Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 8

कुशिकवंश

प्रसङ्गः / Genealogy of the Kuśika Line and the Kausikī River

Devanagari script

सशरीरा गता स्वर्गं भर्तारमनुवर्तिनी।कौशिकी परमोदारा प्रवृत्ता च महानदी।।।।

Transliteration

saśarīrā gatā svargaṃ bhartāram anuvartinī |

kauśikī paramodārā pravṛttā ca mahānadī ||

Translation

Theo bước phu quân, nàng mang nguyên thân mà lên cõi trời; rồi nàng hóa thành đại hà Kauśikī, đức độ rộng ban, bắt đầu tuôn chảy.

Word by Word

• saśarīrā: with her body
• saśarīrā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-śarīrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; 'with body' (saha-artha)

• gatā: went
• gatā: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kta-participle, Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; predicate with implied 'abhavat'

• svargam: to heaven
• svargam: Karma (कर्म/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• bhartāram: her husband
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• anuvartinī: following (him)
• anuvartinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√vṛt (धातु) + inī (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present participial derivative (कर्तरि-प्रत्यय), Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; 'following'

• kauśikī: Kauśikī
• kauśikī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; proper name

• paramodārā: most generous
• paramodārā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama-udārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; 'supremely generous'

• pravṛttā: flowed forth
• pravṛttā: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kta-participle, Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; 'set forth/flowed'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• mahānadī: great river
• mahānadī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

Context

"O Rama! so saying to king Kusanabha, Kusa left through space for the eternal Brahmaloka".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Ṛcīka
• Kauśikī (river)
• Svarga (heaven)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It highlights pativratā-dharma (devoted fidelity to one’s spouse) and the transformation of personal virtue into public good, symbolized by becoming a beneficent sacred river.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra explains how his sister, after following her husband to heaven, manifests as the great river Kauśikī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Devotion and generosity: steadfast marital devotion (anuvartinī) paired with beneficence (paramodārā).