Shloka 1.2.29
द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः (The Manifestation of the Śloka)
शोचन्नेव मुहु: क्रौञ्चीमुपश्लोकमिमं पुन: ।जगावन्तर्गतमना भूत्वा शोकपरायण: ।।1.2.29।।
sa muhūrtaṃ gate tasmin devalokaṃ munis tadā | jagāma tamasātīraṃ jāhnavyās tv avidūrataḥ || 1.2.3 ||
When Nārada had departed for Devaloka, the sage then went to the bank of the river Tamasā, not far from the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā).
Grief-stricken, Valmiki having become introspective and lamenting the plight of the female krauncha again and again, recited this sloka.
Dharma here is expressed as disciplined readiness: the sage moves to a sacred, quiet place suitable for purification and truthful composition, suggesting that righteous knowledge is pursued with proper preparation.
After instructing Vālmīki, Nārada leaves; Vālmīki then goes to the Tamasā riverbank near the Gaṅgā, setting the stage for the incident that births the first śloka.
Vālmīki’s contemplative discipline and reverence for sacred practice (seeking an auspicious place and moment).