Valmiki Ramayana — Bala Kanda · Chapter 3

Valmiki's Inspiration

वाल्मीकेस्तपः

Brahma appears and commands Valmiki to compose the Ramayana

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

Partial chapter. Opening verses only. The full sarga details Brahma's visit and the divine vision granted to Valmiki to perceive Rama's entire life.

VERSE 1

श्रुत्वा वस्तु समग्रं तद्धर्मार्थसहितं हितम्। व्यक्तमन्वेषते भूयो यद्वृत्तं तस्य धीमतः॥

śrutvā vastu samagraṁ tad dharmārtha-sahitaṁ hitam । vyaktam anveṣate bhūyo yad-vṛttaṁ tasya dhīmataḥ ॥

Having heard the entire story — replete with dharma, artha, and benefit — Valmiki sought further to know clearly the full life of that wise one (Rama).

VERSE 2

उपस्पृश्योदकं सम्यङ्मुनिः स्थित्वा कृताञ्जलिः। प्राचीनाग्रेषु दर्भेषु धर्मेणान्वेषते गतिम्॥

upaspṛśyodakaṁ samyaṅ muniḥ sthitvā kṛtāñjaliḥ । prācīnāgreṣu darbheṣu dharmeṇānveṣate gatim ॥

Sipping water and standing with folded hands on a kusha-grass seat with tips pointing east, the sage sought — through dharma — the right course.

VERSE 3

रामलक्ष्मणसीताभी राज्ञा दशरथेन च। सभार्येण सराष्ट्रेण यत्प्राप्तं तत्र तत्त्वतः॥

rāma-lakṣmaṇa-sītābhī rājñā daśarathena ca । sa-bhāryeṇa sa-rāṣṭreṇa yat prāptaṁ tatra tattvataḥ ॥

What truly befell Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita; what befell King Dasharatha together with his queens and his realm —

VERSE 4

हसितं भाषितं चैव गतिर्या यच्च चेष्टितम्। तत्सर्वं धर्मवीर्येण यथावत्सम्प्रपश्यति॥

hasitaṁ bhāṣitaṁ caiva gatir yā yac ca ceṣṭitam । tat sarvaṁ dharma-vīryeṇa yathāvat samprapaśyati ॥

Their laughter and speech, their movements and every act — all of this, by the power of dharma, he beheld exactly as it had occurred.