Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 21

कुशिकवंश

प्रसङ्गः / Genealogy of the Kuśika Line and the Kausikī River

Devanagari script

विशेषेण भवानेव विश्वामित्रो महायशा:।कौशिकी सरितां श्रेष्ठा कुलोद्योतकरी तव।।।।

Transliteration

viśeṣeṇa bhavān eva viśvāmitro mahāyaśāḥ |

auśikī saritāṃ śreṣṭhā kulodyotakarī tava ||

Translation

E, acima de tudo, tu mesmo, ó Viśvāmitra de grande fama: o teu rio Kauśikī é o mais excelente entre os rios, resplandecendo como ornamento que dá brilho à tua linhagem.

Word by Word

• viśeṣeṇa: especially
• viśeṣeṇa: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial use: 'especially')

• bhavān: you
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• eva: indeed/alone
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण (emphasis)

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• mahāyaśāḥ: greatly renowned
• mahāyaśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of viśvāmitraḥ

• kauśikī: Kauśikī (river)
• kauśikī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• saritām: of rivers
• saritām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• śreṣṭhā: best
• śreṣṭhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of kauśikī

• kulodyotakarī: illuminating the lineage
• kulodyotakarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kula + udyota + karī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of kauśikī

• tava: your
• tava: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive, 6th), एकवचन (singular)

Context

O son of Raghu's dynasty! the highly virtuous Gadhi is my father. I am known as Kausika being born in the family of Kusa.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Kauśikī (river)

FAQs

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

The verse frames dharma as a source of collective honor: virtuous deeds and sacred associations elevate not only an individual but also their lineage.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Viśvāmitra’s account, the sages commend him, highlighting the Kauśikī river as a distinguished glory of his family.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mahāyaśas—renown grounded in righteous life—implying that true fame arises from dharma and beneficent legacy.