Sarga 2

Verse 1.2.1

नारदस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वाक्यविशारद:।पूजयामास धर्मात्मा सहशिष्यो महामुनि: ।।1.2.1।।

Having heard Nārada’s words, the great sage—righteous in spirit and skilled in speech—honored him, together with his disciples.

Verse 1.2.2

यथावत्पूजितस्तेन देवर्षिर्नारदस्तदा । आपृष्ट्वैवाभ्यनुज्ञातस्स जगाम विहायसम् ।।1.2.2।।

Then the divine sage Nārada, duly honored by him (Vālmīki), took leave with permission and departed into the heavens.

Verse 1.2.3

स मुहूर्तं गते तस्मिन्देवलोकं मुनिस्तदा ।जगाम तमसातीरं जाह्नव्यास्त्वविदूरत: ।।1.2.3।।

Lamenting again and again for the female krauñca, and turning inward—wholly absorbed in grief—he repeatedly recited this newly arisen śloka.

Verse 1.2.4

स तु तीरं समासाद्य तमसाया महामुनि: ।शिष्यमाह स्थितं पार्श्वे दृष्ट्वा तीर्थमकर्दमम् ।।1.2.4।।

Having reached the bank of the Tamasā, the great sage, seeing a clear and mudless bathing-place, spoke to the disciple standing beside him.

Verse 1.2.5

अकर्दममिदं तीर्थं भरद्वाज निशामय ।रमणीयं प्रसन्नाम्बु सन्मनुष्यमनो यथा ।।1.2.5।।

“Dear one, set down the water-pot and hand me my bark-garment. I shall bathe right here at this excellent ford of the Tamasā.”

Verse 1.2.6

न्यस्यतां कलशस्तात दीयतां वल्कलं मम ।इदमेवावगाहिष्ये तमसातीर्थमुत्तमम् ।।1.2.6।।

“Dear one, set down the water-pot and give me my bark garment. Right here I shall bathe at this most excellent ford of the Tamasā.”

Verse 1.2.7

एवमुक्तो भरद्वाजो वाल्मीकेन महात्मना । प्रायच्छत मुनेस्तस्य वल्कलं नियतो गुरो: ।।1.2.7।।

Thus addressed by the great-souled Vālmīki, Bharadvāja—disciplined and obedient to his teacher—presented that holy sage with a garment of bark.

Verse 1.2.8

स शिष्यहस्तादादाय वल्कलं नियतेन्द्रिय: ।विचचार ह पश्यंस्तत्सर्वतो विपुलं वनम् ।।1.2.8।।

Vālmīki, master of restrained senses, received the bark garment from his disciple’s hands and then wandered through that vast forest, observing it on every side.

Verse 1.2.9

तस्याभ्याशे तु मिथुनं चरन्तमनपायिनम् ।ददर्श भगवांस्तत्र क्रौञ्चयोश्चारुनिस्वनम् ।।1.2.9।।

Nearby, the revered sage saw a pair of krauñca birds moving about, inseparable from one another, their calls sweet and melodious.

Verse 1.2.10

तस्मात्तु मिथुनादेकं पुमांसं पापनिश्चय: ।जघान वैरनिलयो निषादस्तस्य पश्यत: ।।1.2.10।।

Then a hunter—sinful in resolve and cruel at heart—killed one male from that pair, doing so right before the other’s eyes.

Verse 1.2.11

तं शोणितपरीताङ्गं वेष्टमानं महीतले ।भार्या तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा रुराव करुणां गिरम् ।।1.2.11।। वियुक्ता पतिना तेन द्विजेन सहचारिणा ।ताम्रशीर्षेण मत्तेन पत्रिणा सहितेन वै ।।1.2.12।।

Seeing her mate slain—his limbs drenched in blood and writhing on the ground—the female cried out in a voice that stirred pity.

