# Bāla Kāṇḍa 4 — Kuśa & Lava perform the poem *Kuśa & Lava learn and perform the poem, their singing moves the ṛṣis and brings them before Rāma* Portion: Origins of the Rāmāyaṇa · Verses: 27 · Ref format: 1.4. ## Sequence - The frame narrative places the composition after Rāma has regained his Kingdom → having composed the story with its future events and sequel, Vālmīki wonders who should perform it (4.1–2) - Kuśa and Lava approach in tapasvins' clothing and bow at his feet → recognizing the princes' learning, intelligence, and fine voices, he teaches them the poem (4.3–5) - the work is called the Rāmāyaṇa, the great story of Sītā, and the slaying of Pulastya's descendant → the brothers master its musical tempos, modes, lute accompaniment, and varied emotions, resembling Rāma himself in appearance (4.6–11). Kuśa and Lava sing before assemblies of ṛṣis and dvijas (4.12–13) - the listeners weep, praise the sweetness of the verses and singing, and say the distant events seem to happen before their eyes (4.14–16) - encouraged, the brothers sing with still greater feeling → delighted maharṣis give them gifts, including a water pot and bark clothing (4.17–20) - Rāma sees the singers in the streets and brings them into his residence (4.21–22) - seated on his golden throne with his ministers and brothers, he asks Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata to listen → the brothers begin, and Rāma becomes absorbed in their song (4.23–27). ## Verses **1.4.1** prāptarājyasya rāmasya vālmīkir bhagavān ṛṣiḥ cakāra caritaṃ kṛtsnaṃ vicitrapadam ātmavān When Rāma had won back his kingdom, the venerable seer Vālmīki, self-possessed, composed his entire story in wondrous verse. **1.4.2** kṛtvā tu tan mahāprājñaḥ sabhaviṣyaṃ sahottaram cintayām āsa ko nv etat prayuñjīyād iti prabhuḥ Having composed it, with what was to come and the sequel included, the greatly wise lord reflected: “Who indeed might perform this?” **1.4.3** tasya cintayamānasya maharṣer bhāvitātmanaḥ agṛhṇītāṃ tataḥ pādau muniveṣau kuśīlavau As that great sage of purified soul was pondering, Kuśa and Lava, in the garb of sages, then clasped his feet. **1.4.4** kuśīlavau tu dharmajñau rājaputrau yaśasvinau bhrātarau svarasaṃpannau dadarśāśramavāsinau He beheld Kuśa and Lava — knowers of dharma, illustrious princes, brothers gifted with fine voices, dwelling in the hermitage. **1.4.5** sa tu medhāvinau dṛṣṭvā vedeṣu pariniṣṭhitau vedopabṛhmaṇārthāya tāv agrāhayata prabhuḥ Seeing the two intelligent ones fully grounded in the Vedas, the lord had them learn it, so as to amplify the Veda. **1.4.6** kāvyaṃ rāmāyaṇaṃ kṛtsnaṃ sītāyāś caritaṃ mahat paulastya vadham ity eva cakāra caritavrataḥ He of accomplished vows composed the entire poem, the Rāmāyaṇa — the great story of Sītā, also called “the Slaying of the Descendant of Pulastya (Rāvaṇa).” **1.4.7** pāṭhye geye ca madhuraṃ pramāṇais tribhir anvitam jātibhiḥ saptabhir yuktaṃ tantrīlayasamanvitam sweet whether recited or sung, furnished with the three tempos, joined with the seven melodic modes, and set to the rhythm of the lute; **1.4.8** hāsyaśṛṅgārakāruṇyaraudravīrabhayānakaiḥ bībhatsādirasair yuktaṃ kāvyam etad agāyatām They sang this poem, endowed with the sentiments of the comic, the erotic, the compassionate, the furious, the heroic, the terrible, the loathsome, and the rest. **1.4.9** tau tu gāndharvatattvajñau sthāna mūrcchana kovidau bhrātarau svarasaṃpannau gandharvāv iva rūpiṇau And those two, knowers of the science of music, skilled in vocal registers and melodic modulation, brothers gifted with fine voices, were like gandharvas made visible. **1.4.10** rūpalakṣaṇasaṃpannau madhurasvarabhāṣiṇau bimbād ivoddhṛtau bimbau rāmadehāt tathāparau endowed with beauty and (auspicious) marks, speaking with sweet voices, they were like two reflections lifted from a mirror-image — two others, as it were, from Rāma’s own body. **1.4.11** tau rājaputrau kārtsnyena dharmyam ākhyānam uttamam vāco vidheyaṃ tat sarvaṃ kṛtvā kāvyam aninditau Those two blameless princes, having made that whole excellent, dharma-based narrative — the poem — wholly obedient to