Vālmīker Janma-kathanam — The Narration of Vālmīki's Birth

Verse 1 (skanda.2.175.1)

श्रुतदेव उवाच । ततस्तु विस्मितो भूत्वा शङ्खो व्याधसमन्वितः । को भवानिति तं प्राह दशैषा च कुतस्तव ॥

śrutadeva uvāca tatastu vismito bhūtvā śaṅkho vyādhasamanvitaḥ ko bhavāniti taṁ prāha daśaiṣā ca kutastava

Shrutadeva said: Then Shankha, astonished, together with the hunter, said to that serpent: Who are you, and how has this condition come upon you?

Verse 2 (skanda.2.175.2)

केन वा कर्मणा सौम्य मतिस्तव शुभावहा । अकस्मात्ते कथं मुक्तिरेतदाचक्ष्व विस्तरात् ॥

kena vā karmaṇā saumya matistava śubhāvahā akasmātte kathaṁ muktiretadācakṣva vistarāt

O gentle one, by what deed did you gain this auspicious understanding? And how has this sudden liberation come to you? Tell me this in full.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.175.3)

शङ्खेनैव तदा पृष्टो दण्डवत्पतितो भुवि । प्रश्रयाऽवनतो भूत्वा प्रांजलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

śaṅkhenaiva tadā pṛṣṭo daṇḍavatpatito bhuvi praśrayā'vanato bhūtvā prāñjalirvākyamabravīt

Thus questioned by Shankha, he fell prostrate on the ground like a rod, and, bowing humbly with joined palms, spoke these words —

Verse 4 (skanda.2.175.4)

अहं पुरा द्विजः कश्चित्प्रयागे बहुभाषणः । रूपयौवनसंपन्नो विद्यामदसुगर्वितः ॥

ahaṁ purā dvijaḥ kaścitprayāge bahubhāṣaṇaḥ rūpayauvanasaṁpanno vidyāmadasugarvitaḥ

In a former life I was a certain talkative brahmin living at Prayaga — endowed with beauty and youth, greatly puffed up with the pride of learning.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.175.5)

धनाढ्यो बहुपुत्राढ्यः सदाऽहंकारदूषितः । कुसीदस्य मुनेः पुत्रो नाम्ना रोचन इत्यहम् ॥

dhanāḍhyo bahuputrāḍhyaḥ sadā'haṁkāradūṣitaḥ kusīdasya muneḥ putro nāmnā rocana ityaham

I was wealthy, blessed with many sons, ever tainted by pride — I was the son of the sage Kusida, named Rochana.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.175.6)

आसनं शयनं निद्रा व्यवायोऽक्षपरिक्रियाः । लोकवार्ता कुसीदं वा व्यापारास्ते ममाऽभवन् ॥

āsanaṁ śayanaṁ nidrā vyavāyo'kṣaparikriyāḥ lokavārtā kusīdaṁ vā vyāpārāste mamā'bhavan

Lounging, lying about, sleeping, sexual indulgence, dice-play, idle gossip, or money-lending at interest — these were my only occupations.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.175.7)

तन्तुमात्राणि कर्माणि लोकनिन्दाविशंकितः । सदम्भश्च सदा कुर्वे न श्रद्धा मे कदाचन ॥

tantumātrāṇi karmāṇi lokanindāviśaṅkitaḥ sadambhaśca sadā kurve na śraddhā me kadācana

Only out of fear of public censure did I perform the barest thread of ritual duty, and that too always with hypocrisy — I never had any true faith.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.175.8)

दुर्बुद्धेर्मम दुष्टस्य कियत्कालो गतोऽभवत् । तदा वैशाखमासेऽस्मिञ्जयंतोनाम वै द्विजः ॥

durbuddhermama duṣṭasya kiyatkālo gato'bhavat tadā vaiśākhamāse'smiñjayantonāma vai dvijaḥ

Thus much time passed for me, of wicked and evil mind. Then, in this very month of Vaishakha, a brahmin named Jayanta,

Verse 9 (skanda.2.175.9)

श्रावयामास तन्मासधर्मान्भागवतप्रियान् । तत्क्षेत्रे वासिनां पुण्यकर्मणां च द्विजन्मनाम् ॥

śrāvayāmāsa tanmāsadharmānbhāgavatapriyān tatkṣetre vāsināṁ puṇyakarmaṇāṁ ca dvijanmanām

began reciting the Bhagavata-dear observances of that month to the meritorious, twice-born residents of that sacred place.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.175.10)

