Shloka 30

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

इमौ मुनी पार्थिवलक्षणान्वितौकुशीलवौ चैव महातपस्विनौ।ममापि तद्भूतिकरं प्रवक्ष्यतेमहानुभावं चरितं निबोधत।।1.4.30।।

Transliteration

imau munī pārthivalakṣaṇānvitau kuśīlavau caiva mahātapasvinau | mamāpi tad bhūtikaraṃ pravakṣyate mahānubhāvaṃ caritaṃ nibodhata || 1.4.30 ||

Translation

ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮ ਨੇ ਸਭਾ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਹਾ: ‘ਇਹ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਮੁਨੀ ਹਨ, ਰਾਜਸੀ ਲੱਛਣਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਯੁਕਤ; ਕੁਸ਼ ਅਤੇ ਲਵ—ਮਹਾਤਪਸਵੀ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਪੁਣ ਗਾਇਕ ਵੀ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਮਹਾਨੁਭਾਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ, ਜੋ ਮੇਰੇ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਹਿਤਕਾਰੀ ਹੈ, ਵਰਣਨ ਕਰਨਗੇ; ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਧਿਆਨ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਣੋ।’

Word by Word

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Karta (कर्ता) (topic/pointing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• मुनी: sages
• मुनी: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to इमौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• पार्थिवलक्षणान्वितौ: endowed with royal characteristics
• पार्थिवलक्षणान्वितौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of मुनी/इमौ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव + लक्षण + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: पार्थिवस्य लक्षणानि (royal marks) तैः अन्वितौ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• कुशीलवौ: the two bards (Kuśa and Lava)
• कुशीलवौ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशीलव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; नाम/पदवी (singers/performers; also Kuśa and Lava)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• महातपस्विनौ: great ascetics
• महातपस्विनौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of इमौ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महान्तौ तपस्विनौ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• मम: of me; for me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कारः (also/even)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म) (object implied with प्रवक्ष्यते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र विशेष्य-निर्देशः (refers to the narrative)

• भूतिकरम्: welfare-bringing; beneficial
• भूतिकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of चरितम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूति + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: भूतिṃ (welfare/prosperity) करोति इति; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with चरितम्/आख्यानम् implied)

• प्रवक्ष्यते: will be narrated
• प्रवक्ष्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-भावः (will be narrated/said)

• महानुभावम्: of great significance
• महानुभावम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of चरितम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महान् अनुभावः (great import/majesty) यस्य; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चरितम्: deeds; life-story
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म) (of प्रवक्ष्यते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; √चर् क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past participle used as noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निबोधत: understand; listen attentively
• निबोधत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-नि (attentively understand)

Context

Encouraged by the words of Rama, the two brothers chanted according to margamode of singing (classical style). Even Rama who was in the assembly desirous of peace, concentrated his mind on that chanting.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē caturthassarga:৷৷Thus ends the fourth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana in synopsis of the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kusha
• Lava

FAQs

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

Dharma values truth spoken by qualified speakers: ascetic discipline and integrity make the narration trustworthy, and listening attentively is itself a righteous act.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama publicly identifies the two reciters as Kuśa and Lava, describing their ascetic and royal qualities, and asks the assembly to listen.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s fairness and discernment—he honors genuine merit (tapas and learning) and encourages collective attention to a truth-bearing account.