← 1.64.19 · Bāla Kāṇḍa 64: Story of Viśvāmitra: Restraint and recognition as brahmarṣi · 1.64.21 →

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.64.20

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 64: Story of Viśvāmitra: Restraint and recognition as brahmarṣi. A thousand years of silence and restraint win Brahmā’s recognition as brahmarṣi, Vasiṣṭha confirms the attainment and Śatānanda’s account ends

In the sequence: Viśvāmitra honors Vasiṣṭha and thereafter wanders the earth established in austerity. Śatānanda's long account now ends, returning the narrative to Janaka's assembly with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa present

1.64.20

eṣa rāma muniśreṣṭha eṣa vigrahavāṃs tapaḥ
eṣa dharmaḥ paro nityaṃ vīryasyaiṣa parāyaṇam

This, O Rāma, is the best of sages; this is austerity embodied; this is ever the supreme dharma; this is the very abode of heroic power.

Words: eṣa — this (one); rāma — O Rāma; muniśreṣṭha — the best of sages; eṣa — this; vigrahavāṃs — embodied, having a form; tapaḥ — austerity; eṣa — this; dharmaḥ — dharma; paro — supreme; nityaṃ — ever, eternal; vīryasyaiṣa — this of heroic power; parāyaṇam — the abode, refuge

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.