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.
समाक्षरैश्चतुर्भिर्यः पादैर्गीतो महर्षिणा । सोऽनुव्याहरणाद् भूयः शोकः श्लोकत्वमागतः ॥१-२-
That which was sung by the great sage in four-footed meter, through repeated recitation, sorrow was transformed into verse.
तस्य बुद्धिरियं जाता वाल्मीकेर्भावितात्मनः । कृत्स्नं रामायणं काव्यमीदृशैः करवाण्यहम् ॥१-२-
This resolve arose in Vālmīki, whose mind was purified: 'I will compose the entire Rāmāyaṇa in such verses.'
उदारवृत्तार्थपदैर्मनोरमै- ::स्तदास्य रामस्य चकार कीर्तिमान् । समाक्षरैः श्लोकशतैर्यशस्विनो ::यशस्करं काव्यमुदारदर्शनः ॥१-२-
With noble themes, meanings, and words, delightful to the mind, he made the fame of Rāma; with hundreds of verses of equal measure, the illustrious sage composed a poem that brings glory.
तदुपगतसमाससंधियोगं ::सममधुरोपनतार्थवाक्यबद्धम् । रघुवरकरितं मुनिप्रणीतं ::दशशिरसश्क वधं निशामयध्वम् ॥१-२-
With proper arrangement of compounds and conjunctions, and sweet, well-constructed sentences, listen to the story of Raghu’s scion, composed by the sage, concerning the slaying of the ten-headed one.
thumb|तृतीयः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे तृतीयः सर्गः ॥१-
Let the third section be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, the third sarga.
श्रुत्वा वस्तु समग्रं तद्धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् । व्यक्तमन्वेषते भूयो यद् वृत्तं तस्य धीमतः ॥१-३-
Having heard all the events, together with their righteous and meaningful aspects, and beneficial, he again clearly seeks out what happened to that wise one.
उपस्पृश्योदकं सम्यङ्मुनिः स्थित्वा कृताञ्जलिः । प्राचीनाग्रेषु दर्भेषु धर्मेणान्वेषते गतिम् ॥१-३-
Having ritually purified himself with water, the sage stood with joined palms, on darbha grass with the tips to the east, and sought the course of events according to righteousness.
हसितं भाषितं चैव गतिर्यावच्च चेष्टितम् । तत् सर्वं धर्मवीर्येण यथावत् संप्रपश्यति ॥१-३-
He observes everything—smiling, speaking, movement, and all actions—thoroughly and properly, with the strength of righteousness.
स्त्रीतृतीयेन च तथा यत् प्राप्तं चरता वने । सत्यसन्धेन रामेण तत् सर्वं चान्ववैक्षत ॥१-३-
And likewise, whatever befell Rama, steadfast in truth, as he wandered in the forest with his wife and brother, all this he examined.
ततः पश्यति धर्मात्मा तत् सर्वं योगमास्थितः । पुरा यत् तत्र निर्वृत्तं पाणावामलकं यथा ॥१-३-
Then, established in yoga, that righteous-souled one perceives all that happened there in the past, as clearly as a fruit in the palm of his hand.
तत् सर्वं तत्त्वतो दृष्ट्वा धर्मेण स महामतिः । अभिरामस्य रामस्य तत् सर्वं कर्तुमुद्यतः ॥१-३-
Having seen all that truly, with discernment, that great-minded one became intent on composing the entire story of the delightful Rama.
कामार्थगुणसंयुक्तं धर्मार्थगुणविस्तरम् । समुद्रमिव रत्नाढ्यं सर्वश्रुतिमनोहरम् ॥१-३-
Endowed with the qualities of desire, wealth, and virtue, and expanding with the virtues of righteousness and purpose, it was as enchanting to all who heard it as the ocean rich with gems.
स यथा कथितं पूर्वं नारदेन महात्मना । रघुवंशस्य चरितं चकार भगवान् मुनिः ॥१-३-
As previously narrated by the great sage Narada, the venerable sage composed the story of the Raghu dynasty.
जन्म रामस्य सुमहद्वीर्यं सर्वानुकूलताम् । लोकस्य प्रियतां क्षान्तिं सौम्यतां सत्यशीलताम् ॥१-३-
The birth of Rama, his great valor, his universal favor, his belovedness to the people, his patience, gentleness, and truthfulness of character—
नाना चित्राः कथाश्चान्या विश्वामित्रसहायने । जानक्याश्च विवाहं च धनुषश्च विभेदनम् ॥१-३-
Various marvelous tales, his assistance to Vishvamitra, the marriage of Janaki, and the breaking of the bow—
रामरामविवादं च गुणान् दाशरथेस्तथा । तथाभिषेकं रामस्य कैकेय्या दुष्टभावताम् ॥१-३-
The dispute between Rama and Parashurama, the virtues of Dasharatha, the consecration of Rama, and the wickedness of Kaikeyi—
विघातं चाभिषेकस्य रामस्य च विवासनम् । राज्ञः शोकं विलापं च परलोकस्य चाश्रयम् ॥१-३-
The obstruction of Rama's consecration, his exile, the king's grief and lamentation, and his passing to the next world—
प्रकृतीनां विषादं च प्रकृतीनां विसर्जनम् । निषादाधिपसंवादं सूतोपावर्तनं तथा ॥१-३-
The sorrow of the people, their dismissal, the conversation with the chief of the Nishadas, and the turning back of the charioteer—
गङ्गायाश्चापि संतारं भरद्वाजस्य दर्शनम् । भरद्वाजाभ्यनुज्ञानाच्चित्रकूटस्य दर्शनम् ॥१-३-
The crossing of the Ganga, the meeting with Bharadvaja, the permission granted by Bharadvaja, and the sight of Chitrakuta—
वास्तुकर्म निवेशं च भरतागमनं तथा । प्रसादनं च रामस्य पितुश्च सलिलक्रियाम् ॥१-३-
The building of the dwelling, the arrival of Bharata, the persuasion of Rama, and the water-offering for his father—
पादुकाग्र्याभिषेकं च नन्दिग्रामनिवासनम् । दण्डकारण्यगमनं विराधस्य वधं तथा ॥१-३-
The consecration of the sandals, residence at Nandigrama, the journey to Dandaka forest, and the slaying of Viradha—