As the sage uttered his wise and noble words, his disciple received them with joy, and the teacher was pleased by his student’s eager acceptance. After performing his ablutions at that sacred place, following the proper custom, the sage returned home, his mind reflecting deeply on the events that had transpired. Bharadvāja, the sage’s devoted and learned disciple, took up a full water pot and followed behind his revered teacher. Together, they entered the hermitage, and the sage, well-versed in righteousness, settled himself, conversing on other matters and eventually sinking into meditation. At that moment, Brahmā, the four-faced creator of the worlds, radiant and resplendent, arrived to see the foremost among sages. Upon seeing Brahmā, Vālmīki immediately rose, controlled his speech, and joined his palms in reverence, standing before the divine visitor, filled with awe and wonder. He honored Brahmā with offerings—water for the feet, arghya, a seat, and heartfelt salutations—and, after bowing properly, inquired after the god’s wellbeing. The blessed Brahmā sat upon the highly honored seat and, in turn, offered a seat to Vālmīki. With Brahmā’s approval, Vālmīki too took his seat, and thus the Lord of all beings was manifest before him. Absorbed in the memory of the earlier event, Vālmīki entered meditation, pondering the cruel deed committed by the wicked-hearted, whose mind was set on enmity. He grieved for the lovely-voiced krauñca bird that had been slain without cause, and once more, in lament for the female krauñca, he sang the verse born of his sorrow. With his mind withdrawn and immersed in grief, Brahmā, smiling gently, addressed the sage: “Let this verse remain as it was composed; there is no need for further deliberation. By my will alone, O sage, the goddess Sarasvatī has arisen within you. Compose the entire story of Rāma, O best of sages, the righteous and wise Lord, for the world to hear. Tell the full account of the steadfast one, as you heard it from Nārada, both the secret and the open events that befell him. Whatever happened to Rāma, to Saumitri, to all the rākṣasas, and to Vaidehī—whether openly or in secret—will become known to you. No falsehood will enter your speech in this poem. Compose the sacred story of Rāma, bound in delightful verses, for as long as mountains and rivers endure upon the earth. So long as the tale of Rāma, created by you, is told, the story of the Rāmāyaṇa will circulate among people. For that duration, above and below, you will dwell among people.” Having spoken thus, the blessed Brahmā vanished, and the venerable sage, filled with wonder, departed with his disciples. Then all the disciples, delighted and astonished, repeatedly sang that verse. The verse, composed by the great sage in the four-footed meter, transformed sorrow into poetry through repeated recitation. A resolve arose in Vālmīki’s purified mind: “I will compose the entire Rāmāyaṇa in such verses.” With noble themes, meanings, and words, delightful to the mind, he celebrated the fame of Rāma; with hundreds of verses of equal measure, the illustrious sage composed a poem that brings glory. With proper arrangement of compounds and conjunctions, and sweet, well-constructed sentences, he composed the story of Raghu’s scion, concerning the slaying of the ten-headed one. Thus, let the third section be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, the third sarga. Having heard all the events, along with their righteous and meaningful aspects, and their benefits, Vālmīki sought to clearly understand what befell that wise one. After ritually purifying himself with water, the sage stood with joined palms, upon darbha grass with the tips facing east, and sought to discern the course of events according to righteousness. He observed everything—smiling, speaking, movement, and all actions—thoroughly and properly, with the strength of righteousness. Likewise, whatever befell Rāma, steadfast in truth, as he wandered in the forest with his wife and brother, all this he examined. Established in yoga, that righteous-souled sage perceived all that had happened in the past as clearly as a fruit in the palm of his hand. Having seen all things truly, with discernment, the great-minded Vālmīki became intent on composing the entire story of the delightful Rāma. Endowed with the qualities of desire, wealth, and virtue, and expanding with the virtues of righteousness and purpose, his poem was as enchanting to all who heard it as the ocean rich with gems. As previously narrated by the great sage Nārada, the venerable Vālmīki composed the story of the Raghu dynasty: the birth of Rāma, his great valor, his universal favor, his belovedness to the people, his patience, gentleness, and truthfulness of character; marvelous tales, his assistance to Vishvamitra, the marriage of Janaki, and the breaking of the bow; the dispute between Rāma and Parashurama, the virtues of Dasharatha, the consecration of Rāma, and the wickedness of Kaikeyi; the obstruction of Rāma’s consecration, his exile, the king’s grief and lamentation, and his passing to the next world; the sorrow of the people, their dismissal, the conversation with the chief of the Nishadas, and the turning back of the charioteer; the crossing of the Ganga, the meeting with Bharadvāja, the permission granted by Bharadvāja, and the sight of Chitrakuta. Thus, the sacred and glorious story of Rāma began to take form, destined to be sung for as long as rivers and mountains endure, and to bring delight and wisdom to all who hear it.