# Bāla Kāṇḍa 3 — Vālmīki sees the whole narrative *Vālmīki sees the narrative through meditation and sets out its events, including those still to come* Portion: Origins of the Rāmāyaṇa · Verses: 29 · Ref format: 1.3. ## Sequence - Seeking fuller knowledge of Rāma's life, Vālmīki sips water, composes himself, and sits on darbha grass with its tips facing east → through spiritual insight he examines the course of the story (3.1–2) - the sarga then presents a catalogue of the poem's contents, rather than a new set of events happening in the present: Rāma's birth and character, the journey with Viśvāmitra, the bow, Sītā's marriage, and the encounter with Paraśurāma (3.3–5) - the interrupted abhiṣeka, exile, Daśaratha's death, the citizens' grief, the Niṣāda chief, the charioteer's dismissal, and the journeys across the Gaṅgā to Bharadvāja and Citrakūṭa (3.6–8) - Bharata's appeal, the rites for Daśaratha, the sandals' authority, Nandigrāma, and the forest encounters, including Anasūyā and her gift of salve (3.9–11). The catalogue continues through Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara, Mārīca, Sītā's abduction, Jaṭāyu, Kabandha, Śabarī, Pampā, and Hanumān (3.11–14) - it names the alliance with Sugrīva, Vālin's death, Tārā's grief, the rainy-season stay, the mustering of the monkeys, and the search parties (3.15–17) - it includes the signet-ring, the cavern, the searchers' resolve to fast to death, Saṃpāti, Hanumān's leap, his search through Laṅkā, Sītā and Trijaṭā, the recognition tokens, the fighting, capture, and burning of the city (3.18–23) - it proceeds through Hanumān's return, Sītā's jewel, the Ocean and bridge, the Laṅkā campaign, Vibhīṣaṇa, and the deaths of Kumbhakarṇa, Indrajit, and Rāvaṇa (3.23–26) - it reaches Sītā's recovery, the flight home, Bharata's reunion, Rāma's abhiṣeka, the armies' dismissal, and the later banishment of Sītā → Vālmīki also records what is still to come in the Uttarakāṇḍa (3.27–29). ## Verses **1.3.1** śrutvā vas tu samagraṃ tad dharmātmā dharmasaṃhitam vyaktam anveṣate bhūyo yad vṛttaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ Having heard that whole matter, conjoined with dharma, the righteous-souled one sought out yet more clearly what had befallen that wise one (Rāma). **1.3.2** upaspṛśyodakaṃ saṃyan muniḥ sthitvā kṛtāñjaliḥ prācīnāgreṣu darbheṣu dharmeṇānveṣate gatim Sipping water and self-restrained, the sage, standing with palms joined, seated on darbha-grass with its tips pointing east, sought out the course (of the tale) by the power of dharma (yogic insight). **1.3.3** janma rāmasya sumahad vīryaṃ sarvānukūlatām lokasya priyatāṃ kṣāntiṃ saumyatāṃ satyaśīlatām The birth of Rāma; his mighty valour; his favour toward all; his dearness to the world; his patience, gentleness, and truthfulness of character; **1.3.4** nānācitrāḥ kathāś cānyā viśvāmitrasahāyane jānakyāś ca vivāhaṃ ca dhanuṣaś ca vibhedanam and various other wondrous tales told during the accompanying of Viśvāmitra; the marriage of Jānakī (Sītā); the breaking of the bow; **1.3.5** rāmarāmavivādaṃ ca guṇān dāśarathes tathā tathābhiṣekaṃ rāmasya kaikeyyā duṣṭabhāvatām the dispute between Rāma (Dāśarathi) and Rāma (Paraśurāma); the virtues of the son of Daśaratha; likewise the (planned) consecration of Rāma, and the wicked disposition of Kaikeyī; **1.3.6** vyāghātaṃ cābhiṣekasya rāmasya ca vivāsanam rājñaḥ śokaṃ vilāpaṃ ca paralokasya cāśrayam the thwarting of the consecration, and the banishment of Rāma; the king’s grief and lament, and his passing to the next world; **1.3.7** prakṛtīnāṃ viṣādaṃ ca prakṛtīnāṃ visarjanam niṣādādhipasaṃvādaṃ sūtopāvartanaṃ tathā the dejection of the subjects, and the dismissal of the subjects; the conversation with the lord of the Niṣādas, and likewise the sending-back of the charioteer; **1.3.8** gaṅgāyāś cābhisaṃtāraṃ bharadvājasya darśanam bharadvājābhyanujñānāc citrakūṭasya darśanam the crossing of the Gaṅgā; the visit to Bharadvāja; and, by Bharadvāja’s leave, the sighting of Citrakūṭa; **1.3.9** vāstukarmaniveśaṃ ca bharatāgamanaṃ tathā prasādanaṃ ca rāmasya pituś ca salilakriyām the building and setting-up of a dwelling, and likewise the coming of Bharata; the conciliating of Rāma, and the water-rite for his father; **1.3.10** pādukāgryābhiṣekaṃ ca nandigrāma nivāsanam daṇḍakāraṇyagamanaṃ sutīkṣṇena samāgamam the consecration of the sandals as sovereign, and the dwelling at Nandigrāma; the going to the Daṇḍaka forest, and the meeting with