Valmiki's Vision of the Ramayana

Shloka 1 (bala.3.1)

श्रुत्वा वस्तु समग्रं तद्धर्मात्मा धर्मसंहितम् । व्यक्तमन्वेषते भूयो यद् वृत्तं तस्य धीमतः ॥ 3.1 ॥

śrutvā vastu samagram tat dharma ardha sahitam hitam | vyaktam anveṣate bhūyo yadvṛttam tasya dhīmataḥ

Having heard that whole account, replete with righteousness, the righteous-souled Valmiki sought further to perceive clearly all that had befallen that wise Rama.

Shloka 2 (bala.3.2)

उपस्पृश्योदकं सम्यक् मुनिः स्थित्वा कृताञ्जलिः । प्राचीनाग्रेषु दर्भेषु धर्मेणान्वेषते गतिम् ॥ 3.2 ॥

upaspṛsya udakam saṃyak muniḥ sthitvā kṛtāñjaliḥ | prācīna agreṣu darbheṣu dharmeṇa anveṣate gatim

Touching water in due observance, the sage, standing with joined palms upon kusha-grass laid with tips toward the east, sought by his righteous power the whole course of events.

Shloka 3 (bala.3.3)

रामलक्ष्मणसीताभी राज्ञा दशरथेन च । सभार्येण सराष्ट्रेण यत्प्राप्तं तत्र तत्त्वतः ॥ 3.3 ॥

rāma lakṣmaṇa sītābhiḥ rājñā daśarathena ca | sa bhāryeṇa sa rāṣṭreṇa yat prāptam tatra tattvataḥ

Whatever truly befell Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, and King Dasharatha together with his queens and his kingdom—

Shloka 4 (bala.3.4)

हसितं भाषितं चैव गतिर्या यच्च चेष्टितम् । तत्सर्वं धर्मवीर्येण यथावत्सम्प्रपश्यति ॥ 3.4 ॥

hasitam bhāṣitam ca eva gatiryāyat ca ceṣṭitam | tat sarvam dharma vīryeṇa yathāvat saṃprapaśyati

—their laughter, their speech, their movements, and their every act — all of this he beheld exactly as it was, through the power of his righteousness.

Shloka 5 (bala.3.5)

स्त्रीतृतीयेन च तथा यत्प्राप्तं चरता वने । सत्यसंधेन रामेण तत्सर्वं चान्ववेक्षितम् ॥ 3.5 ॥

strī tṛtīyena ca tathā yat prāptam caratā vane | satyasandhena rāmeṇa tatsarvam ca anvavekṣata

And all that befell truth-bound Rama as he wandered in the forest, with only his wife as third companion, all this too he perceived.

Shloka 6 (bala.3.6)

ततः पश्यति धर्मात्मा तत्सर्वं योगमास्थितः । पुरा यत्तत्र निर्वृत्तं पाणावामलकं यथा ॥ 3.6 ॥

tataḥ paśyati dharmātmā tat sarvam yogamāsthitaḥ | purā yat tatra ni^^rvṛttam pāṇāva āmalakam yathā

Then, established in yogic vision, the righteous-souled sage saw all that had happened there, as clearly as a fruit held in the palm of one's hand.

Shloka 7 (bala.3.7)

तत्सर्वं तत्त्वतो दृष्ट्वा धर्मेण स महामतिः । अभिरामस्य रामस्य चरितं कर्तुमुद्यतः ॥ 3.7 ॥

tat sarvam tāttvato dṛśṭvā dharmeṇa sa mahāmatiḥ abhirāmasya rāmasya tat sarvam kartum udyataḥ

Having thus seen it all truly by his righteous power, that great-minded sage set about composing the story of Rama, the delighter of all.