Verse 1.2.12

तं शोणितपरीताङ्गं वेष्टमानं महीतले ।भार्या तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा रुराव करुणां गिरम् ।।1.2.11।। वियुक्ता पतिना तेन द्विजेन सहचारिणा ।ताम्रशीर्षेण मत्तेन पत्रिणा सहितेन वै ।।1.2.12।।

Separated from that winged companion—her husband ever at her side, copper-crested and intoxicated with love—the female was left bereft.

Verse 1.2.13

तदा तु तं द्विजं दृष्ट्वा निषादेन निपातितम् ।ऋषेर्धर्मात्मनस्तस्य कारुण्यं समपद्यत ।।1.2.13।।

At that moment, seeing the dvija bird felled by the hunter, the righteous-hearted sage was filled with compassion.

Verse 1.2.14

तत: करुणवेदित्वादधर्मोऽयमिति द्विज: ।निशाम्य रुदतीं क्रौञ्चीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।।1.2.14।।

Then the sage, stirred by compassion, recognizing, “This is adharma,” and hearing the krauñcī’s crying, spoke these words.

Verse 1.2.15

मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमश्शाश्वतीस्समा: ।यत्क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधी: काममोहितम् ।।1.2.15।। 15

“O hunter, may you never attain lasting honor for long years—since you killed one of the krauñca pair while it was deluded by love.”

Verse 1.2.16

तस्यैवं ब्रुवतश्चिन्ता बभूव हृदि वीक्षतः ।शोकार्तेनास्य शकुने: किमिदं व्याहृतं मया ।।1.2.16।।

As he spoke thus and looked on, a thought arose in his heart: “Distressed by this bird’s grief, what is it that I have uttered?”

Verse 1.2.17

चिन्तयन्स महाप्राज्ञश्चकार मतिमान्मतिम् ।शिष्यं चैवाऽब्रवीद्वाक्यमिदं स मुनिपुङ्गव: ।।1.2.17।।

Pondering, that supremely wise sage formed a clear resolve, and the foremost of ascetics spoke these words to his disciple.

Verse 1.2.18

पादबद्धोऽक्षरसमस्तन्त्रीलयसमन्वित: ।शोकार्तस्य प्रवृत्तो मे श्लोको भवतु नान्यथा ।।1.2.18।।

Let what arose from me, born of sorrow, be called a śloka—bound in metrical feet, equal in syllables, and endowed with musical rhythm; let it be so and not otherwise.

Verse 1.2.19

शिष्यस्तु तस्य ब्रुवतो मुनेर्वाक्यमनुत्तमम् ।प्रतिजग्राह संहृष्टस्तस्य तुष्टोऽभवद्गुरु: ।।1.2.19।।

As the sage spoke, the disciple joyfully received that unsurpassed utterance and retained it, and the guru was pleased with him.

Verse 1.2.20

सोऽभिषेकं तत: कृत्वा तीर्थे तस्मिन्यथाविधि ।तमेव चिन्तयन्नर्थमुपावर्तत वै मुनि: ।।1.2.20।।

After performing his ritual bathing at that sacred ford according to rule, the sage returned, still pondering that very matter.

Verse 1.2.21

भरद्वाजस्ततश्शिष्यो विनीतश्श्रुतवान्मुनेः ।कलशं पूर्णमादाय पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम ह ।।1.2.21।।

Then Bharadvāja, the sage’s disciple—humble and learned—followed behind, carrying a water-pot filled with water.

Verse 1.2.22

स प्रविश्याश्रमपदं शिष्येण सह धर्मवित् ।उपविष्ट: कथाश्चान्याश्चकार ध्यानमास्थित: ।।1.2.22।।

Entering the hermitage with his disciple, Vālmīki—the knower of dharma—sat down; absorbed in contemplation, he began composing other narratives.

Verse 1.2.23

आजगाम ततो ब्रह्मा लोककर्ता स्वयं प्रभु: ।चतुर्मुखो महातेजा द्रष्टुं तं मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।।1.2.23।।

At that time Brahmā—the four-faced, radiant Lord, creator of the worlds—came in person, wishing to see that foremost of sages.

