Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 32, Shloka 8

कुशवंशवर्णनम्

The Line of Kuśa and the Disfigurement of Kuśanābha’s Daughters by Vāyu

Devanagari script

एषा वसुमती राम वसोस्तस्य महात्मन:।एते शैलवरा: पञ्च प्रकाशन्ते समन्तत:।।।

Transliteration

eṣā vasumatī rāma vasos tasya mahātmanaḥ | ete śailavarāḥ pañca prakāśante samantataḥ ||

Translation

హే రామా, ‘వసుమతి’ అనే ఈ భూమి ఆ మహాత్ముడు వసువు యొక్కది. దీని చుట్టూ ఈ ఐదు శ్రేష్ఠ పర్వతాలు ప్రకాశిస్తూ కనిపిస్తున్నాయి।

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण (of vacanam)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• वायोः: of Vāyu (Wind-god)
• वायोः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• अक्लिष्टकर्मणः: of the untiring one
• अक्लिष्टकर्मणः: विशेषण (qualifier of vāyoḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिष्ट + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (whose deeds are untroubled/untiring)

• अपहास्य: having mocked/ridiculed
• अपहास्य: क्रियाविशेषण (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अपहास्य (प्रातिपदिक; √हस् with apa-, ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive variant); अर्थ: 'अपहासं कृत्वा' (having mocked)

• ततः: then
• ततः: काल-सम्बन्ध (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• वाक्यम्: a statement/words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कन्याशतम्: a hundred maidens
• कन्याशतम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (a hundred maidens)

• अथ: then
• अथ: काल-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर-अव्यय (then)

• अब्रवीत्: spoke/said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Context

O Rama! this place where we are (called Vasumati) belongs to the magnanimous king Vasu. This is surrounded by five great shining mountains.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vasu

FAQs

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

Dharma is implied through rightful sovereignty and ordered space: the land is identified with its righteous ruler (Vasu), reflecting the Ramayana’s view that a king’s legitimacy and virtue are tied to the welfare and identity of the realm.

What is the narrative situation?

While traveling, Viśvāmitra points out a region named Vasumatī to Rāma and explains its association with king Vasu, describing its natural boundaries—five shining mountains.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s instructive clarity (ācārya-bhāva): he teaches Rāma through geography and lineage, situating places within moral-historical memory.