Shloka 8 (bala.3.8)

कामार्थगुणसंयुक्तं धर्मार्थगुणविस्तरम् । समुद्रमिव रत्नाढ्यं सर्वश्रुतिमनोहरम् ॥ 3.8 ॥

kāmārtha guṇa saṃyuktam dharmārtha guṇa vistaram | samudram iva ratnāḍhyam sarva śruti manoharam

— a tale endowed with the merits of desire and prosperity, expansive with the virtues of righteousness and wealth, rich with gems like the ocean, and delightful to every ear.

Shloka 9 (bala.3.9)

स यथा कथितं पुर्वं नारदेन महात्मना । रघुवंशस्य चरितं चकार भगवान्मुनिः ॥ 3.9 ॥

sa yathā kathitam pūrvam nāradena mahātmanā | raghu vaṃśasya caritam cakāra bhagavān muniḥ

Just as it had earlier been told by the great-souled Narada, that venerable sage composed the story of the Raghu dynasty.

Shloka 10 (bala.3.10)

जन्म रामस्य सुमहद् वीर्यं सर्वानुकूलताम् । लोकस्य प्रियतां क्षान्तिं सौम्यतां सत्यशीलताम् ॥ 3.10 ॥

janma rāmasya sumahad vīryam sarvānukūlatām | lokasya priyatām kṣāntim sauṃyatām satya śīlatām

The birth of Rama, his mighty valour, his graciousness to all, his being beloved of the world, his forbearance, gentleness, and truthfulness of nature—

Shloka 11 (bala.3.11)

नानाचित्रकथाश्चान्या विश्वामित्रसमागमे । जानक्याश्च विवाहं च धनुषश्च विभेदनम् ॥ 3.11 ॥

nānā citra kathāḥ ca anyāḥ viśvāmitra sahāyena | jānakyāḥ ca vivāham ca dhanuṣaḥ ca vibhedanam

—and many other wondrous tales: his meeting with Vishwamitra, the marriage of Janaki, and the breaking of the great bow—

Shloka 12 (bala.3.12)

रामरामविवादं च गुणान्दाशरथेस्तथा । तदाभिषेकं रामस्य कैकेय्या दुष्टभावताम् ॥ 3.12 ॥

rāma rāma vivādam ca guṇān dāśaratheḥ tathā | tatha.abhiṣekam rāmasya kaikeyyā duṣṭa bhāvatām

—the dispute between Rama and Rama (Parashurama), the virtues of Dasharatha's son, the preparation for his coronation, and Kaikeyi's wicked resolve—

Shloka 13 (bala.3.13)

विघातं चाभिषेकस्य रामस्य च विवासनम् । राज्ञः शोकविलापं च परलोकस्य चाश्रयम् ॥ 3.13 ॥

vighātam ca abhiṣekasya rāghavasya vivāsanam | rājñaḥ śokam vilāpam ca para lokasya ca āśrayam

—the frustration of the coronation, Rama's banishment, the king's grief and lament, and his passing to the other world—

Shloka 14 (bala.3.14)

प्रकृतीनां विषादं च प्रकृतीनां विसर्जनम् । निषादाधिपसंवादं सूतोपावर्तनं तथा ॥ 3.14 ॥

prakṛtīnām viṣādam ca prakṛtīnām visarjanam | niṣāda adhipa saṃvādam sūtopāvartanam tathā

—the grief of the subjects, his taking leave of them, his conversation with the chief of the Nishadas, and the charioteer's return—

Shloka 15 (bala.3.15)

गङ्गायाश्चापि संतारं भरद्वाजस्य दर्शनम् । भरद्वाजाभ्यनुज्ञानाच्चित्रकूटस्य दर्शनम् ॥ 3.15 ॥

gaṅgāyāḥ ca api saṃtāram bharadvājasya darśanam | bharadvāja abhyanujñāt citrakūṭasya darśanam

—the crossing of the Ganga, the meeting with Bharadwaja, and, by Bharadwaja's leave, the sighting of Chitrakuta—

Shloka 16 (bala.3.16)

