← 1.4.1 · Bāla Kāṇḍa 4: Kuśa & Lava perform the poem · 1.4.3 →
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.4.2
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 4: Kuśa & Lava perform the poem. Kuśa & Lava learn and perform the poem, their singing moves the ṛṣis and brings them before Rāma
In the sequence: The frame narrative places the composition after Rāma has regained his Kingdom → having composed the story with its future events and sequel, Vālmīki wonders who should perform it
1.4.2
kṛtvā tu tan mahāprājñaḥ sabhaviṣyaṃ sahottaram
cintayām āsa ko nv etat prayuñjīyād iti prabhuḥ
Having composed it, with what was to come and the sequel included, the greatly wise lord reflected: “Who indeed might perform this?”
Words: kṛtvā tu — having made; tan — that; mahāprājñaḥ — the greatly wise; sabhaviṣyaṃ — together with what is to come; sahottaram — together with the sequel; cintayām āsa — pondered, reflected; ko nv — who indeed; etat — this; prayuñjīyād — might perform, recite; iti — thus; prabhuḥ — the lord
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.