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

Hỡi Rāma, vùng đất này gọi là Vasumatī, thuộc về đại vương Vasu, bậc đại hồn. Chung quanh đó, năm ngọn núi thượng hạng rực rỡ hiện ra, sáng ngời bốn phía.

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.