नारदस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वाक्यविशारदः | पूजयामास धर्मात्मा सहशिष्यो महामुनिः || १-२-१
naaradasya tu tadvaakyam shrutvaa vaakya vishaaradaH | puujayaamaasa dharmaatmaa saha shishhyo mahaamuniH || 1-2-1
Then, the great sage Valmiki, a skilled orator and a virtue-minded one, having heard those words of Narada, worshipped him along with disciples. [1-2-1]
यथावत्पूजितस्तेन देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा | आपृच्छैवाभ्यनुज्ञातः स जगाम विहायसम् || १-२-२
yathaavat puujitaH tena devarshhiH naaradaH tathaa | aapR^icChaiva abhyanujJNaataH sa jagaama vihaayasam || 1-2-2
That divine sage Narada being worshipped befittingly by Valmiki in that way, on seeking permission of Valmiki to leave and having been permitted by Valmiki, went away heaven-ward. [1-2-2]
स मुहूर्तं गते तस्मिन्देवलोकं मुनिस्तदा | जगाम तमसातीरं जाह्नव्यास्त्वविदूरतः || १-२-३
sa muhuurtaM gate tasmin devalokam muniH tadaa | jagaama tamasaa tiiram jaahnavyaat aviduurataH || 1-2-3
Then, on Narada's going to the world of gods in a trice, that sage Valmiki went to the banks of Tamasa river not far from Jahnavi river. [1-2-3]
स तु तीरं समासाद्य तमसाया महामुनिः | शिष्यमाह स्थितं पार्श्वे दृष्ट्वा तीर्थमकर्दमम् || १-२-४
sa tu tiiram samaasaadya tamasaayaa muniH tadaa | shishhyam aaha sthitam paarshve dR^ishhTvaa tiirtham akardamam || 1-2-4
Then that sage Valmiki on reaching the shore of the clean Tamasa, and on beholding a ford of that river, spoke to his disciple who was at his side. [1-2-4]
अकर्दममिदं तीर्थं भरद्वाज निशामय | रमणीयं प्रसन्नाम्बु सन्मनुष्यमनो यथा || १-२-५
akardamam idam tiirtham bharadvaaja nishaamaya | ramaNiiyam prasanna ambu san manushhya mano yathaa || 1-2-5
"Oh! Bharadwaja, behold this ford which is without dirt, with clear waters and pleasant like a virtuous man's mind. [1-2-5]
न्यस्यतां कलशस्तात दीयतां वल्कलं मम | इदमेवावगाहिष्ये तमसातीर्थमुत्तमम् || १-२-६
nyasyataam kalashaH taata diiyataam valkalam mama | idam eva avagaahishhye tamasaa tiirtham uttamam || 1-2-6
"My dear! Let the hand-vessel [kamaNDalu] be kept [there]. Let my bark-garment be given to me. I will enter this best ford of Tamasa only... [1-2-6]
एवमुक्तो भरद्वाजो वाल्मीकेन महात्मना | प्रायच्छत मुनेस्तस्य वल्कलं नियतो गुरोः || १-२-७
evam ukto bharadvaajo vaalmiikena mahaatmanaa | prayachchhata muneH tasya valkalam niyataH guroH || 1-2-7
Thus being said by the great-souled Valmiki, Bharadwaaja who was obedient to his Guru, gave the bark-garment to the sage [1-2-7]
स शिष्यहस्तादादाय वल्कलं नियतेन्द्रियः | विचचार ह पश्यंस्तत्सर्वतो विपुलं वनम् || १-२-८
sa shishhya hastaat aadaaya valkalam niyatendriyaH | vichachaara ha pashyan tat sarvato vipulam vanam || 1-2-8
That self-controlled Sage Valmiki on taking bark-garment from his disciple's hands, and looking in all directions, indeed moved away from that wide expanse of forest. [1-2-8]
तस्याभ्याशे तु मिथुनं चरन्तमनपायिनम् | ददर्श भगवांस्तत्र क्रौञ्चयोश्चारुनिःस्वनम् || १-२-९
tasya abhyaashe tu mithunam charantam anapaayinam | dadarsha bhagavaan tatra krau~NchayoH chaaru nisvanam || 1-2-9
There holy sage Valmiki saw a couple of curlews, in the vicinity of that river's foreshore, flying there about in togetherness and cooing charmingly. [1-2-9]
तस्मात्तु मिथुनादेकं पुमांसं पापनिश्चयः | जघान वैरनिलयो निषादस्तस्य पश्यतः || १-२-१०
