# Bāla Kāṇḍa 2 — Grief becomes the first śloka *A bird’s death moves Vālmīki to utter the first śloka, Brahmā asks him to compose Rāma’s life in that form* Portion: Origins of the Rāmāyaṇa · Verses: 41 · Ref format: 1.2. ## Sequence - Vālmīki and his disciples honor Nārada, who takes leave and rises into the sky (2.1–2) - Vālmīki goes to the Tamasā near the Gaṅgā → he points out a clear, mud-free bathing place to his disciple Bharadvāja, comparing its water to a good person's mind, and asks for his bark garment (2.3–7) - looking around the forest, he sees an inseparable pair of sweet-voiced krauñca birds → a hunter kills the male before his eyes → the bloodied bird writhes on the ground while his mate cries out (2.8–11) - moved by compassion and anger at the cruelty, Vālmīki declares that the hunter will find no lasting rest for killing one of the loving pair (2.12–14). Vālmīki wonders at the words that have burst from his grief (2.15–16) - he recognizes their balanced metrical feet and equal syllables, suitable for singing with a lute, and calls the utterance a śloka → Bharadvāja receives it with delight (2.17–18) - Vālmīki bathes and returns to the hermitage, still pondering, while Bharadvāja follows with the filled water pot (2.19–21) - Brahmā appears → Vālmīki rises in astonishment, joins his palms, and offers water for the feet, the guest-offering, a seat, and reverent greetings → after Brahmā sits, Vālmīki sits at his invitation (2.22–25) - still absorbed in the birds' suffering, he repeats the verse (2.26–28). Brahmā confirms that it is a śloka and says that speech arose through his will (2.29–30) - he instructs Vālmīki to compose Rāma's entire story as heard from Nārada → hidden as well as public events concerning Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Sītā, and the rākṣasas will become known to him, and his poem will contain no falsehood (2.31–34) - Brahmā promises that the story will endure as long as mountains and rivers, and that Vālmīki will dwell in his worlds while it circulates (2.35–36) - Brahmā vanishes → the amazed disciples repeat the verse, recognizing how grief has taken the form of a śloka → Vālmīki resolves to use that form for the whole poem and begins composing (2.37–41). ## Verses **1.2.1** nāradasya tu tad vākyaṃ śrutvā vākyaviśāradaḥ pūjayām āsa dharmātmā sahaśiṣyo mahāmuniḥ Having heard that speech of Nārada, the great sage, skilled in speech and righteous of soul, together with his disciples honoured him. **1.2.2** yathāvat pūjitas tena devarṣir nāradas tadā āpṛṣṭvaivābhyanujñātaḥ sa jagāma vihāyasaṃ Duly honoured by him, the divine seer Nārada then, having taken his leave and been granted permission, went off into the sky. **1.2.3** sa muhūtaṃ gate tasmin devalokaṃ munis tadā jagāma tamasātīraṃ jāhnavyās tv avidūrataḥ A moment after Nārada had departed to the world of the gods, the sage then went to the bank of the Tamasā, not far from the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā). **1.2.4** sa tu tīraṃ samāsādya tamasāyā mahāmuniḥ śiṣyam āha sthitaṃ pārśve dṛṣṭvā tīrtham akardamam Reaching the bank of the Tamasā, the great sage, seeing a bathing-spot free of mud, spoke to the disciple standing at his side: **1.2.5** akardamam idaṃ tīrthaṃ bharadvāja niśāmaya ramaṇīyaṃ prasannāmbu sanmanuṣyamano yathā “Behold, Bharadvāja, this bathing-place free of mud, lovely, its water clear as the mind of a good man. **1.2.6** nyasyatāṃ kalaśas tāta dīyatāṃ valkalaṃ mama idam evāvagāhiṣye tamasātīrtham uttamam Set down the water-pot, my child, and give me my bark-garment; I shall bathe right here, in this excellent bathing-place of the Tamasā.” **1.2.7** evam ukto bharadvājo vālmīkena mahātmanā prāyacchata munes tasya valkalaṃ niyato guroḥ Addressed thus by the great-souled Vālmīki, Bharadvāja, attentive, handed the bark-garment to that sage, his teacher. **1.2.8** sa śiṣyahastād ādāya valkalaṃ niyatendriyaḥ vicacāra ha paśyaṃs tat sarvato vipulaṃ vanam Taking the bark-garment from the disciple’s hand, his