Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 16

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

ते प्रीतमनसस्सर्वे मुनयो धर्मवत्सला:।प्रशशंसु: प्रशस्तव्यौ गायमानौ कुशीलवौ।।1.4.16।।

Transliteration

te prītamanasaḥ sarve munayo dharmavatsalāḥ | praśaśaṃsuḥ praśastavyau gāyamānau kuśīlavau || 1.4.16 ||

Translation

Tất cả các ẩn sĩ, yêu kính Chánh Pháp, lòng hoan hỷ, đã tán thán hai ca giả đáng tán thán là Kuśa và Lava, khi đôi trẻ vẫn tiếp tục ngâm tụng.

Word by Word

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रीतमनसः: with delighted minds
• प्रीतमनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: प्रीतं मनः येषाम् (whose minds are pleased)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (qualifying मुनयः)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• धर्मवत्सलाः: loving dharma
• धर्मवत्सलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः: धर्मे वत्सलाः (fond of dharma)

• प्रशशंसुः: praised
• प्रशशंसुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• प्रशस्तव्यौ: praiseworthy (the two)
• प्रशस्तव्यौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/पद्यमान), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (object-complement for the praised pair)

• गायमानौ: singing/chanting
• गायमानौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गै (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/Present Participle, Ātmanepada), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, द्विवचन (qualifying कुशीलवौ; ‘while singing’)

• कुशीलवौ: the two bards (Kuśa and Lava)
• कुशीलवौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशीलव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

Context

All the sages steeped in dharma, pleased with them, praised the admirable Kusa and Lava as they sang.

Characters & Entities

• Kuśa
• Lava
• muni (sages)

FAQs

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

Dharma is honored through reverent listening and rightful appreciation: sages devoted to dharma recognize and praise worthy speech/song that preserves righteous tradition.

What is the narrative situation?

Kuśa and Lava are chanting the Rāmāyaṇa; the assembled sages, pleased by the performance, openly praise them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sages’ dharma-minded discernment (recognizing what is praiseworthy) and the twins’ disciplined artistry in sacred recitation.