वास्तुकर्म निवेशं च भरतागमनं तथा । प्रसादनं च रामस्य पितुश्च सलिलक्रियाम् ॥ 3.16 ॥

vāstu karma niveśam ca bharata agamanam tathā | prasādanam ca rāmasya pituḥ ca salila kriyām

—the building of the dwelling and settling there, Bharata's arrival, the entreaty made to Rama, and the water-rites for his father—

Shloka 17 (bala.3.17)

पादुकाग्र्याभिषेकं च नन्द्रिग्रामनिवासनम् । दण्डकारण्यगमनं विराधस्य वधं तथा ॥ 3.17 ॥

pādukā agrya abhiṣekam ca nandi grāma nivāsanam | daṇḍakāraṇya gamanam virādhasya vadham tathā

—the enthronement of the sandals, the dwelling at Nandigrama, the going to the Dandaka forest, and the slaying of Viradha—

Shloka 18 (bala.3.18)

दर्शनं शरभङ्गस्य सुतीक्ष्णेन समागमम् । अनसूयासमाख्यां च अङ्गरागस्य चार्पणम् ॥ 3.18 ॥

darśanam śarabhaṅgasya sutīkṣṇena samāgamam | anasūyā samākhyā ca aṅgarāgsya ca arpaṇam

—the sight of Sharabhanga, the meeting with Sutikshna, conversation with Anasuya, and her gift of unguent—

Shloka 19 (bala.3.19)

दर्शनं चाप्यगस्त्यस्य धनुषो ग्रहणं तथा । शुर्पणख्याश्च संवादं विरुपकरणं तथा ॥ 3.19 ॥

darśanam ca api agastyasya dhanuṣo grahaṇam tathā | śūrpaṇakhāḥ ca saṃvādam virūpakaraṇam tathā

—the sight of Agastya, the receiving of the bow, the encounter with Shurpanakha, and her disfigurement—

Shloka 20 (bala.3.20)

वधं खरत्रिशिरसोरुत्थानं रावणास्य च । मारीचस्य वधं चैव वैदेह्या हरणं तथा ॥ 3.20 ॥

vadham kharaḥ triśirasaḥ utthānam rāvaṇasya ca | mārīcasya vadham ca eva vaidehyā haraṇam tathā

—the slaying of Khara and Trishira, Ravana's resulting rage, the killing of Maricha, and the abduction of Vaidehi—

Shloka 21 (bala.3.21)

राघवस्य विलापं च गृध्रराजनिबर्हणम् । कबन्धदर्शनं चैव पम्पायाश्चापि दर्शनम् ॥ 3.21 ॥

rāghavasya vilāpam ca gṛdhra rāja nibarhaṇam | kabandha darśanam ca eva paṃpāyāḥ ca api darśanam

—Raghava's lament, the slaying of the king of vultures, the sight of Kabandha, and the sight of Lake Pampa—

Shloka 22 (bala.3.22)

शबरीदर्शनं चैव फलमूलाशनं तथा । प्रलापं चैव पम्पायां हनुमद्दर्शनं तथा ॥ 3.22 ॥

śabarī darśanam ca eva phala mūla aśanam tathā | pralāpam ca eva paṃpāyam hanumad darśanam

—the sight of Shabari, the eating of fruits and roots, his lament at Pampa, and the meeting with Hanuman—

Shloka 23 (bala.3.23)

ऋष्यमूकस्य गमनं सुग्रीवेण समागमम् । प्रत्ययोत्पादनं सख्यं वालिसुग्रीवविग्रहम् ॥ 3.23 ॥

ṛṣyamūkasya gamanam sugrīveṇa samāgamam | pratyayotpādanam sakhyam vāli sugrīva vigraham

—the going to Rishyamuka, the meeting with Sugriva, the winning of his trust, their friendship, and the conflict between Vali and Sugriva—

Shloka 24 (bala.3.24)

वालिप्रमथनं चैव सुगीवप्रतिपादनम् । ताराविलापं समयं वर्षरात्रनिवासनम् ॥ 3.24 ॥

vāli pramathanam ca eva sugīva pratipādanam | tārā vilāpam samayam varṣa rātra nivāsanam