Sutīkṣṇa; **1.3.11** anasūyāsamasyāṃ ca aṅgarāgasya cārpaṇam śūrpaṇakhyāś ca saṃvādaṃ virūpakaraṇaṃ tathā the meeting with Anasūyā, and her bestowing of the cosmetic salve; the conversation with Śūrpaṇakhā, and likewise her disfigurement; **1.3.12** vadhaṃ kharatriśirasor utthānaṃ rāvaṇasya ca mārīcasya vadhaṃ caiva vaidehyā haraṇaṃ tathā the slaying of Khara and Triśiras, and the rousing of Rāvaṇa; the slaying of Mārīca, and likewise the carrying-off of Vaidehī (Sītā); **1.3.13** rāghavasya vilāpaṃ ca gṛdhrarājanibarhaṇam kabandhadarśanaṃ caiva pampāyāś cāpi darśanam the lament of Rāghava; the slaying of the vulture-king (Jaṭāyus); the sight of Kabandha, and also the sight of Lake Pampā; **1.3.14** śarbaryā darśanaṃ caiva hanūmaddarśanaṃ tathā vilāpaṃ caiva pampāyāṃ rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ the meeting with Śabarī, and likewise the meeting with Hanumān; and the lament of the great-souled Rāghava at Pampā; **1.3.15** ṛṣyamūkasya gamanaṃ sugrīveṇa samāgamam pratyayotpādanaṃ sakhyaṃ vālisugrīvavigraham the going to Mount Ṛṣyamūka; the meeting with Sugrīva; the inspiring of confidence; the alliance; the combat of Vālin and Sugrīva; **1.3.16** vālipramathanaṃ caiva sugrīvapratipādanam tārāvilāpasamayaṃ varṣarātrinivāsanam the destruction of Vālin, and the establishing of Sugrīva; the occasion of Tārā’s lament; the dwelling through the rainy nights; **1.3.17** kopaṃ rāghavasiṃhasya balānām upasaṃgraham diśaḥ prasthāpanaṃ caiva pṛthivyāś ca nivedanam the anger of the lion-like Rāghava; the mustering of the troops; the despatching (of the monkeys) to the quarters, and the description of the earth; **1.3.18** aṅgulīyakadānaṃ ca ṛkṣasya biladarśanam prāyopaveśanaṃ caiva saṃpāteś cāpi darśanam the giving of the signet-ring, and the sight of the cave of the bear (Svayamprabhā’s cavern); the sitting down to fast unto death, and also the meeting with Saṃpāti; **1.3.19** parvatārohaṇaṃ caiva sāgarasya ca laṅghanam rātrau laṅkāpraveśaṃ ca ekasyāpi vicintanam the ascent of the mountain, and the leaping across the ocean; the entry into Laṅkā by night, and the pondering (of Hanumān) all alone; **1.3.20** āpānabhūmigamanam avarodhasya darśanam aśokavanikāyānaṃ sītāyāś cāpi darśanam the going to the drinking-hall; the sight of the harem; the going to the aśoka grove, and also the sight of Sītā; **1.3.21** abhijñānapradānaṃ ca sītāyāś cāpi bhāṣaṇam rākṣasītarjanaṃ caiva trijaṭāsvapnadarśanam the giving of the token of recognition, and also Sītā’s speech; the threatening by the rākṣasa-women, and Trijaṭā’s dream-vision; **1.3.22** maṇipradānaṃ sītāyā vṛkṣabhaṅgaṃ tathaiva ca rākṣasīvidravaṃ caiva kiṃkarāṇāṃ nibarhaṇam the giving of the jewel by Sītā; likewise the breaking of the trees; the fleeing of the rākṣasīs, and the slaying of the servant-demons; **1.3.23** grahaṇaṃ vāyusūnoś ca laṅkādāhābhigarjanam pratiplavanam evātha madhūnāṃ haraṇaṃ tathā the capture of the Wind-god’s son (Hanumān); the burning of Laṅkā and his roaring defiance; then the leaping back, and likewise the plundering of the honey (in the honey-grove); **1.3.24** rāghavāśvāsanaṃ caiva maṇiniryātanaṃ tathā saṃgamaṃ ca samudrasya nalasetoś ca bandhanam the reassuring of Rāghava, and likewise the handing-over of the jewel; the meeting with the Ocean, and the building of Nala’s bridge; **1.3.25** pratāraṃ ca samudrasya rātrau laṅkāvarodhanam vibhīṣaṇena saṃsargaṃ vadhopāyanivedanam the crossing of the ocean; the besieging of Laṅkā by night; the alliance with Vibhīṣaṇa; the disclosure of the means of slaying (Rāvaṇa); **1.3.26** kumbhakarṇasya nidhanaṃ meghanādanibarhaṇam rāvaṇasya vināśaṃ ca sītāvāptim areḥ pure the death of Kumbhakarṇa; the slaying of Meghanāda (Indrajit); the destruction of Rāvaṇa; and the recovery of Sītā in the enemy’s city; **1.3.27** bibhīṣaṇābhiṣekaṃ ca puṣpakasya ca darśanam ayodhyāyāś ca gamanaṃ bharatena samāgamam the consecration of Vibhīṣaṇa, and the sight of the Puṣpaka chariot; the journey to Ayodhyā, and the reunion with Bharata; **1.3.28** rāmābhiṣekābhyudayaṃ sarvasainyavisarjanam svarāṣṭrarañjanaṃ caiva vaidehyāś ca visarjanam the festal consecration of Rāma; the disbanding of all the armies; the delighting of his own realm; and (later) the banishment of Vaidehī (Sītā); **1.3.29** anāgataṃ ca yat kiṃ cid rāmasya vasudhātale tac cakārottare kāvye vālmīkir bhagavān ṛṣiḥ And whatever was yet to come for Rāma upon the earth, all that the venerable seer Vālmīki set forth in the later book (the Uttarakāṇḍa).