlavau: Kuśa and Lava (the two singers)
• kuśīlavau: Karta (कर्ता) (of ‘agṛhṇītām’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśīlava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

Context

Rama, the tormentor of enemies, surrounded by his ministers and brothers occupied the splendid golden throne.

Characters & Entities

• Valmiki
• Ramayana

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the responsible transmission of truth (satya) and sacred history (itihāsa): a great work should be entrusted to a worthy performer so that its meaning is preserved and conveyed rightly.

What is the narrative situation?

After completing the Ramayana, Valmiki considers who could present or perform the epic effectively for listeners.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valmiki’s विवेक (discernment) and responsibility—he seeks a competent, disciplined medium for communicating the text without distortion.