Ramayana

तं शोणितपरीताङ्गं चेष्टमानं महीतले । भार्या तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा रुराव करुणां गिरम् ॥१-२-

Seeing her mate struck down, his body stained with blood and writhing on the ground, the female cried out in a voice of deep sorrow.

वियुक्ता पतिना तेन द्विजेन सहचारिणा । ताम्रशीर्षेण मत्तेन पत्त्रिणा सहितेन वै ॥१-२-

Separated from her companion, that twice-born bird, with his coppery head, intoxicated, and adorned with feathers, she mourned.

तथाविधं द्विजं दृष्ट्वा निषादेन निपातितम् । ऋषेर्धर्मात्मनस्तस्य कारुण्यं समपद्यत ॥१-२-

Witnessing such a bird, struck down by the hunter, compassion arose in the heart of the righteous sage.

ततः करुणवेदित्वादधर्मोऽयमिति द्विजः । निशाम्य रुदतीं क्रौञ्चीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-२-

Then, moved by compassion, the sage thought, 'This is unrighteous,' and, seeing the weeping krauñcha, spoke these words:

मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः । यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम् ॥१-२-

'Hunter, may you never attain enduring fame, since you killed one of the krauñcha pair, driven by lust.'

तस्यैवं ब्रुवतश्चिन्ता बभूव हृदि वीक्षतः । शोकार्तेनास्य शकुनेः किमिदं व्याहृतं मया ॥१-२-

As he spoke thus, a thought arose in his heart as he gazed: 'What is this utterance I have spoken, overwhelmed by the bird's grief?'

चिन्तयन् स महाप्राज्ञश्चकार मतिमान्मतिम् । शिष्यं चैवाब्रवीद् वाक्यमिदं स मुनिपुङ्गवः ॥१-२-

Reflecting, the wise and thoughtful sage composed his mind, and spoke these words to his disciple:

पादबद्धोऽक्षरसमस्तन्त्रीलयसमन्वितः । शोकार्तस्य प्रवृत्तो मे श्लोको भवतु नान्यथा ॥१-२-

'Bound in meter, with syllables arranged, and joined with melody—let this verse, born of my grief, be so and not otherwise.'

शिष्यस्तु तस्य ब्रुवतो मुनेर्वाक्यमनुत्तमम् । प्रतिजग्राह संहृष्टस्तस्य तुष्टोऽभवद्गुरुः ॥१-२-

As the sage spoke these excellent words, his disciple joyfully accepted them, and the teacher was pleased.

सोऽभिषेकं ततः कृत्वा तीर्थे तस्मिन् यथाविधि । तमेव चिन्तयन्नर्थमुपावर्तत वै मुनिः ॥१-२-

Then, having performed his ablutions at that holy place according to custom, the sage returned, his mind dwelling on that event.

भरद्वाजस्ततः शिष्यो विनीतः श्रुतवान् गुरोः । कलशं पूर्णमादाय पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम ह ॥१-२-

Then Bharadvāja, his obedient and learned disciple, took up a full water pot and followed behind his teacher.

स प्रविश्याश्रमपदं शिष्येण सह धर्मवित् । उपविष्टः कथाश्चान्याश्चकार ध्यानमास्थितः ॥१-२-

Entering the hermitage with his disciple, the sage, versed in righteousness, sat down, engaged in other conversations, and settled into meditation.

आजगाम ततो ब्रह्मा लोककर्ता स्वयं प्रभुः । चतुर्मुखो महातेजा द्रष्टुं तं मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥१-२-

Then Brahmā, the creator of the worlds, the lord himself, four-faced and radiant, came to see that foremost of sages.

वाल्मीकिरथ तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय वाग्यतः । प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतो भूत्वा तस्थौ परमविस्मितः ॥१-२-

Valmiki, seeing him, immediately rose, controlled his speech, joined his palms in reverence, and stood, filled with utmost wonder.

पूजयामास तं देवं पाद्यार्घ्यासनवन्दनैः । प्रणम्य विधिवच्चैनं पृष्ट्वा चैव निरामयम् ॥१-२-

He honored that god with offerings of water for the feet, arghya, a seat, and salutations, and, having bowed properly, inquired after his well-being.

