Valmiki Ramayana — Bala Kanda · Chapter 1

Narada's Account of Rama

नारदस्य रामकथा

Sage Valmiki questions Narada about the ideal man

Translated by Manmatha Nath Dutt (1894), public domain — modernised

Partial chapter. Partial transcription — opening 6 of approximately 100 shlokas. Full sarga in future update.

VERSE 1

तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम्। नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम्॥

tapaḥ-svādhyāya-nirataṁ tapasvī vāg-vidāṁ varam । nāradaṁ paripapraccha vālmīkir muni-puṅgavam ॥

The ascetic Valmiki questioned Narada — chief of sages, ever engaged in penance and study of the Vedas, foremost of all who have command of speech.

VERSE 2

को न्वस्मिन्साम्प्रतं लोके गुणवान्कश्च वीर्यवान्। धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च सत्यवाक्यो दृढव्रतः॥

ko nv asmin sāmprataṁ loke guṇavān kaś ca vīryavān । dharmajñaś ca kṛtajñaś ca satya-vākyo dṛḍha-vrataḥ ॥

'Who in this world today is truly virtuous, valiant, knowing of dharma, grateful, truthful in speech, and firm in his vows?'

VERSE 3

चारित्रेण च को युक्तः सर्वभूतेषु को हितः। विद्वान्कः कः समर्थश्च कश्चैकप्रियदर्शनः॥

cāritreṇa ca ko yuktaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu ko hitaḥ । vidvān kaḥ kaḥ samarthaś ca kaś caika-priya-darśanaḥ ॥

'Who is endowed with right conduct, friendly to all beings, learned, capable, and the one whose sight delights all hearts?'

VERSE 4

आत्मवान्को जितक्रोधो द्युतिमान्कोऽनसूयकः। कस्य बिभ्यति देवाश्च जातरोषस्य संयुगे॥

ātmavān ko jita-krodho dyutimān ko 'nasūyakaḥ । kasya bibhyati devāś ca jāta-roṣasya saṁyuge ॥

'Who is master of himself, conqueror of anger, lustrous, free from envy? Whom — when his wrath is roused in battle — do even the gods fear?'

VERSE 5

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे। महर्षे त्वं समर्थोऽसि ज्ञातुमेवंविधं नरम्॥

etad icchāmy ahaṁ śrotuṁ paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me । maharṣe tvaṁ samartho 'si jñātum evaṁ-vidhaṁ naram ॥

'This I desire to hear, for great is my curiosity. O great sage, you alone are able to know of such a man.'

VERSE 6

श्रुत्वा चैतत्त्रिलोकज्ञो वाल्मीकेर्नारदो वचः। श्रूयतामिति चामन्त्र्य प्रहृष्टो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥

śrutvā caitat triloka-jño vālmīker nārado vacaḥ । śrūyatām iti cāmantrya prahṛṣṭo vākyam abravīt ॥

Hearing these words of Valmiki, Narada — knower of the three worlds — replied gladly: 'Listen, and I shall tell.'