—the destruction of Vali, the installing of Sugriva, Tara's lament, and the sojourn through the rainy season—

Shloka 25 (bala.3.25)

कोपं राघवसिंहस्य बलानामुपसंग्रहम् । दिशः प्रस्थापनं चैव पृथिव्याश्च निवेदनं ॥ 3.25 ॥

kopam rāghava siṃhasya balānām upasaṃgraham | diśaḥ prasthāpanam ca eva pṛthivyāḥ ca nivedanam

—the wrath of the lion-like Raghava, the gathering of the monkey armies, their being sent to the four quarters, and the account of the earth's geography—

Shloka 26 (bala.3.26)

अङ्गुलीयकदानं च ऋक्षस्य बिलदर्शनम् । प्रायोपवेशनं चापि सम्पातेश्चापि दर्शनम् ॥ 3.26 ॥

aṅgulīyaka dānam ca ṛkṣsya bila darśanam | prāyopaveśanam ca api saṃpāteḥ ca api darśanam

—the giving of the ring, the sighting of the bear's cave, the fast unto death, and the meeting with Sampati—

Shloka 27 (bala.3.27)

पर्वतारोहणं चापि सागरस्यापि लङ्घनम् । समुद्रवचनाच्चैव मैनाकस्य च दर्शनम् ॥ 3.27 ॥

parvata ārohaṇam ca api sāgarsya api laṅghanam | samudra vacanāt ca eva mainākasya ca darśanam

—the climbing of the mountain, the leaping over the ocean, and, at the ocean's word, the sighting of Mount Mainaka—

Shloka 28 (bala.3.28)

राक्षसीतर्जनं चैव छायाग्राहस्य दर्शनम् । सिंहिकायाश्च निधनं लङ्कामलयदर्शनम् ॥ 3.28 ॥

rākṣasī tarjanam ca eva chāyā grāhasya darśanam | siṃhikāyāḥ ca nidhanam laṅkā malaya darśanam

—the intimidation by the demoness, the sighting of the shadow-seizer, the slaying of Simhika, and the sighting of Lanka atop Mount Trikuta—

Shloka 29 (bala.3.29)

रात्रौ लङ्काप्रवेशं च एकस्याथ विचिन्तनम् । आपानभूमिगमनमवरोधस्य दर्शनम् ॥ 3.29 ॥

rātrau laṃkā praveśam ca ekasya api viciṃtanam | āpāna bhūmi gamanam avarodhasya darśanam

—the entry into Lanka by night, his solitary deliberation, his passing through the drinking grounds, and the sighting of the inner chambers—

Shloka 30 (bala.3.30)

दर्शनं रावणस्यापि पुष्पकस्य च दर्शनम् । अशोकवनिकायानं सीतायाश्चापि दर्शनम् ॥ 3.30 ॥

darśanam rāvaṇasya api puṣpakasya ca darśanam | aśoka vanikāyānam sītāyāḥ ca api darśanam

—the sighting of Ravana, the sighting of the Pushpaka, the going to the Ashoka grove, and the sighting of Sita—

Shloka 31 (bala.3.31)

अभिज्ञानप्रदानं च सीतायाश्चापि भाषणम् । राक्षसीतर्जनं चैव त्रिजटास्वप्नदर्शनम् ॥ 3.31 ॥

abhijñana pradānam ca sītāyāḥ ca api bhāṣaṇam | rākṣasī tarjanam ca eva trijaṭā svapna darśanam

—the giving of the token, the conversation with Sita, the demonesses' threats, and Trijata's recounting of her dream—

Shloka 32 (bala.3.32)

मणिप्रदानं सीताया वृक्षभङ्गं तथैव च । राक्षसीविद्रवं चैव किंकराणां निबर्हणम् ॥ 3.32 ॥

maṇi pradānam sītāyāḥ vṛkṣa bhaṃgam tatha eva ca | rākṣasī vidravam caiva kiṃkarāṇām nibarhaṇam

