Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 31

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

ततस्तु तौ रामवच:प्रचोदितावगायतां मार्गविधानसम्पदा।स चापि राम: परिषद्गतः शनैर्बुभूषयासक्तमना बभूव।।1.4.31।।

Transliteration

tatas tu tau rāmavacaḥ-pracoditau agāyatāṃ mārgavidhāna-sampadā | sa cāpi rāmaḥ pariṣadgataḥ śanaiḥ bubhūṣayāsakta-manā babhūva || 1.4.31 ||

Translation

ततः तु तौ रामवचःप्रचोदितौ मार्गविधानसम्पदा सम्यग् अवगायताम्। स चापि रामः परिषद्गतः शनैः श्रोतृभावेन शमाभिलाषया आसक्तमना बभूव॥

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/काल-निर्देशक (adverb: thereafter)

• तु: then; indeed
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय-निपात (but/indeed)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• रामवचःप्रचोदितौ: urged by Rama's words
• रामवचःप्रचोदितौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of तौ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम + वचस् + प्रचोदित (प्रातिपदिक; √चुद् क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: रामस्य वचः (Rama's words) तेन प्रचोदितौ (urged); कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• अगायताम्: they two sang
• अगायताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद

• मार्गविधानसम्पदा: with the skill of the mārga-style arrangement
• मार्गविधानसम्पदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग + विधान + सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: मार्गस्य विधानम् (the 'mārga' mode/arrangement) तस्य सम्पदा (with the accomplishment/skill); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

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

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता) (of बभूव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परिषद्गतः: having gone to (being in) the assembly
• परिषद्गतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of रामः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिषद् + गत (प्रातिपदिक; √गम् क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: परिषदं गतः; कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शनैः: quietly; gradually
• शनैः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: slowly/quietly)

• बुभूषया: with the desire (to hear/know)
• बुभूषया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुभूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (instrumental of cause): "due to desire"

• आसक्तमना: with mind intent/attached
• आसक्तमना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of रामः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसक्त + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: आसक्तं मनः यस्य सः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बभूव: became; was
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kusha
• Lava
• assembly (pariṣad)
• mārga (classical mode)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes disciplined practice and attentive reception: truthful narration (satya) should be performed with rule-governed excellence, and heard with a mind oriented toward peace and understanding.

What is the narrative situation?

Kuśa and Lava proceed to sing in the classical style after Rama’s encouragement; Rama listens with increasing concentration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s inward steadiness and receptivity—he seeks serenity and focuses his mind, showing how a ruler also learns through listening.