tasmaat tu mithunaat ekam pumaaMsam paapa nishchayaH | jaghaana vairanilayo nishhaadaH tasya pashyataH || 1-2-10
A tribal hunter with evil intent, and a receptacle of enimity, killed the male one among the couple of birds, while Valmiki was looking on. [1-2-10]
तं शोणितपरीताङ्गं वेष्टमानं महीतले | भार्या तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा रुराव करुणां गिरम् || १-२-११ वियुक्ता पतिना तेन द्विजेन सहचारिणा | ताम्रशीर्षेण मत्तेन पत्रिणा सहितेन वै | १-२-१२
tam shoNita pariitaaN^gam ceShTamaanam mahiitale | bhaaryaa tu nihatam dR^iShTvaa ruraava karuNaam giram || 1-2-11 viyuktaa patinaa tena dvijena sahachaariNaa | taamra shiirshheNa mattena patriNaa sahitena vai | 1-2-12
The wife was moving together with husband with a red crest and with joy, with good wings, always being united with that male bird. On seeing that bird slain on ground reeling with blood covered wings really made wailing sounds with piteous utterances on being separated from her husband. [1-2-11, 12]
तथाविधं द्विजं दृष्ट्वा निषादेन निपातितम् | ऋषेर्धर्मात्मनस्तस्य कारुण्यं समपद्यत || १-२-१३
tataH karuNa veditvaat adharmo ayam iti dvijaH | nishaaMya rudatiim kraunchiim idam vacanam abraiit || 1-2-14
On seeing that bird felled that way by the tribal hunter, compassion occassioned in that saintly sage Valmiki. [1-2-13]
ततः करुणवेदित्वादधर्मोऽयमिति द्विजः | निशाम्य रुदतीं क्रौञ्चीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् || १-२-१४
maa nishhaada pratiShThaamtva | magamaH shaashvatiiH samaaH | yat krau~Ncha mithunaat eka | mavadhiiH kaama mohitam || 1-2-15
Then on seeing the wailing female krounchi bird, out of state of compassion and apperceiving the killing of male bird as unjust, the sage uttered this sentence... [1-2-14]
मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः | यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम् || १-२-१५
tasya evam bruvataH chintaa babhuuva hR^idi viikshataH | shokaartena asya shakuneH kim idam vyaahR^itam mayaa || 1-2-16
"Oh! violent Hunter, by which reason you have killed one bird of the couple, when it was infatuated by passion, for that reason you will never get a state of rest for everlasting years to come..." [1-2-15]
तस्यैवं ब्रुवतश्चिन्ता बभूव हृदि वीक्षतः | शोकार्तेनास्य शकुनेः किमिदं व्याहृतं मया || १-२-१६
chintayan sa mahaapraaj~naH chakaara matimaan matim | shishyam cha eva abraviit vaakyam idam sa munipuN^gavaH || 1-2-17
Thus speaking and pondering in his heart, he became thoughtful: "What is this utterance by me in grief and anguish for this bird?". [1-2-16]
चिन्तयन्स महाप्राज्ञश्चकार मतिमान्मतिम् | शिष्यञ्चैवाब्रवीद्वाक्यमिदं स मुनिपुङ्गवः || १-२-१७
paada baddhaH akshara samaH tantrii laya samanvitaH | shokaartasya pravR^itto me shloko bhavatu na anyathaa || 1-2-18
That great wise one who was an intellectual and the best among sages, on cogitating, made up his mind and also spoke these words to the disciple... [1-2-17]
पादबद्धोऽक्षरसमस्तन्त्रीलयसमन्वितः | शोकार्तस्य प्रवृत्तो मे श्लोको भवतु नान्यथा || १-२-१८
shiShyaH tu tasya bruvato muner vaakyam anuttamam | prati jagraaha saMtushhTaH tasya tuShToaH abhavat muniH || 1-2-19
"While I was tormented by grief, there arose a sentence consisting of four verses possessing metrically posited letters suitable to be played as song and string music and that will be called Shloka, not otherwise..." [1-2-18]
शिष्यस्तु तस्य ब्रुवतो मुनेर्वाक्यमनुत्तमम् | प्रतिजग्राह संतुष्टस्तस्य तुष्टोऽभवद्मुनिः || १-२-१९