नारीनराः क्षत्रियाश्च वैश्याः शूद्राः सहस्रशः । प्रातः स्नात्वा समभ्यर्च्य मधुसूदनमव्ययम् ॥

nārīnarāḥ kṣatriyāśca vaiśyāḥ śūdrāḥ sahasraśaḥ prātaḥ snātvā samabhyarcya madhusūdanamavyayam

Women and men, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras, in their thousands, bathing at dawn and worshipping the imperishable Madhusudana,

Verse 11 (skanda.2.175.11)

कथां शृण्वंति सततं जयन्तेन समीरिताम् । शुचिभूत्वा मौनधरा वासुदेवकथारताः ॥

kathāṁ śṛṇvanti satataṁ jayantena samīritām śucibhūtvā maunadharā vāsudevakathāratāḥ

continually listened to the story recited by Jayanta — purified, keeping silence, devoted to the tale of Vasudeva.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.175.12)

वैशाखधर्मनिरता दंभालस्यविवर्जिताः । तां सभां च प्रविष्टोऽहं कौतुकाच्च दिदृक्षया ॥

vaiśākhadharmaniratā daṁbhālasyavivarjitāḥ tāṁ sabhāṁ ca praviṣṭo'haṁ kautukācca didṛkṣayā

They were devoted to the Vaishakha observances, free of pretence and idleness. I too entered that assembly, out of curiosity and a wish merely to see.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.175.13)

सोष्णीषेण मया मूर्ध्ना नमस्कारोऽपि न कृतः । तांबूलं च मुखे कृत्वा कञ्चुकं च मया धृतम् ॥

soṣṇīṣeṇa mayā mūrdhnā namaskāro'pi na kṛtaḥ tāṁbūlaṁ ca mukhe kṛtvā kañcukaṁ ca mayā dhṛtam

With my turban still on my head, I did not even offer a bow of respect. Chewing betel in my mouth and wearing my tunic, I sat there thus.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.175.14)

कथाविक्षेपमचरं लोकवार्ताभिरंजनात् । सर्वेषां चित्तचांचल्यमभूद्वै लोकवार्तया ॥

kathāvikṣepamacaraṁ lokavārtābhiraṁjanāt sarveṣāṁ cittacāñcalyamabhūdvai lokavārtayā

I ceaselessly disrupted the recitation with worldly chatter, and through my worldly talk the minds of everyone there grew restless.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.175.15)

क्वचिद्वासः प्रसार्याहं क्वचिन्निंदन्क्वचिद्धसन् । एवं कालो मयानीतः कथा यावत्समाप्यते ॥

kvacidvāsaḥ prasāryāhaṁ kvacinnindankvaciddhasan evaṁ kālo mayānītaḥ kathā yāvatsamāpyate

Sometimes spreading out my garments, sometimes scoffing, sometimes laughing — thus I whiled away the time until the recitation ended.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.175.16)

पश्चात्तेनैव दोषेण सद्योऽल्पायुर्विनष्टधीः । सन्निपातेन पञ्चत्वं प्राप्तोऽहं च परे दिने ॥

paścāttenaiva doṣeṇa sadyo'lpāyurvinaṣṭadhīḥ sannipātena pañcatvaṁ prāpto'haṁ ca pare dine

Then, because of that very fault, my life-span at once shrank, my mind was ruined, and on the very next day I met death through a feverish crisis.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.175.17)

तप्तसीसजलैः पूर्णं निरयं च हलाहलम् । प्राप्य भुक्त्वा यातनां च मन्वन्तानि चतुर्दश ॥

taptasīsajalaiḥ pūrṇaṁ nirayaṁ ca halāhalam prāpya bhuktvā yātanāṁ ca manvantāni caturdaśa

I attained the hell called Halahala, filled with molten lead, and there suffered torment for fourteen Manvantaras,

Verse 18 (skanda.2.175.18)

युक्तेष्वथ च लक्षेषु तथा चतुरशीतिभिः । क्रमाद्योनिषु जातोऽहमिदानीं चावसन्द्रुमे ॥

yukteṣvatha ca lakṣeṣu tathā caturaśītibhiḥ kramādyoniṣu jāto'hamidānīṁ cāvasandrume

and then, in due course, took birth through the eighty-four hundred thousand species of life, and now I came to dwell in this tree.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.175.19)