senses controlled, he wandered about, gazing on every side at that vast forest. **1.2.9** tasyābhyāśe tu mithunaṃ carantam anapāyinam dadarśa bhagavāṃs tatra krauñcayoś cāruniḥsvanam And nearby the venerable one saw there a pair of krauñca birds, sweet-voiced, moving about inseparable from each other. **1.2.10** tasmāt tu mithunād ekaṃ pumāṃsaṃ pāpaniścayaḥ jaghāna vairanilayo niṣādas tasya paśyataḥ And from that pair, a Niṣāda hunter of cruel resolve, a very abode of malice, struck down the male, as the sage looked on. **1.2.11** taṃ śoṇitaparītāṅgaṃ veṣṭamānaṃ mahītale bhāryā tu nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā rurāva karuṇāṃ giram Seeing him slain, his body drenched in blood and writhing on the ground, his mate cried out a piteous wail. **1.2.12** tathā tu taṃ dvijaṃ dṛṣṭvā niṣādena nipātitam ṛṣer dharmātmanas tasya kāruṇyaṃ samapadyata Seeing the bird thus struck down by the Niṣāda, compassion arose in that righteous sage. **1.2.13** tataḥ karuṇaveditvād adharmo 'yam iti dvijaḥ niśāmya rudatīṃ krauñcīm idaṃ vacanam abravīt Then, out of his sensitivity to pity, thinking “This is unrighteous,” the brahmin, hearing the wailing female krauñca, spoke these words: **1.2.14** mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhāṃ tvam agamaḥ śāśvatīṃ samāḥ yat krauñcamithunād ekam avadhīḥ kāmamohitam “Niṣāda, may you never find rest through the endless years — because you slew one of a pair of krauñcas, blinded by lust.” **1.2.15** tasyaivaṃ bruvataś cintā babhūva hṛdi vīkṣataḥ śokārtenāsya śakuneḥ kim idaṃ vyāhṛtaṃ mayā As he spoke thus and reflected, a thought arose in his heart: “Stricken with grief for this bird, what is this that I have uttered?” **1.2.16** cintayan sa mahāprājñaś cakāra matimān matim śiṣyaṃ caivābravīd vākyam idaṃ sa munipuṃgavaḥ Pondering, that man of great wisdom, intelligent, made up his mind; and that bull among sages spoke these words to his disciple: **1.2.17** pādabaddho 'kṣarasamas tantrīlayasamanvitaḥ śokārtasya pravṛtto me śloko bhavatu nānyathā “Set in metrical feet, with equal syllables, fit to be sung to the rhythm of the lute — let what poured forth from me in grief be a śloka, and nothing else.” **1.2.18** śiṣyas tu tasya bruvato muner vākyam anuttamam pratijagrāha saṃhṛṣṭas tasya tuṣṭo 'bhavad guruḥ The disciple received with delight that peerless utterance of the sage as he spoke; and the teacher was pleased with him. **1.2.19** so 'bhiṣekaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā tīrthe tasmin yathāvidhi tam eva cintayann artham upāvartata vai muniḥ Then, having performed his ablution at that bathing-place according to rule, the sage turned back, still pondering that very matter. **1.2.20** bharadvājas tataḥ śiṣyo vinītaḥ śrutavān guroḥ kalaśaṃ pūrṇam ādāya pṛṣṭhato 'nujagāma ha Then Bharadvāja, his disciple, humble and learned, taking up the full water-pot, followed his teacher behind him. **1.2.21** sa praviśyāśramapadaṃ śiṣyeṇa saha dharmavit upaviṣṭaḥ kathāś cānyāś cakāra dhyānam āsthitaḥ That knower of dharma, entering the hermitage with his disciple, sat down and, though engaged in other talk, remained absorbed in thought. **1.2.22** ājagāma tato brahmā lokakartā svayaṃprabhuḥ caturmukho mahātejā draṣṭuṃ taṃ munipuṃgavam Then Brahmā, maker of the worlds, the self-existent lord, four-faced and of great splendour, came to see that bull among sages. **1.2.23** vālmīkir atha taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya vāg yataḥ prāñjaliḥ prayato bhūtvā tasthau paramavismitaḥ Then Vālmīki, seeing him, at once rose up, his speech stilled; joining his palms and composing himself, he stood in utter amazement. **1.2.24** pūjayām āsa taṃ devaṃ pādyārghyāsanavandanaiḥ praṇamya vidhivac cainaṃ pṛṣṭvānāmayam avyayam He honoured that god with water for the feet, the guest-offering, a seat, and salutation; and bowing to him duly, he asked after the imperishable one’s well-being. **1.2.25** athopaviśya bhagavān āsane paramārcite vālmīkaye maharṣaye saṃdideśāsanaṃ tataḥ Then the venerable one, having seated himself on a highly honoured seat, thereupon directed the great sage Vālmīki to a seat. **1.2.26** upaviṣṭe tadā tasmin sākṣāl lokapitāmahe tad gatenaiva manasā vālmīkir dhyānam āsthitaḥ When the Grandsire of the worlds himself had thus been seated, Vālmīki, his mind wholly fixed on that (event), sank into thought. **1.2.27** pāpātmanā kṛtaṃ kaṣṭaṃ vairagrahaṇabuddhinā yas tādṛśaṃ cāruravaṃ krauñcaṃ hanyād akāraṇāt “A cruel deed was done by that evil-souled one, his mind set on malice, who would kill without cause such a sweet-voiced krauñca — **1.2.28** śocann eva muhuḥ krauñcīm upaślokam imaṃ punaḥ jagāv antargatamanā bhūtvā śokaparāyaṇaḥ Grieving again and again for the female krauñca, he chanted this very verse once more, his mind turned inward, wholly given over to sorrow. **1.2.29** tam uvāca tato brahmā prahasan munipuṃgavam śloka eva tvayā baddho nātra kāryā vicāraṇā Then Brahmā, smiling, said to that bull among sages: “It is indeed a śloka that you have composed; no doubt need be entertained about this. **1.2.30** macchandād eva te brahman pravṛtteyaṃ sarasvatī rāmasya caritaṃ kṛtsnaṃ kuru tvam ṛṣisattama By my will alone, O brahmin, has this (goddess of) speech flowed forth in you; compose the entire story of Rāma, O best of seers. **1.2.31** dharmātmano guṇavato loke rāmasya dhīmataḥ vṛttaṃ kathaya dhīrasya yathā te nāradāc chrutam Tell the story of Rāma — righteous, virtuous, wise, and steadfast in the world — just as you heard it from Nārada. **1.2.32** rahasyaṃ ca prakāśaṃ ca yad vṛttaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ rāmasya saha saumitre rākṣasānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ Whatever befell that wise Rāma, secret or open — together with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), and all that concerns the rākṣasas — **1.2.33** vaidehyāś caiva yad vṛttaṃ prakāśaṃ yadi vā rahaḥ tac cāpy aviditaṃ sarvaṃ viditaṃ te bhaviṣyati and whatever happened to Vaidehī (Sītā), whether open or hidden — all of that too, though unknown, shall become known to you. **1.2.34** na te vāg anṛtā kāvye kā cid atra bhaviṣyati kuru rāma kathāṃ puṇyāṃ ślokabaddhāṃ manoramām No word of yours in this poem will anywhere prove untrue; compose the holy, delightful story of Rāma, bound in ślokas. **1.2.35** yāvat sthāsyanti girayaḥ saritaś ca mahītale tāvad rāmāyaṇakathā lokeṣu pracariṣyati As long as the mountains and rivers shall endure upon the earth, so long will the tale of the Rāmāyaṇa circulate among the worlds. **1.2.36** yāvad rāmasya ca kathā tvatkṛtā pracariṣyati tāvad ūrdhvam adhaś ca tvaṃ mallokeṣu nivatsyasi And as long as the story of Rāma composed by you shall spread, so long will you dwell, above and below, in my worlds. **1.2.37** ity uktvā bhagavān brahmā tatraivāntaradhīyata tataḥ saśiṣyo vālmīkir munir vismayam āyayau Having spoken thus, the venerable Brahmā vanished right there; and then the sage Vālmīki, with his disciples, was filled with wonder. **1.2.38** tasya śiṣyās tataḥ sarve jaguḥ ślokam imaṃ punaḥ muhur muhuḥ prīyamāṇāḥ prāhuś ca bhṛśavismitāḥ Then all his disciples chanted this śloka again; delighting in it again and again, greatly amazed, they said: **1.2.39** samākṣaraiś caturbhir yaḥ pādair gīto maharṣiṇā so 'nuvyāharaṇād bhūyaḥ śokaḥ ślokatvam āgataḥ That which was sung by the great sage in four feet of equal syllables — that grief, through its repeated utterance, attained the state of a śloka. **1.2.40** tasya buddhir iyaṃ jātā vālmīker bhāvitātmanaḥ kṛtsnaṃ rāmāyaṇaṃ kāvyam īdṛśaiḥ karavāṇy aham This thought arose in Vālmīki, whose soul was purified: “Let me compose the whole Rāmāyaṇa poem in verses such as this.” **1.2.41** udāravṛttārthapadair manoramais tadāsya rāmasya cakāra kīrtimān samākṣaraiḥ ślokaśatair yaśasvino yaśaskaraṃ kāvyam udāradhīr muniḥ Then that renowned, noble-minded sage composed, with delightful words of lofty conduct and meaning, in hundreds of ślokas of equal syllables, a glory-bestowing poem of the illustrious Rāma.