so.abhiShekam tataH kR^itvaa tiirthe tasmin yathaavidhi | tam eva chintayan artham upaavartata vai muniH || 1-2-20
Even the disciple happily received what that is articulated by the saint, a unique articulation, by which the saint too, was delighted. [1-2-19]
सोऽभिषेकं ततः कृत्वा तीर्थे तस्मिन् यथाविधि | तमेव चिन्तयन्नर्थमुपावर्तत वै मुनिः || १-२-२०
bharadvaajaH tataH shiShyo viniitaH shrutavaan guroH | kalasham puurNamaadaaya pR^ishhThataH anujagaama ha || 1-2-21
Then that saint on performing his bathing in that ford according to custom, and still thinking on the purport of his utterance, he returned towards his hermitage. [1-2-20]
भरद्वाजस्ततः शिष्यो विनीतः श्रुतवान् गुरोः | कलशं पूर्णमादाय पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम ह || १-२-२१
sa pravishya aashrama padam shiShyeNa saha dharmavit | upavishhTaH kathaaH cha anyaaH chakaara dhyaanamaasthitaH || 1-2-22
Then Bharadwaja, the obedient disciple and an erudite scholar, for he heard and learnt many scriptures by listening, on taking handy-vessel full with water followed at the behind of his mentor. [1-2-21]
स प्रविश्याश्रमपदं शिष्येण सह धर्मवित् | उपविष्टः कथाश्चान्याश्चकार ध्यानमास्थितः || १-२-२२
aajagaama tataH brahmo lokakartaa svayam prabhuH | chatur mukho mahaatejaa draShTum tam munipuN^gavam || 1-2-23
He that knower of dharma, Valmiki, having entered the threshold of hermitage along with disciples, and having seated spoke about the day-to-day teachings and also other things, but he himself is preoccupied in cogitation on the verse. [1-2-22]
आजगाम ततो ब्रह्म लोककर्ता स्वयं प्रभुः | चतुर्मुखो महातेजा द्रष्टुं तं मुनिपुङ्गवम् || १-२-२३
vaalmiikiH atha tam dR^iShTvaa sahasaa utthaaya vaagyataH | praanjaliH prayato bhuutvaa tasthau parama vismitaH || 1-2-24
Then, the great resplendent Four-faced creator of fourteen worlds, almighty Brahma, arrived there on his own, to see that eminent saint Valmiki. [1-2-23]
वाल्मीकिरथ तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय वाग्यतः | प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतो भूत्वा तस्थौ परमविस्मितः || १-२-२४
puujayaamaasa tam devam paadya arghya aasana vandanaiH | praNaMya vidhivat ca enam pR^ishhTvaa ca eva niraamayam || 1-2-25
Then that pious saint Valmiki is highly surprised on seeing Brahma, and on quickly getting up from his seat with his palms adjoined humbly, he stood aside, as he is spellbind. [1-2-24]
पूजयामास तं देवं पाद्यार्घ्यासनवन्दनैः | प्रणम्य विधिवच्चैनं पृष्ट्वानामयमव्ययम् || १-२-२५
atha upavishya bhagavaan aasane parama archite | vaalmiikaye ca R^iShaye sandidesha aasanam tataH || 1-2-26
Valmiki uninterruptedly venerated Brahma, on inquiring into his well-being, washed his feet, drenched his thirst, seated him to rest, and adored at best with customarily obeisance. [1-2-25]
अथोपविश्य भगवानासने परमार्चिते | वाल्मीकये च ऋषये सन्दिदेशासनं ततः || १-२-२६
brahmaNaa samanuj~naataH so.api upaavishat aasane | upaviShTe tadaa tasmin saakshaat loka pitaamahe | 1-2-27 tat gatena eva manasaa vaalmiikiH dhyaanam aasthitaH ||
Then god Brahma, who is seated on a high seat, very highly worshipped by Valmiki, also beckoned at Valmiki to take a seat. [1-2-26]
ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञातः सोऽप्युपाविशदासने | उपविष्टे तदा तस्मिन्साक्षाल्लोकपितामहे | १-२-२७ तद्गतेनैव मनसा वाल्मीकिर्ध्यानमास्थितः ||
