Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 7

कुशिलवगानप्रशंसा

The Commissioning and Public Performance of the Rāmāyaṇa

Devanagari script

काव्यं रामायणं कृत्स्नं सीतायाश्चरितं महत्।पौलस्त्यवधमित्येव चकार चरितव्रत:।।1.4.7।।

Transliteration

kāvyaṃ rāmāyaṇaṃ kṛtsnaṃ sītāyāś caritaṃ mahat |

paulastyavadham ity eva cakāra caritavrataḥ || 1.4.7 ||

Translation

Bậc giữ trọn thệ nguyện là Vālmīki đã soạn trọn bộ trường ca mang tên Rāmāyaṇa—đại truyện về cuộc đời Sītā—cùng thiên ký sự về việc diệt trừ dòng Paulastya (Rāvaṇa).

Word by Word

• काव्यम्: epic/poem
• काव्यम्: Karma (कर्म) / also object-complement of 'cakāra'
• Type: Noun
• Root: काव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• रामायणम्: the Rāmāyaṇa
• रामायणम्: Karma (कर्म) (in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); apposition to काव्यम्

• कृत्स्नम्: entire/complete
• कृत्स्नम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); विशेषण of काव्यम्/रामायणम्

• सीतायाः: of Sītā
• सीतायाः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध) (possessor/relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Genitive, Singular)

• चरितम्: deeds/life-story
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म) (in apposition/descriptor of the epic’s content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; √चर् धातु से निष्पन्न, past passive participle used as noun)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); 'सीतायाः' with genitive relation

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); विशेषण of चरितम्

• पौलस्त्यवधम्: the slaying of Paulastya (Rāvaṇa)
• पौलस्त्यवधम्: Karma (कर्म) (as quoted title/content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौलस्त्य + वध (प्रातिपदिक); components: पौलस्त्य (Rāvaṇa, descendant of Pulastya) + वध (slaying)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'slaying of Paulastya')

• इति: thus/so (quoting)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (marks quotation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• चकार: composed/made
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया) (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) (करणे)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular, Perfect, Parasmaipada)

• चरितव्रतः: one who had practised vows (Vālmīki)
• चरितव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता) (subject: Vālmīki)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक); components: चरित (practised) + व्रत (vow)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); बहुव्रीहि: 'यस्य व्रतं चरितम् सः' = one whose vows are practised

Context

Valmiki who practised religious austerities composed this entire epic named the Ramayana which constitutes the great history of Sita and the killing of Paulastya (Ravana).

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Rāmāyaṇa
• Sītā
• Paulastya (Rāvaṇa)
• Pulastya (implied lineage)

FAQs

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

The epic is framed as moral history (itihāsa): it records exemplary conduct and the consequences of adharma, culminating in the defeat of Rāvaṇa.

What is the narrative situation?

The text identifies what Vālmīki has composed: the complete Ramayana, highlighting Sītā’s great narrative and the climactic destruction of Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vratācaraṇa (integrity in vows): Vālmīki’s authority to compose rests on disciplined life and truth-oriented practice.