Shloka 1.3.1

तृतीयः सर्गः (Bālakāṇḍa 3): Vālmīki’s Yogic Verification and the Epic Synopsis

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा वस्तु समग्रं तद्धर्मात्मा धर्मसंहितम् ।व्यक्तमन्वेषते भूयो यद्वृत्तं तस्य धीमत: ।।।।

Transliteration

śrutvā vastu samagraṃ tad dharmātmā dharmasaṃhitam |

vyaktam anveṣate bhūyo yad vṛttaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ ||1.3.1||

Translation

Having heard from the wise one the entire account—an account woven with Dharma—the righteous Vālmīki sought again to know more clearly the detailed course of Rāma’s life.

Context

Hearing the entire story of Rama from the intellecual Narada, the righteous (Valmiki) sought to know clearly more about the history of Rama endowed with wisdom.

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Nārada
• Rāma
• Dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma includes intellectual integrity: one should not be satisfied with partial knowledge; a truthful account (itihāsa) requires careful, clear inquiry.

What is the narrative situation?

After Nārada gives a concise overview of Rāma’s story, Vālmīki resolves to learn the details more distinctly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-seeking discernment—Vālmīki’s commitment to clarity and completeness before composing the epic.