Valmiki Ramayana 1.4.8 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 8

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

पाठ्ये गेये च मधुरं प्रमाणैस्त्रिभिरन्वितम्।जातिभिस्सप्तभिर्बद्धं तन्त्रीलयसमन्वितम्।।1.4.8।। रसैश्शृङ्गारकारुण्यहास्यवीरभयानकै:।रौद्रादिभिश्च संयुक्तं काव्यमेतदगायताम्।।1.4.9।। तौ तु गान्धर्वतत्त्वज्ञौ मूर्छनास्थानकोविदौ।भ्रातरौ स्वरसम्पन्नौ गन्धर्वाविव रूपिणौ।।1.4.10।। रूपलक्षणसम्पन्नौ मधुरस्वरभाषिणौ।बिम्बादिवोद्धृतौ बिम्बौ रामदेहात्तथाऽपरौ।।1.4.11।।

Transliteration

pāṭhye geye ca madhuraṃ pramāṇais tribhir anvitam |

jātibhiḥ saptabhir baddhaṃ tantrī-laya-samanvitam || 1.4.8 ||

rasaiḥ śṛṅgāra-kāruṇya-hāsya-vīra-bhayānakaiḥ |

raudrādibhiś ca saṃyuktaṃ kāvyam etad agāyatām || 1.4.9 ||

tau tu gāndharva-tattva-jñau mūrchanā-sthāna-kovidau |

bhrātarau svara-sampannau gandharvāv iva rūpiṇau || 1.4.10 ||

rūpa-lakṣaṇa-sampannau madhura-svara-bhāṣiṇau |

bimbād ivoddhṛtau bimbau rāma-dehāt tathā ’parau || 1.4.11 ||

Translation

یہ مہاکاوی پڑھنے میں بھی اور گانے میں بھی شیریں تھا؛ تین پرمان (تال و میزان) سے آراستہ، سات جاتیوں میں بندھا، اور تنترِی لَے کے ساتھ ہم آہنگ۔ شृنگار، کارُنیہ، ہاسیہ، ویر، بھیانک اور رَودر وغیرہ رسوں سے مزیّن—اُس کلام کو اُن دونوں نے گایا۔ وہ گاندھرو تत्त्व کے جاننے والے، مُورچھنا اور سُروں کے مقامات کے ماہر، خوش آہنگ آواز والے، گویا انسانی روپ میں گندھرو تھے۔ صورت و علامت میں کامل، نرم و شیریں لہجے والے، یوں لگتے تھے جیسے رام کے جسم سے نکلی ہوئی دو جھلکیاں ہوں۔

Word by Word

• तत्: that (song/recitation)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म) (object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); object of श्रुत्वा

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया) (prior action to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) (श्रवणे)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): 'having heard'

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता) (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); विशेषण of मुनयः

• बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणाः: with tear-filled eyes
• बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (qualifier of मुनयः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प + पर्याकुल + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक); components: बाष्प (tears) + पर्याकुल (agitated/filled) + ईक्षण (eyes/look)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); बहुव्रीहि: 'येषाम् ईक्षणानि बाष्पेण पर्याकुलानि ते' = whose eyes were filled with tears

• साधु: well done!
• साधु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/निपात; here used as interjection)
• Form: प्रशंसार्थक अव्यय (interjection of approval); first occurrence

• साधु: well done!
• साधु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: प्रशंसार्थक अव्यय (repetition for emphasis)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• तौ: those two (Kuśa and Lava)
• तौ: Karma (कर्म) (person(s) addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Dual); object of ऊचुः (addressed/praised persons)

• ऊचुः: said/exclaimed
• ऊचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया) (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) (वचने) (suppletive perfect form from √वच्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person plural, Perfect, Parasmaipada)

• परम्: great/utter
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); degree/intensity qualifier of विस्मयम्

• विस्मयम्: wonder/amazement
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म) (attained state/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular); object with āgatāḥ (attained/experienced)

• आगताः: having attained/overcome by
• आगताः: Karta (कर्ता) with implied 'became/attained' (state predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु) (गत्यर्थे) + आ- (उपसर्ग); आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, past participle)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Active Participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural); agrees with मुनयः

Context

The twin brothers Kusa and Lava, endowed with a melodious voice, possessed auspicious form and beauty. They were gandharvas in human form. They looked like the two reflected images of Rama. The contents of this epic, apart from being memorable are sweet and suitable for verbal recitation as well as singing. This charming and attractive kavya is fit to be adapted to the three measures of time and to stringed instruments. It possesses seven notes together with various moods-amorous, compassionate, humorous, heroic, fearful and also violent.

Characters & Entities

• Kuśa
• Lava
• Rāma
• gandharva (celestial musicians)

FAQs

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

Dharma is communicated effectively through disciplined artistry: sacred history is preserved and taught by precise, beautiful recitation that makes truth memorable and transmissible.

What is the narrative situation?

Kuśa and Lava perform the Ramayana as a refined musical-oral composition, described in terms of tempo, modes, and rasas, and praised for their resemblance to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śruti-smṛti-saṃrakṣaṇa (guardianship of tradition): mastery of voice, music, and disciplined performance used in service of truthful narration.