their voice, **1.4.12** ṛṣīṇāṃ ca dvijātīnāṃ sādhūnāṃ ca samāgame yathopadeśaṃ tattvajñau jagatus tau samāhitau mahātmānau mahābhāgau sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitau in the assembly of seers, brahmins, and holy men, those two knowers of truth, composed, sang it as instructed — the two great-souled, greatly blessed ones, marked with every (auspicious) sign. **1.4.13** tau kadā cit sametānām ṛṣīṇāṃ bhāvitātmanām āsīnānāṃ samīpasthāv idaṃ kāvyam agāyatām Once, standing near the assembled seers of purified soul as they sat, the two sang this poem. **1.4.14** tac chrutvā munayaḥ sarve bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇāḥ sādhu sādhv ity tāv ūcatuḥ paraṃ vismayam āgatāḥ Hearing it, all the sages, their eyes brimming with tears, said to the two, “Excellent! Excellent!”, filled with the utmost wonder. **1.4.15** te prītamanasaḥ sarve munayo dharmavatsalāḥ praśaśaṃsuḥ praśastavyau gāyamānau kuśīlavau All those sages, glad at heart and devoted to dharma, praised the praiseworthy Kuśa and Lava as they sang. **1.4.16** aho gītasya mādhuryaṃ ślokānāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ ciranirvṛttam apy etat pratyakṣam iva darśitam “Ah, the sweetness of the singing, and of the ślokas especially! Though it took place long ago, it has been shown as if before our very eyes.” **1.4.17** praviśya tāv ubhau suṣṭhu tadā bhāvam agāyatām sahitau madhuraṃ raktaṃ saṃpannaṃ svarasaṃpadā Then the two, both entering fully into the feeling, sang together sweetly and with fervour, made perfect by the wealth of their voices. **1.4.18** evaṃ praśasyamānau tau tapaḥślāghyair maharṣibhiḥ saṃraktataram atyarthaṃ madhuraṃ tāv agāyatām Thus praised by the great sages, worthy of honour for their austerities, the two sang yet more fervently and exceedingly sweetly. **1.4.19** prītaḥ kaś cin munis tābhyāṃ saṃsthitaḥ kalaśaṃ dadau prasanno valkalaṃ kaś cid dadau tābhyāṃ mahāyaśāḥ Some pleased sage present there gave the two a water-pot; some illustrious one, delighted, gave them a bark-garment. **1.4.20** āścaryam idam ākhyānaṃ muninā saṃprakīrtitam paraṃ kavīnām ādhāraṃ samāptaṃ ca yathākramam “Wonderful is this narrative proclaimed by the sage — the supreme foundation for poets, and completed in due order.” **1.4.21** praśasyamānau sarvatra kadā cit tatra gāyakau rathyāsu rājamārgeṣu dadarśa bharatāgrajaḥ Praised everywhere, the two singers were once seen there — in the streets and on the royal highways — by the elder brother of Bharata (Rāma). **1.4.22** svaveśma cānīya tato bhrātarau sakuśīlavau pūjayām āsa pūjārhau rāmaḥ śatrunibarhaṇaḥ Then, bringing the two brothers, Kuśa and Lava, to his own dwelling, Rāma, destroyer of foes, honoured the two who were worthy of honour. **1.4.23** āsīnaḥ kāñcane divye sa ca siṃhāsane prabhuḥ upopaviṣṭaiḥ sacivair bhrātṛbhiś ca paraṃtapaḥ And that lord, scorcher of foes, was seated on a divine golden lion-throne, with his ministers and brothers seated close beside him. **1.4.24** dṛṣṭvā tu rūpasaṃpannau tāv ubhau vīṇinau tataḥ uvāca lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmaḥ śatrughnaṃ bharataṃ tathā Then, seeing those two, both endowed with beauty and holding lutes, Rāma spoke to Lakṣmaṇa, and to Śatrughna and Bharata: **1.4.25** śrūyatām idam ākhyānam anayor devavarcasoḥ vicitrārthapadaṃ samyag gāyator madhurasvaram “Let this narrative be heard from these two of godlike splendour, as they duly sing it — with wondrous words and meaning, in a sweet voice.” **1.4.26** imau munī pārthivalakṣmaṇānvitau kuśīlavau caiva mahātapasvinau mamāpi tad bhūtikaraṃ pracakṣate mahānubhāvaṃ caritaṃ nibodhata “These two sages, endowed with royal marks, Kuśa and Lava, great ascetics — they proclaim this to bring welfare even to me; hear this narrative of great import.” **1.4.27** tatas tu tau rāmavacaḥ pracoditāv agāyatāṃ mārgavidhānasaṃpadā sa cāpi rāmaḥ pariṣadgataḥ śanair bubhūṣayāsaktamanā babhūva Then those two, urged on by Rāma’s words, sang with the full perfection of the classical (mārga) technique; and Rāma too, seated in the assembly, gradually became engrossed in mind, eager to listen.