—Sita's giving of the jewel, the breaking of the tree, the flight of the demonesses, and the slaying of the guards—

Shloka 33 (bala.3.33)

ग्रहणं वायुसूनोश्च लङ्कादाहाभिगर्जनम् । प्रतिप्लवनमेवाथ मधूनां हरणं तथा ॥ 3.33 ॥

grahaṇam vāyu sūnośca laṃkā dāha abhigarjanam | prati plavanam eva atha madhūnām haraṇam tathā

—the capture of the Son of the Wind, the burning of Lanka and his roar, his return flight, and the plundering of the honey-grove—

Shloka 34 (bala.3.34)

राघवाश्वासनं चैव मणिनिर्यातनं तथा । सङ्गमं च समुद्रेण नलसेतोश्च बन्धनम् ॥ 3.34 ॥

rāghava āsvāsanam caiva maṇi niryātanam tathā | saṃgamam ca samudreṇa nala setoḥ ca bandhanam

—the consoling of Raghava, the delivering of the jewel, the meeting with the Ocean, and the building of Nala's bridge—

Shloka 35 (bala.3.35)

प्रतारं च समुद्रस्य रात्रौ लङ्कावरोधनम् । विभीषणेन संसर्गं वधोपायनिवेदनम् ॥ 3.35 ॥

pratāram ca samudrasya rātrau laṃkā avarodhanam | vibhīṣaṇena saṃsargam vadhopāya nivedanam

—the crossing of the ocean, the siege of Lanka by night, the meeting with Vibhishana, and his counsel on the means to slay Ravana—

Shloka 36 (bala.3.36)

कुम्भकर्णस्य निधनं मेघनादनिबर्हणम्। रावणस्य विनाशं च सीतावाप्तिमरेः पुरे ॥ 3.36 ॥

kumbhakarṇasya nidhanam meghanāda nibarhaṇam | rāvaṇasya vināśam ca sītāvāptim areḥ pure

—the slaying of Kumbhakarna, the destruction of Meghanada, the death of Ravana, and the recovery of Sita in the enemy's own city—

Shloka 37 (bala.3.37)

वीभीषणाभिषेकं च पुष्पकस्य च दर्शनम् । अयोध्यायाश्च गमनं भरद्वाजसमागमम् ॥ 3.37 ॥

vibhīṣaṇa abhiṣekam ca puṣpakasya ca darśanam | ayodhyāyāḥ ca gamanam bharadvāja samāgamam

—the coronation of Vibhishana, the sighting of the Pushpaka, the journey to Ayodhya, and the meeting with Bharadwaja—

Shloka 38 (bala.3.38)

प्रेषणं वायुपुत्रस्य भरतेन समागमम् । रामाभिषेकाभ्युदयं सर्वसैन्यविसर्जनम् । स्वराष्ट्ररञ्जनं चैव वैदेह्याश्च विसर्जनम् ॥ 3.38 ॥

preṣaṇam vāyu putrasya bharatena samāgamam | rāma abhiṣeka abhyudayam sarva sainya visarjanam | sva rāṣṭra raṃjanam ca eva vaidehyāḥ ca visarjanam

—the sending of the Son of the Wind, the meeting with Bharata, the glorious coronation of Rama, the dismissal of all the armies, his delighting of his own kingdom, and — later — the sending away of Vaidehi.

Shloka 39 (bala.3.39)

अनागतं च यत्किञ्चिद्रामस्य वसुधातले । तच्चकारोत्तरे काव्ये वाल्मीकिर्भगवानृषिः ॥ 3.39 ॥

anāgatam ca yat kiṃcid rāmasya vasudhā tale | tat cakāra uttare kāvye vālmīkiḥ bhagavān ṛṣiḥ

Whatever else was yet to come to Rama upon the earth — that too the divine sage Valmiki composed, in the Uttara Kanda that follows.