paapaatmanaa kR^itam kaShTam vaira grahaNa buddhinaa | 1-2-28 yat taadR^isham chaaruravam krauncham hanyaat akaaraNaat ||
Even though Valmiki sat on his seat when duly permitted by Brahma, and though the Grandparent of the worlds is manifestly sitting before him, but the same broodings on those happenings occurred on that day have recurred on his mind. [1-2-27-28a]
पापात्मना कृतं कष्टं वैरग्रहणबुद्धिना | १-२-२८ यस्तादृशं चारुरवं क्रौञ्चं हन्यादकारणात् ||
shochan eva punaH kraunchiim upa shlokam imam jagau | 1-2-29 punar antargata manaa bhuutvaa shoka paraayaNaH ||
"He that tribal hunter, who killed a cutely calling krouncha bird for no good reason than intending to capture the kill, is an evil souled one that caused hardship..." [1-2-28b-29a]
शोचन्नेव मुहुः क्रौञ्चीमुपश्लोकमिमं पुनः | १-२-२९ जगावन्तर्गतमना भूत्वा शोकपरायणः ||
tam uvaacha tato brahmaa prahasan munipuMgavam | 1-2-30 shloka evaastvayaam baddho na atra kaaryaa vichaaraNaa ||
Remaining in melancholic mood Valmiki turned his mind to the depth of thinking, and again thinking only on the krouncha bird he sung the same verse, involuntarily. [1-2-29b-30a]
तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा प्रहसन्मुनिपुङ्गवम् | श्लोक एव त्वया बद्धो नात्र कार्या विचारणा ||१-२-३०
mat cChandaat eva te brahman pravR^itte ayam sarasvatii | 1-2-31 raamasya charitam kR^itsnam kuru tvam R^ishhisattama |
Then, Brahma smilingly spoke to that eminent saint Valmiki, "But, what that is composed is a verse only... and there is no need to think through... [1-2-30]
मच्छन्दादेव ते ब्रह्मन् प्रवृत्तेयं सरस्वती | रामस्य चरितं सर्वं कुरु त्वमृषिसत्तम || १-२-३१
dharmaatmano bhagavato loke raamasya dhiimataH || 1-2-32 vR^ittam kathaya dhiirasya yathaa te naaradaat shrutam |
"Oh, Brahman, that speech of yours sprang forth at my wish alone, hence oh, eminent sage, you shall render the legend of Rama, in its entirety... [1-2-31]
धर्मात्मनो गुणवतो लोके रामस्य धीमतः | वृत्तं कथय धीरस्य यथा ते नारदाच्छ्रुतम् || १-२-३२
rahasyam cha prakaasham cha yad vR^ittam tasya dhiimataH || 1-2-33 raamasya saha saumitre raakshasaanaam cha sarvashaH | vaidehyaaH cha eva yad vR^ittam prakaasham yadi vaa rahaH || 1-2-34 tat ca api aviditam sarvam viditam te bhaviShyati |
"You shall narrate the legend of Rama, the virtuous, intellectual and an intrepid one, and a godlike person in this world as well, as you have heard it from sage Narada. [1-2-32]
रहस्यं च प्रकाशं च यद् वृत्तं तस्य धीमतः | रामस्य सहसौमित्रे राक्षसानां च सर्वशः || १-२-३३ वैदेह्याश्चापि यद् वृत्तं प्रकाशं यदि वा रहः | तच्चाप्यविदितं सर्वं विदितं ते भविष्यति || १-२-३४
na te vaak anR^itaa kaavye kaachit atra bhavishhyati || 1-2-35 kuru raama kathaam puNyaam shloka baddhaam manoramaam |
"The adventures of valorous Rama along with Lakshmana, and the misadventures of demons, known or unknown in every detail, and even the plight of Vaidehi which is either revealed or un-revealed so far, and whatever legend that has happened, all that will also be known to you, even if it were to be unknown, as yet... [1-2-33-34]
न ते वागनृता काव्ये काचिदत्र भविष्यति | कुरु रामकथां पुण्यां श्लोकबद्धां मनोरमाम् || १-२-३५
yaavat raamasya ca kathaa tvat kR^itaa pracharishhyati | 1-2-37 taavat uurdhvam adhaH cha tvam mat lokeshhu nivatsyasi |
"You shall versify the heart pleasing and merit-yielding legend of Rama, and not a single word of yours will not be false in this epic... [1-2-35]