दशयोजनविस्तीर्णे शतयोजनमुन्नते । व्यालोऽहं तामसः क्रूरः सप्तयोजनकोटरे ॥

daśayojanavistīrṇe śatayojanamunnate vyālo'haṁ tāmasaḥ krūraḥ saptayojanakoṭare

In a hollow seven yojanas deep, within that tree ten yojanas wide and a hundred yojanas tall, I, a dark and cruel serpent,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.175.20)

भूत्वा वसामि विप्रर्षे कर्मणा बाधितः पुरा । अयुतं च समा याता निराहारस्य कोटरे ॥

bhūtvā vasāmi viprarṣe karmaṇā bādhitaḥ purā ayutaṁ ca samā yātā nirāhārasya koṭare

I have been living, O brahmin sage, afflicted by my own former deeds. Ten thousand years have passed for me, without food, in that hollow.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.175.21)

दैवात्तव मुखांभोजसमीरितकथामृतम् । श्रुत्वा चक्षुर्द्वयेनाहं सद्यो ध्वस्ताशुभो मुने ॥

daivāttava mukhāmbhojasamīritakathāmṛtam śrutvā cakṣurdvayenāhaṁ sadyo dhvastāśubho mune

O sage, by chance hearing with both my ears the nectar of the story flowing from your lotus mouth, I was at once freed of all inauspiciousness.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.175.22)

व्यालयोनिं विसृज्याऽहं दिव्यरूपधरः पुमान् । प्रांजलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा पादौ ते शरणं गतः ॥

vyālayoniṁ visṛjyā'haṁ divyarūpadharaḥ pumān prāñjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā pādau te śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

Having cast off my serpent's form and taking now a divine human shape, I have come, with joined palms and bowed head, to take refuge at your feet.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.175.23)

कस्मिञ्जन्मनि त्वं बधुर्न जाने मुनिसत्तम । न मयोपकृतं क्वाऽपि सानुकम्पः कुतः सताम् ॥

kasmiñjanmani tvaṁ bandhurna jāne munisattama na mayopakṛtaṁ kvā'pi sānukampaḥ kutaḥ satām

O foremost of sages, I do not know in what life you have been my kinsman. I have never done you any service — whence, then, comes this compassion of the virtuous?

Verse 24 (skanda.2.175.24)

साधूनां समचित्तानां सदा भूतदयावताम् । परोपकारप्रकृतिर्न चैषामन्यथा मतिः ॥

sādhūnāṁ samacittānāṁ sadā bhūtadayāvatām paropakāraprakṛtirna caiṣāmanyathā matiḥ

The saintly, ever of equal mind and compassionate to all beings, have benefiting others as their very nature — their mind is never otherwise.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.175.25)

मामद्यानुगृहाण त्वं यथा धर्मे मतिर्भवेत् । न भूयाद्विस्मृतिः क्वाऽपि विष्णोर्देवस्य चक्रिणः ॥

māmadyānugṛhāṇa tvaṁ yathā dharme matirbhavet na bhūyādvismṛtiḥ kvā'pi viṣṇordevasya cakriṇaḥ

Show me such grace today that my mind may become fixed on dharma, and that I may never again forget the discus-bearing god Vishnu.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.175.26)

महतां साधुवृत्तानां संगतिश्च सदा भवेत् । दारिद्यमेकमेव स्यान्मदांधपरमांजनम् ॥

mahatāṁ sādhuvṛttānāṁ saṁgatiśca sadā bhavet dāridryamekameva syānmadāndhaparamāñjanam

May I ever have the company of great souls, of saintly conduct. Poverty alone is the supreme salve that cures the blindness of pride.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.175.27)

इति तं बहुधा स्तुत्वा प्रणम्य च पुनः पुनः । प्रांजलिः प्रणतस्तस्थौ तूष्णीमेव तदग्रतः ॥

iti taṁ bahudhā stutvā praṇamya ca punaḥ punaḥ prāñjaliḥ praṇatastasthau tūṣṇīmeva tadagrataḥ

Having praised him thus in many ways and bowed again and again, he stood silently before him, palms joined and head bowed.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.175.28)

शंखो दोर्भ्यां समुत्थाप्य पूर्णप्रेमपरिप्लुतः । पस्पर्श पाणिना चांगं शंतमेन गताध्वसः ॥