अथोपविश्य भगवानासने परमार्चिते । वाल्मीकये च ऋषये संदिदेशासनं ततः ॥१-२-

Then the blessed one, having seated himself on the highly honored seat, offered a seat in turn to the sage Valmiki.

ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञातः सोऽप्युपाविशदासने । उपविष्टे तदा तस्मिन् साक्षाल्लोकपितामहे ।॥१-२-

Having received Brahmā’s approval, he too took his seat; and when he was seated, the Lord of all beings was visibly present.

तद्गतेनैव मनसा वाल्मीकिर्ध्यानमास्थितः । पापात्मना कृतं कष्टं वैरग्रहणबुद्धिना ।॥१-२-

With his mind absorbed in that event, Vālmīki entered into meditation, pondering the cruel deed committed by the wicked-hearted, whose mind was set on enmity.

यत् तादृशं चारुरवं क्रौञ्चं हन्यादकारणात् । शोचन्नेव पुनः क्रौञ्चीमुपश्लोकमिमं जगौ ॥१-२-

As he mourned how such a lovely-voiced krauñca bird was slain without cause, he again sang this verse in lament for the female krauñca.

पुनरन्तर्गतमना भूत्वा शोकपरायणः । तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा प्रहसन् मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥१-२-

Once more, his mind withdrawn inward and immersed in sorrow, Brahmā, smiling, addressed the foremost of sages.

श्लोक एवास्त्वयं बद्धो नात्र कार्या विचारणा । मच्छन्दादेव ते ब्रह्मन् प्रवृत्तेयं सरस्वती ॥१-२-

Let this verse remain as it is composed; there is no need for deliberation here. By my will alone, O sage, this Sarasvatī has arisen in you.

रामस्य चरितं कृत्स्नं कुरु त्वमृषिसत्तम । धर्मात्मनो भगवतो लोके रामस्य धीमतः ॥१-२-

Compose the entire story of Rāma, O best of sages, the righteous and wise Lord, for the world.

वृत्तं कथय धीरस्य यथा ते नारदाच्छ्रुतम् । रहस्यं च प्रकाशं च यद् वृत्तं तस्य धीमतः ॥१-२-

Tell the account of the steadfast one, as you heard it from Nārada, both the secret and the open events that befell that wise man.

रामस्य सहसौमित्रे राक्षसानां च सर्वशः । वैदेह्याश्चैव यद् वृत्तं प्रकाशं यदि वा रहः ॥१-२-

Whatever happened to Rāma, to Saumitri, to all the rākṣasas, and to Vaidehī—whether openly or in secret—

तच्चाप्यविदितं सर्वं विदितं ते भविष्यति । न ते वागनृता काव्ये काचिदत्र भविष्यति ॥१-२-

All that is unknown will become known to you; no falsehood will enter your speech in this poem.

कुरु रामकथां पुण्यां श्लोकबद्धां मनोरमाम् । यावत् स्थास्यन्ति गिरयः सरितश्च महीतले ॥१-२-

Compose the sacred story of Rāma, bound in verses and delightful, for as long as mountains and rivers endure upon the earth.

तावद् रामायणकथा लोकेषु प्रचरिष्यति । यावद् रामस्य च कथा त्वत्कृता प्रचरिष्यति ॥१-२-

So long as the tale of Rāma, created by you, is told, the story of the Rāmāyaṇa will circulate among people.

तावदूर्ध्वमधश्च त्वं मल्लोकेषु निवत्स्यसि । इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् ब्रह्मा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । ततः सशिष्यो भगवान् र्मुनिर्विस्मयमाययौ ॥१-२-

For that duration, above and below, you will dwell among people; having spoken thus, the blessed Brahmā vanished there, and the venerable sage, with his disciples, departed in wonder.

तस्य शिष्यास्ततः सर्वे जगुः श्लोकमिमं पुनः । मुहुर्मुहुः प्रीयमाणाः प्राहुश्च भृशविस्मिताः ॥१-२-

Then all his disciples repeatedly sang that verse, delighted and greatly astonished.