यावत्स्थास्यन्ति गिरयः सरितश्च महीतले | तावद्रामायणकथा लोकेषु प्रचरिष्यति || १-२-३६
iti uktvaa bhagavaan brahmaa tatra eva antaradhiiyata | tataH sa shishhyo bhagavaan muniH vismayam aayayau || 1-2-38
"As long as the mountains and even rivers flourish on the surface of the earth, so long the legend of Ramayana will flourish in this world... [1-2-36]
यावद्रामायणकथा त्वत्कृता प्रचरिष्यति | तावदूर्ध्वमधश्च त्वं मल्लोकेषु निवत्स्यसि | १-२-३७
tasya shishhyaaH tataH sarve jaguH shlokam imam punaH | muhur muhuH priiyamaaNaaH praahuH cha bhR^isha vismitaaH || 1-2-39
"And as long as Rama's legend authored by you flourishes...till then you will flourish in heavenly, in netherworlds, and even in my abode, namely Abode of Brahma... [1-2-37]
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् ब्रह्मा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत | ततः सशिष्यो भगवान्मुनिर्विस्मयमाययौ || १-२-३८
samaaksharaiH chaturbhiH yaH paadaiH giito maharshhiNaa | saH anuvyaaharaNaat bhuuyaH shokaH shlokatvam aagataH || 1-2-40
On saying thus that Divinity Brahma vanished then and there only, and then that godly sage Valmiki came by astonishment, along with his disciples. [1-2-38]
तस्य शिष्यास्ततः सर्वे जगुः श्लोकमिमं पुनः | मुहुर्महुः प्रीयमाणाः प्राहुश्च भृशविस्मिताः || १-२-३९
tasya buddhiH iyam jaataa maharSheH bhaavitaatmanaH | kR^itsnam raamaayaNam kaavyam iidR^ishaiH karavaaNyaham || 1-2-41
Then all of the disciples of Valmiki sang this verse time and again very delightedly, and much astonished they also recited this verse, reciprocally. [1-2-39]
समाक्षरैश्चतुर्भिर्यः पादैर्गीतो महर्षिणा | सोऽनुव्याहरणाद् भूयः श्लोकः श्लोकत्वमागतः || १-२-४०
udaara vR^itta artha padaiH manoramaiH tadaa asya raamasya chakaara kiirtimaan | sama aksharaiH shloka shataiH yashasvino yashaskaram kaavyam udaara darshanaH || 1-2-42
Equally lettered, four-footed is that verse when great Sage Valmiki articulated it, and when repetitively recited by one and all, it attained prominence as verse proper. [1-2-40]
तस्य बुद्धिरियं जाता महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः | कृत्स्नं रामायणं काव्यमीदृशैः करवाण्यहम् || १-२-४१
tad upagata samaasa sandhi yogam sama madhuropanata artha vaakya baddham | raghuvara charitam munipraNiitam dasha shirasaH cha vadham nishaamaya adhvam || 1-2-43
Born is an intuition in that great sage and contemplated soul asserting that "I will compose entire Ramayana, the epic, in suchlike verses...' [1-2-41]
उदारवृत्तार्थपदैर्मनोरमैः तदास्य रामस्य चकार कीर्तिमान् | समाक्षरैः श्लोकशतैर्यशस्विनो यशस्करं काव्यमुदारधीर्मुनिः || १-२-४२
That celebrated sage and magnanimous seer Valmiki then authored the highly renowned Rama's legend extolling Rama's renown, with symmetrically worded verses, and words versified to yield meanings semantically, prosody free-flowing, and with hundreds of such verses. [1-2-42]
तदुपगतसमाससन्धियोगं सममधुरोपनतार्थवाक्यबद्धम् | रघुवरचरितं मुनिप्रणीतं दशशिरसश्च वधं निशामयध्वम् || १-२-४३
That epic contains uncomplicated compounds, conjunctions and conjugations, and has expressive sentences that are well knit and led evenly and sweetly, and that legend pertains to the best one from Raghu's dynasty, namely Rama, which also includes the extermination of the Ten headed evil named Ravana, and further, it is said by the sage, hence this may now be listened… [1-2-43]