śaṅkho dorbhyāṁ samutthāpya pūrṇapremapariplutaḥ pasparśa pāṇinā cāṅgaṁ śaṁtamena gatādhvasaḥ

Shankha, overflowing with utter love, raised him up with both arms and, free of any fear, touched his body with his soothing hand.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.175.29)

चक्रे सोऽनुग्रहं तस्मिन्दिव्यरूपधरे द्विजे । प्राह तं कृपयाऽऽविष्टो भाविवृत्तान्तमञ्जसा ॥

cakre so'nugrahaṁ tasmindivyarūpadhare dvije prāha taṁ kṛpayā'viṣṭo bhāvivṛttāntamañjasā

He bestowed grace upon that brahmin now bearing a divine form, and, filled with compassion, told him truly what was to befall him —

Verse 30 (skanda.2.175.30)

द्विज त्वं मासमाहात्म्यश्रवणाच्च हरेरपि । माहात्म्यश्रवणात्सद्यो विध्वस्ताऽखिलबंधनः ॥

dvija tvaṁ māsamāhātmyaśravaṇācca harerapi māhātmyaśravaṇātsadyo vidhvastā'khilabandhanaḥ

O brahmin, by hearing the glory of this month, and also by hearing the glory of Hari, all your bonds have been at once destroyed.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.175.31)

अतिहाय कलंकं च क्रमाद्गत्वा पुनर्भुवि । दशार्णे विषमे पुण्ये भविता त्वं द्विजोत्तमः ॥

atihāya kalaṅkaṁ ca kramādgatvā punarbhuvi daśārṇe viṣame puṇye bhavitā tvaṁ dvijottamaḥ

Passing beyond your former stain, and returning again in due course to this earth, you shall become a most excellent brahmin in the rugged, meritorious land of Dasharna,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.175.32)

वेदशर्मेति विख्यातः सर्ववेदविशारदः । तत्र ते भविता जातिस्मृतिरात्यंतिकी शुभा ॥

vedaśarmeti vikhyātaḥ sarvavedaviśāradaḥ tatra te bhavitā jātismṛtirātyantikī śubhā

renowned by the name Vedasharma, learned in all the Vedas. There you shall gain a most auspicious and complete recollection of your former births.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.175.33)

तथा स्मृतानुबन्धस्त्वं त्यक्तसर्वेषणः शुभः । करोषि सकलान्धर्मान्वैशाखोक्तान्हरिप्रियान् ॥

tathā smṛtānubandhastvaṁ tyaktasarveṣaṇaḥ śubhaḥ karoṣi sakalāndharmānvaiśākhoktānharipriyān

Bound by that memory, having renounced all worldly desires, you, auspicious one, shall perform all the observances taught for Vaishakha, so dear to Hari.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.175.34)

निर्द्वन्द्वो निःस्पृहोऽसंगो गुरुभक्तो जितेन्द्रियः । सदा विष्णुकथालापो भविता तत्र जन्मनि ॥

nirdvandvo niḥspṛho'saṅgo gurubhakto jitendriyaḥ sadā viṣṇukathālāpo bhavitā tatra janmani

Free of dualities, free of longing, unattached, devoted to your teacher, master of your senses — in that birth your discourse shall ever be of the story of Vishnu.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.175.35)

ततः सिद्धिं समाप्याथ विध्वस्ताऽखिलबन्धनः । प्राप्नोषि परमं धाम योगैरपि दुरासदम् ॥

tataḥ siddhiṁ samāpyātha vidhvastā'khilabandhanaḥ prāpnoṣi paramaṁ dhāma yogairapi durāsadam

Then, attaining perfection, all your bonds destroyed, you shall reach that supreme abode, hard to attain even through the practice of yoga.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.175.36)

मा भैषीः पुत्र भद्रं ते भविता मत्प्रसादतः । हास्याद्भयात्तथा क्रोधाद्द्वेषात्कामादथाऽपि वा ॥

mā bhaiṣīḥ putra bhadraṁ te bhavitā matprasādataḥ hāsyādbhayāttathā krodhāddveṣātkāmādathā'pi vā

Fear not, my son, well-being shall come to you through my grace. Whether in jest, or from fear, or from anger, or from hatred, or even from desire,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.175.37)