Verse 1.2.24

वाल्मीकिरथ तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय वाग्यत: ।प्राञ्जलि: प्रयतो भूत्वा तस्थौ परमविस्मित: ।।1.2.24।।

Seeing him, Vālmīki—restrained in speech—rose at once; purified and composed, he stood with folded hands, filled with wonder.

Verse 1.2.25

पूजयामास तं देवं पाद्यार्घ्यासनवन्दनै: ।प्रणम्य विधिवच्चैनं पृष्ट्वाऽनामयमव्ययम् ।।1.2.25।।

He worshipped that deity with the traditional acts of reception—water for the feet, arghya, a seat, and reverent salutations; bowing as prescribed, he enquired after the welfare of the Imperishable One.

Verse 1.2.26

अथोपविश्य भगवानासने परमार्चिते ।वाल्मीकये महर्षये सन्दिदेशासनं तत: ।।1.2.26।।

Then the Blessed Lord sat upon a highly honored seat, and thereafter indicated a seat for the great seer Vālmīki.

Verse 1.2.27

ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञातस्सोऽप्युपाविशदासने । उपविष्टे तदा तस्मिन्सर्वलोकपितामहे।तद्गतेनैव मनसा वाल्मीकिर्ध्यानमास्थित: ।।1.2.27।।

Permitted by Brahmā, he too sat upon a seat. Yet even as Pitāmaha, the Grandsire of all the worlds, sat there, Vālmīki remained absorbed in meditation, his mind fixed upon that very incident.

Verse 1.2.28

पापात्मना कृतं कष्टं वैरग्रहणबुद्धिना ।यस्तादृशं चारुरवं क्रौञ्चं हन्यादकारणात् ।।1.2.28।।

“A grievous wrong has been done by a sinful-minded man, bent on capture through hostility—who would, without cause, kill such a krauñca bird of so sweet a call?”

Verse 1.2.29

शोचन्नेव मुहु: क्रौञ्चीमुपश्लोकमिमं पुन: ।जगावन्तर्गतमना भूत्वा शोकपरायण: ।।1.2.29।।

When Nārada had departed for Devaloka, the sage then went to the bank of the river Tamasā, not far from the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā).

Verse 1.2.30

तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा प्रहसन्मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।श्लोक एव त्वया बद्धो नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।।1.2.30।।

Then Brahmā, smiling, addressed that foremost of sages: “It is indeed a śloka that you have composed—there is no need for doubt here.”

Verse 1.2.31

मच्छन्दादेव ते ब्रह्मन् प्रवृत्तेयं सरस्वती ।रामस्य चरितं सर्वं कुरु त्वमृषिसत्तम ।।1.2.31।।

O Brahmarṣi, by My own will Sarasvatī—the sacred speech—has arisen in you; therefore, O best of seers, compose the entire story of Rāma.

Verse 1.2.32

धर्मात्मनो गुणवतो लोके रामस्य धीमत: ।वृत्तं कथय धीरस्य यथा ते नारदाच्छ्रुतम् ।।1.2.32।।

Narrate the life of Rāma—righteous-souled, virtuous, and wise, steadfast in this world—just as you have heard it from Nārada.

Verse 1.2.33

रहस्यं च प्रकाशं च यद्वृत्तं तस्य धीमत: ।रामस्य सहसौमित्रेः राक्षसानां च सर्वश: ।।1.2.33।। वैदेह्याश्चैव यद्वृत्तं प्रकाशं यदि वा रह: ।तच्चाप्यविदितं सर्वं विदितं ते भविष्यति ।।1.2.34।।

Whatever has occurred—openly or in secret—concerning that wise Rāma together with Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa), and concerning the rākṣasas in every way; and whatever has occurred regarding Vaidehī (Sītā), whether publicly known or hidden—everything, even what was formerly unknown to you, will become known to you.

