Sarga 4: Kusa and Lava Sing the Epic
Kusilava Charitam
Valmiki completes the 24,000-verse epic and teaches it to his pupils Kusa and Lava, who recite it before sages and finally before Rama himself.
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तच्छ्रुत्वा मुनयस्सर्वे बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा:। साधुसाध्विति तावूचु: परं विस्मयमागता:।।1.4.15।।
Meaning
Hearing it, all the sages were struck with wonder, their eyes filling with tears, and they cried out about the two singers, "Excellent, excellent!"
ते प्रीतमनसस्सर्वे मुनयो धर्मवत्सला:। प्रशशंसु: प्रशस्तव्यौ गायमानौ कुशीलवौ।।1.4.16।।
Meaning
All those dharma-loving sages, delighted in heart, praised Kusa and Lava as truly praiseworthy while they sang.
अहो गीतस्य माधुर्यं श्लोकानां च विशेषत:। चिरनिर्वृत्तमप्येतत्प्रत्यक्षमिव दर्शितम्।।1.4.17।।
Meaning
"How sweet this song is, and especially these verses!" they exclaimed — "Though it happened long ago, it is shown to us as if unfolding right before our eyes."
प्रविश्य तावुभौ सुष्ठु भावं सम्यगगायताम्। सहितौ मधुरं रक्तं सम्पन्नं स्वरसम्पदा।।1.4.18।।
Meaning
Entering fully into the mood together, the two of them sang in perfect unison, sweetly and entrancingly, rich with musical grace.
एवं प्रशस्यमानौ तौ तपश्श्लाघ्यैर्महात्मभि:। संरक्ततरमत्यर्थं मधुरं तावगायताम्।।1.4.19।।
Meaning
Praised in this way by the great sages renowned for their austerities, the two brothers sang on with even greater sweetness and passion.
प्रीत: कश्चिन्मुनिस्ताभ्यां संस्थित: कलशं ददौ। प्रसन्नो वल्कलं कश्चिद्ददौ ताभ्यां महायशा:।।1.4.20।।
Meaning
One pleased sage seated there gave them a water pitcher; another delighted, renowned sage gave them a bark garment.
प्रसन्नो वल्कलं कश्चिद्ददौ ताभ्यां महायशा: । अन्य: कृष्णाजिनमदद्यज्ञसूत्रं तथा अपर: ।।1.4.21।।
Meaning
One joyous and highly renowned sage gave them a bark-garment; another gave a black antelope skin, and yet another a sacred thread.
कश्चित्कमण्डलुं प्रदान्मौञ्जीमन्यो महामुनि: । भृसीमन्य: तदा प्रादत्कौपीनमपर: मुनि: ।।1.4.22।।
Meaning
One sage gave a water-pot, another a girdle of munja grass, and another a plank-seat, while yet another gave an undercloth.
ताभ्यां ददौ तदा हृष्ट: कुठारमपर: मुनि: । काषायमपर: वस्त्रं चीरमन्यो ददौ मुनि: ।।1.4.23।।
Meaning
A delighted sage gave them a hatchet, another a saffron-colored cloth, and another a cloth wrapper.
जटाबन्धनमन्य: तु काष्ठरज्जुं मुदान्वित: । यज्ञभाण्डं ऋषि: कश्चित्काष्ठभारमथापर: ।।1.4.24।।
Meaning
Another gave a band for their matted hair and a length of cord; one sage gave a sacrificial vessel, and another a bundle of firewood.