स्नेहाद्वा सकृदुच्चार्य विष्णोर्नामाऽघहारि च । पापिष्ठा अपि गच्छन्ति विष्णोर्धाम निरामयम् ॥

snehādvā sakṛduccārya viṣṇornāmā'ghahāri ca pāpiṣṭhā api gacchanti viṣṇordhāma nirāmayam

or from affection — if one utters even once the sin-removing name of Vishnu, even the most sinful attain the untroubled abode of Vishnu.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.175.38)

किमु तच्छ्रद्धया युक्ता जितक्रोधा जितेन्द्रियाः । दयावन्तः कथां श्रुत्वा गच्छंतीति द्विजोत्तम ॥

kimu tacchraddhayā yuktā jitakrodhā jitendriyāḥ dayāvantaḥ kathāṁ śrutvā gacchantīti dvijottama

How much more, then, O foremost of brahmins, do those who are full of faith, who have conquered anger, who are masters of their senses, and who are compassionate, attain it upon hearing this story?

Verse 39 (skanda.2.175.39)

केचित्केवलया भक्त्या कथालापैकतत्पराः । सर्वधर्म्मोज्झिता वाऽपि यांति विष्णोः परं पदम् ॥

kecitkevalayā bhaktyā kathālāpaikatatparāḥ sarvadharmmojjhitā vā'pi yānti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam

Some, through devotion alone, devoted solely to the recitation of the story, even if bereft of every other observance, still attain the supreme abode of Vishnu.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.175.40)

द्वेषादिना च भक्त्या वा केचिद्विष्णुमुपासते । तेऽपि यांति परं धाम पूतनेवासुहारिणी ॥

dveṣādinā ca bhaktyā vā kecidviṣṇumupāsate te'pi yānti paraṁ dhāma pūtanevāsuhāriṇī

Some worship Vishnu even through hatred, and some through devotion — they too attain that supreme abode, just as Putana, the life-stealing demoness, attained it.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.175.41)

महद्भिः संगतो नित्यं वाग्विसर्गस्तदाश्रयः । मुमुक्षूणां च कर्तव्यः स विधिः श्रुतिचोदितः ॥

mahadbhiḥ saṅgato nityaṁ vāgvisargastadāśrayaḥ mumukṣūṇāṁ ca kartavyaḥ sa vidhiḥ śruticoditaḥ

Speech uttered in the constant company of the great, resting upon them as its foundation — this is the very practice, enjoined by the Shruti, which seekers of liberation must perform.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.175.42)

स वाग्विसर्गो जनताऽघविप्लवो यस्मिन्प्रतिश्लोकमबद्धवत्यपि । नामान्यनंतस्य यशोंकितानि यच्छृण्वन्ति गायन्ति गृणंति साधवः ॥

sa vāgvisargo janatā'ghaviplavo yasminpratiślokamabaddhavatyapi nāmānyanantasya yaśoṅkitāni yacchṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ

That speech alone overturns the sins of humankind, in which — even should each verse be crudely composed — the saintly still hear, sing, and utter the names of the Infinite, marked with his glory.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.175.43)

यः कष्टसेवां न च कांक्षते विभुर्न वासनं भूरि न रूपयौवने । स्मृतः सकृद्गच्छति धाम भास्वरं कं वा दयालुं शरणं व्रजेत ॥

yaḥ kaṣṭasevāṁ na ca kāṅkṣate vibhurna vāsanaṁ bhūri na rūpayauvane smṛtaḥ sakṛdgacchati dhāma bhāsvaraṁ kaṁ vā dayāluṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajeta

That all-pervading Lord desires neither arduous service, nor lavish enjoyments, nor beauty and youth — merely remembered once, he grants passage to his radiant abode. In whom else so compassionate could one take refuge?

Verse 44 (skanda.2.175.44)

तमेव शरणं याहि नारायणमनामयम् । भक्तवत्सलमव्यक्तं चेतोगम्यं दयानिधिम् ॥

tameva śaraṇaṁ yāhi nārāyaṇamanāmayam bhaktavatsalamavyaktaṁ cetogamyaṁ dayānidhim

Go for refuge to that very Narayana, blameless, who is loving toward his devotees, unmanifest, attainable only through the heart, an ocean of compassion.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.175.45)

कुरु सर्वानिमान्धमान्वैशाखोक्तान्महामते । तेन तुष्टो जगन्नाथः शर्म ते च विधास्यति ॥

kuru sarvānimāndhamānvaiśākhoktānmahāmate tena tuṣṭo jagannāthaḥ śarma te ca vidhāsyati