Verse 1.2.34

रहस्यं च प्रकाशं च यद्वृत्तं तस्य धीमत: ।रामस्य सहसौमित्रेः राक्षसानां च सर्वश: ।।1.2.33।। वैदेह्याश्चैव यद्वृत्तं प्रकाशं यदि वा रह: ।तच्चाप्यविदितं सर्वं विदितं ते भविष्यति ।।1.2.34।।

In this poem, not a single utterance of yours will be untrue. Compose the sacred story of Rāma—delightful, and bound in ślokas.

Verse 1.2.35

न ते वागनृता काव्ये काचिदत्र भविष्यति ।कुरु रामकथां पुण्यां श्लोकबद्धां मनोरमाम् ।।1.2.35।।

So long as mountains and rivers endure upon the earth, so long will the story of the Rāmāyaṇa circulate among the worlds.

Verse 1.2.36

यावत् स्थास्यन्ति गिरयस्सरितश्च महीतले । तावद्रामायणकथा लोकेषु प्रचरिष्यति ।।1.2.36।।

So long as the Rāmāyaṇa tale composed by you continues to spread, so long will you dwell in my worlds—above and below.

Verse 1.2.37

यावद्रामायणकथा त्वत्कृता प्रचरिष्यति ।तावदूर्ध्वमधश्च त्वं मल्लोकेषु निवत्स्यसि ।।1.2.37।।

So long as the Rāmāyaṇa tale composed by you continues to circulate in the world, so long shall you dwell in the worlds above and below—and in my own realms as well.

Verse 1.2.38

इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्ब्रह्मा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ।ततस्सशिष्यो भगवान्मुनिर्विस्मयमाययौ ।।1.2.38।।

Having spoken thus, the Blessed Lord Brahmā vanished then and there. Thereupon the venerable sage Vālmīki, together with his disciples, was filled with astonishment.

Verse 1.2.39

तस्य शिष्यास्ततस्सर्वे जगुश्श्लोकमिमं पुन: ।मुहुर्मुहु: प्रीयमाणा: प्राहुश्च भृशविस्मिता: ।।1.2.39।।

Then all his disciples repeatedly sang that very śloka. Again and again, delighted and deeply astonished, they kept speaking of it.

Verse 1.2.40

समाक्षरैश्चतुर्भिर्य: पादैर्गीतो महर्षिणा । सोऽनुव्याहरणाद्भूयश्श्लोकश्श्लोकत्वमागत: ।।1.2.40।।

That utterance, sung by the great seer in four quarters with equal syllables, by repeated recitation became firmly established in the world as a ‘śloka’.

Verse 1.2.41

तस्य बुद्धिरियं जाता वाल्मीकेर्भावितात्मन: ।कृत्स्नं रामायणं काव्यमीदृशै: करवाण्यहम् ।।1.2.41।।

Then this resolve arose in Vālmīki, whose soul was well-concentrated: “I shall compose the entire poem called the Rāmāyaṇa in just such a metre.”

Verse 1.2.42

उदारवृत्तार्थपदैर्मनोरमैःतदास्य रामस्य चकारकीर्तिमान् ।समाक्षरैश्श्लोकशतैर्यशस्विनो यशस्करं काव्यमुदारधीर्मुनि: ।।1.2.42।।

Then the renowned sage, broad in understanding, composed a glorious poem of Rāma—celebrated and fame-bestowing—made of hundreds of ślokas with even syllables, in noble diction and with delightful, meaningful words.

Verse 1.2.43

तदुपगतसमाससन्धियोगंसममधुरोपनतार्थवाक्यबद्धम् ।रघुवरचरितं मुनिप्रणीतंदशशिरसश्च वधं निशामयध्वम् ।।1.2.43।।

Listen to this account of the best of the Raghus, composed by the sage—woven with well-formed compounds and euphonic junctions, and bound in sentences whose meaning comes forth clearly and sweetly; and listen also to the slaying of the ten-headed one.

Verse 1.2.44

“Bharadvāja, behold this bathing-place—clear and free of mud, lovely, with tranquil waters—like the mind of a good person.”