O wise one, perform all these observances taught for Vaishakha. Pleased by this, the lord of the universe shall grant you well-being.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.175.46)

इत्युक्त्वा विररामाथ व्याधं दृष्ट्वा सुविस्मितः । स दिव्यः पुरुषः प्राह पुनस्तं मुनिपुंगवम् ॥

ityuktvā virarāmātha vyādhaṁ dṛṣṭvā suvismitaḥ sa divyaḥ puruṣaḥ prāha punastaṁ munipuṅgavam

Having said this, he fell silent. Then that divine person, greatly astonished on seeing the hunter, again spoke to that foremost of sages —

Verse 47 (skanda.2.175.47)

दिव्यपुरुष उवाच । धन्योस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि त्वया शंख दयालुना । दिष्ट्या गता मे दुर्योनिर्यामि चैव परां गतिम् ॥

divyapuruṣa uvāca dhanyosmyanugṛhīto'smi tvayā śaṅkha dayālunā diṣṭyā gatā me duryonir yāmi caiva parāṁ gatim

The divine person said: I am blessed, I have been graced by you, O compassionate Shankha. By good fortune my wretched birth has ended, and now I go to the highest goal.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.175.48)

इति तं च परिक्रम्य ह्यनुज्ञातो दिवं ययौ । ततः सायमभूद्राजञ्च्छंखो व्याधेन तोषितः ॥

iti taṁ ca parikramya hyanujñāto divaṁ yayau tataḥ sāyamabhūdrājañcchaṅkho vyādhena toṣitaḥ

Having said this, and circumambulating him, and taking his leave, he departed to heaven. Then, O king, evening came, and Shankha, pleased with the hunter,

Verse 49 (skanda.2.175.49)

संध्यां सायन्तनीं कृत्वा रात्रिशेषं निनाय च । नानाख्यानेश्च भूपानां देवानां च महात्मनाम् ॥

saṁdhyāṁ sāyantanīṁ kṛtvā rātriśeṣaṁ nināya ca nānākhyāneśca bhūpānāṁ devānāṁ ca mahātmanām

performed the evening twilight rite, and passed the rest of the night in many stories of kings, gods, and great souls,

Verse 50 (skanda.2.175.50)

लीलाभिरवताराणां दृष्टगोष्ठिभिरेव च । ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते चोत्थाय पादौ प्रक्षाल्य वाग्यतः ॥

līlābhiravatārāṇāṁ dṛṣṭagoṣṭhibhireva ca brāhme muhūrte cotthāya pādau prakṣālya vāgyataḥ

and in discourses on the divine sports of the incarnations and on things they had themselves witnessed. Then, rising in the Brahma-muhurta, washing his feet, holding his speech in check,

Verse 51 (skanda.2.175.51)

ध्यायंश्च तारकं ब्रह्म कृत्वा शौचादिसत्क्रियाम् । वैशाखे मेषगे सूर्ये स्नात्वा प्राक्च भगोदयात् ॥

dhyāyaṁśca tārakaṁ brahma kṛtvā śaucādisatkriyām vaiśākhe meṣage sūrye snātvā prākca bhagodayāt

meditating on the liberating Brahman, he performed the purifications and other holy rites, and in Vaishakha, with the sun in Aries, bathed before sunrise.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.175.52)

कृत्वा संध्यादिकं कर्म तथा संतर्प्य चाऽखिलान् । व्याधमाहूय हृष्टात्मा मूर्ध्नि प्रोक्ष्य निरीक्ष्य च ॥

kṛtvā saṁdhyādikaṁ karma tathā saṁtarpya cā'khilān vyādhamāhūya hṛṣṭātmā mūrdhni prokṣya nirīkṣya ca

Having performed the twilight rite and other duties, and having offered libations to all, he joyfully called the hunter, sprinkled water upon his head, and, gazing at him,

Verse 53 (skanda.2.175.53)

रामेति द्व्यक्षरं नाम ददौ वेदाधिकं शुभम् । विष्णोरेकैकनामाऽपि सर्ववेदाधिकं मतम् ॥

rāmeti dvyakṣaraṁ nāma dadau vedādhikaṁ śubham viṣṇorekaikanāmā'pi sarvavedādhikaṁ matam

he bestowed upon him the two-syllabled name 'Rama', more auspicious than the Veda itself. Even a single one of Vishnu's names is held to be greater than the entire Veda.

Verse 54 (skanda.2.175.54)

तेभ्यश्चाऽनंतनामभ्योऽधिकं नाम्नां सहस्रकम् । तादृङ्नामसहस्रेण रामनाम समं मतम् ॥

tebhyaścā'nantanāmabhyo'dhikaṁ nāmnāṁ sahasrakam tādṛṅnāmasahasreṇa rāmanāma samaṁ matam

And greater still than those countless names is his thousandfold name. And equal to that thousandfold name alone is the single name 'Rama'.

Verse 55 (skanda.2.175.55)

तस्माद्रामेति तन्नाम जप व्याध निरंतरम् । धर्मानेतान्कुरु व्याध यावदामरणांतिकम् ॥

tasmādrāmeti tannāma japa vyādha nirantaram dharmānetānkuru vyādha yāvadāmaraṇāntikam

Therefore, O hunter, chant that name 'Rama' without ceasing. O hunter, keep performing these observances until the very end of your life.

Verse 56 (skanda.2.175.56)

ततस्ते भविता जन्म वल्मीकस्य ऋषेः कुले । वाल्मीकिरिति नाम्ना च भूमौ ख्यातिमवाप्स्यसि ॥

tataste bhavitā janma valmīkasya ṛṣeḥ kule vālmīkiriti nāmnā ca bhūmau khyātimavāpsyasi

Then your next birth shall be in the lineage of the sage Valmika, and by the name Valmiki you shall attain fame upon this earth.

Verse 57 (skanda.2.175.57)

इति व्याधं समादिश्य प्रतस्थे दक्षिणां दिशम् । व्याधोऽपि तं परिक्रम्य प्रणम्य च पुनःपुनः ॥

iti vyādhaṁ samādiśya pratasthe dakṣiṇāṁ diśam vyādho'pi taṁ parikramya praṇamya ca punaḥpunaḥ

Having thus instructed the hunter, he set out toward the southern direction. The hunter too, circumambulating him and bowing again and again,

Verse 58 (skanda.2.175.58)

किंचिद्दूरानुगो भूत्वा स रुदन्विरहातुरः । यावद्दृष्टिपथं तावत्पश्यंस्तस्य गतिं पुनः ॥

kiñciddūrānugo bhūtvā sa rudanvirahāturaḥ yāvaddṛṣṭipathaṁ tāvatpaśyaṁstasya gatiṁ punaḥ

followed him a little way, weeping, tormented by separation, and kept watching his departing figure as long as he remained within sight.

Verse 59 (skanda.2.175.59)

पुनर्निववृते कृच्छ्रात्तमेव हृदि चिंतयन् । वनं निर्माय तन्मार्गे प्रपां कृत्वा सुनिर्मलाम् ॥

punarnivavṛte kṛcchrāttameva hṛdi cintayan vanaṁ nirmāya tanmārge prapāṁ kṛtvā sunirmalām

Then, with great difficulty, he turned back, his heart still fixed upon him. He created a grove along that path, and set up a most pure water-shed there,

Verse 60 (skanda.2.175.60)

अतियोग्यानिमान्धर्मान्वैशाखोक्तांश्चकार ह । वन्यैः कपित्थपनसैर्जंबूचूतादिभिः फलैः ॥

atiyogyānimāndharmānvaiśākhoktāṁścakāra ha vanyaiḥ kapitthapanasairjambūcūtādibhiḥ phalaiḥ

and performed these most excellent observances taught for Vaishakha. With wild wood-apples, jackfruit, jambu, mangoes and other such fruits,

Verse 61 (skanda.2.175.61)

मार्गानां श्रमार्तानामाहारं परिकल्पयन् । उपानद्भिश्चंदनैश्च छत्रैश्च व्यजनैरपि ॥

mārgāṇāṁ śramārtānāmāhāraṁ parikalpayan upānadbhiścandanaiśca chatraiśca vyajanairapi

he provided food for travellers wearied by the road, and also, with sandals, sandalwood paste, umbrellas, and fans,

Verse 62 (skanda.2.175.62)

वालुकास्तरणोपेतच्छायाभिश्च क्वचित्क्वचित् । आजहाराथ पांथानां श्रमं स्वेदोद्भवं तथा ॥

vālukāstaraṇopetacchāyābhiśca kvacitkvacit ājahārātha pānthānāṁ śramaṁ svedodbhavaṁ tathā

and here and there with shaded resting-spots spread with sand, he relieved travellers of their weariness and the discomfort born of sweat.

Verse 63 (skanda.2.175.63)

प्रातः स्नात्वा दिवारात्रं जपन्रामेति वै मनुम् । व्याधजन्मनि नामाऽसौ वल्मीकस्य सुतोऽभवत् ॥

prātaḥ snātvā divārātraṁ japanrāmeti vai manum vyādhajanmani nāmā'sau valmīkasya suto'bhavat

Bathing at dawn, chanting the mantra 'Rama' day and night, he, after that hunter's birth, was born as the son of the sage Valmika, bearing that very name.

Verse 64 (skanda.2.175.64)

कृणुर्नाम मुनिः कश्चित्तस्मिन्नेव सरोवरे । तपो वै दुस्तरं तेपे बाह्यव्यापारवर्जितः ॥

kṛṇurnāma muniḥ kaścittasminneva sarovare tapo vai dustaraṁ tepe bāhyavyāpāravarjitaḥ

At that very lake, a certain sage named Krinu, free from all outward activity, performed an arduous austerity.

Verse 65 (skanda.2.175.65)

वल्मीकमभवद्देहे तस्य कालेन भूयसा । वल्मीक इति तं प्राहुरतो वै मुनिपुंगवम् ॥

valmīkamabhavaddehe tasya kālena bhūyasā valmīka iti taṁ prāhurato vai munipuṅgavam

After a very long time, an anthill formed upon his body. For this reason that foremost of sages came to be called 'Valmika'.

Verse 66 (skanda.2.175.66)

पश्चात्तपोविरामांते कृणौ स्मृतिपथं गते । स्त्रियोऽनुस्मरतो राजन्स्खलितं चेंद्रियं मुनेः ॥

paścāttapovirāmānte kṛṇau smṛtipathaṁ gate striyo'nusmarato rājansakhalitaṁ cendriyaṁ muneḥ

Afterward, when at the end of his austerity Krinu's meditation lapsed and, O king, his mind turned to remembering a woman, the sage's seed involuntarily fell.

Verse 67 (skanda.2.175.67)

जग्राह शैलुषी काचित्तस्यां जज्ञे वनेचरः । वाल्मीकिरिति विख्यातो भुवनेषु महायशाः ॥

jagrāha śailuṣī kācittasyāṁ jajñe vanecaraḥ vālmīkiriti vikhyāto bhuvaneṣu mahāyaśāḥ

A certain forest-dwelling woman received it, and from her was born a forest-roaming child, who became renowned throughout the worlds, of great fame, under the name Valmiki —

Verse 68 (skanda.2.175.68)

यो वै रामकथां दिव्यां स्वैः प्रबंधैर्मनोहरैः । लोके प्रख्यापयामास कर्मबन्धनिकृंतनीम् ॥

yo vai rāmakathāṁ divyāṁ svaiḥ prabandhairmanoharaiḥ loke prakhyāpayāmāsa karmabandhanikṛntanīm

who, through his own enchanting compositions, made famous throughout the world the divine story of Rama, which severs the bonds of karma.

Verse 69 (skanda.2.175.69)

श्रुतदेव उवाच । पश्य वैशाखमाहात्म्यं भूपालाद्याऽपि भूतिदम् । व्याधोप्युपानहौ दत्त्वा ऋषित्वं प्राप दुर्लभम् ॥

śrutadeva uvāca paśya vaiśākhamāhātmyaṁ bhūpālādyā'pi bhūtidam vyādhopyupānahau dattvā ṛṣitvaṁ prāpa durlabham

Shrutadeva said: Behold, O king, the glory of Vaishakha, which grants prosperity even to kings. Simply by giving away a pair of sandals, even a hunter attained the rare status of a sage.

Verse 70 (skanda.2.175.70)

य इदं परमाख्यानं पापघ्नं रोमहर्षणम् । शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्वाऽपि न भूयः स्तनपो भवेत् ॥

ya idaṁ paramākhyānaṁ pāpaghnaṁ romaharṣaṇam śṛṇuyācchrāvayedvā'pi na bhūyaḥ stanapo bhavet

Whoever hears this supreme, sin-destroying, hair-raising tale, or recites it to others, shall never again be an infant suckling at the breast — that is, shall never again enter the cycle of birth.