Bala Kanda, Sarga 2

नारदस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वाक्यविशारद:। पूजयामास धर्मात्मा सहशिष्यो महामुनि: ।।1.2.1।।

nāradasya tu tadvākyaṃ śrutvā vākyaviśārada:| pūjayāmāsa dharmātmā sahaśiṣyo mahāmuni:

On hearing the words of Narada the distinguished and righteous sage Valmiki, proficient in composing slokas worshipped him along with his disciples.

यथावत्पूजितस्तेन देवर्षिर्नारदस्तदा । आपृष्ट्वैवाभ्यनुज्ञातस्स जगाम विहायसम् ।।1.2.2।।

yathāvatpūjitastena devarṣirnāradastadā | āpṛṣṭvaivābhyanujñātassa jagāma vihāyasam

The divine sage Narada after having been worshipped by Valmiki in a befitting manner sought his leave and went to heaven.

स मुहूर्तं गते तस्मिन्देवलोकं मुनिस्तदा । जगाम तमसातीरं जाह्नव्यास्त्वविदूरत: ।।1.2.3।।

sa muhūrtaṃ gate tasmindevalokaṃ munistadā | jagāma tamasātīraṃ jāhnavyāstvavidūrata:

After Narada had gone to devaloka, sage Valmiki reached the bank of river Tamasa which is not very far from the Ganges for morning ablutions.

स तु तीरं समासाद्य तमसाया महामुनि: । शिष्यमाह स्थितं पार्श्वे दृष्ट्वा तीर्थमकर्दमम् ।।1.2.4।।

sa tu tīraṃ samāsādya tamasāyā mahāmuni: | śiṣyamāha sthitaṃ pārśve dṛṣṭvā tīrthamakardamam

The eminent sage Valmiki reached the bank of Tamasa and seen a descent into the river with pellucid waters, spoke to the disciple standing by the side.

अकर्दममिदं तीर्थं भरद्वाज निशामय । रमणीयं प्रसन्नाम्बु सन्मनुष्यमनो यथा ।।1.2.5।।

akardamamidaṃ tīrthaṃ bharadvāja niśāmaya | ramaṇīyaṃ prasannāmbu sanmanuṣyamano yathā

"O Bharadwaja, behold the beautiful and pleasant waters of this river. This holy spot is as clear and pure as the mind of a virtuous man.

न्यस्यतां कलशस्तात दीयतां वल्कलं मम । इदमेवावगाहिष्ये तमसातीर्थमुत्तमम् ।।1.2.6।।

nyasyatāṃ kalaśastāta dīyatāṃ valkalaṃ mama | idamevāvagāhiṣye tamasātīrthamuttamam

O dear one Put down the pitcher on the ground. Give me my garment. I shall take a dip in Tamasa, the holiest of places".

एवमुक्तो भरद्वाजो वाल्मीकेन महात्मना । प्रायच्छत मुनेस्तस्य वल्कलं नियतो गुरो: ।।1.2.7।।

evamukto bharadvājo vālmīkena mahātmanā | prāyacchata munestasya valkalaṃ niyato guro:

Asked thus by the nobleminded master Valmiki, Bharadwaja, ever obedient to his spiritual master, gave the sage the bark garment.

स शिष्यहस्तादादाय वल्कलं नियतेन्द्रिय: । विचचार ह पश्यंस्तत्सर्वतो विपुलं वनम् ।।1.2.8।।

sa śiṣyahastādādāya valkalaṃ niyatendriya: | vicacāra ha paśyaṃstatsarvato vipulaṃ vanam

Valmiki who had his senses under his command received the barkgarment from the hands of his disciple and wandered about in that extensive forest, looking all around.

तस्याभ्याशे तु मिथुनं चरन्तमनपायिनम् । ददर्श भगवांस्तत्र क्रौञ्चयोश्चारुनिस्वनम् ।।1.2.9।।

tasyābhyāśe tu mithunaṃ carantamanapāyinam | dadarśa bhagavāṃstatra krauñcayoścārunisvanam

Sage Valmiki espied a pair of melodious kraunchas. Flying about in each other's in separable company there in its vicinity.

तस्मात्तु मिथुनादेकं पुमांसं पापनिश्चय: । जघान वैरनिलयो निषादस्तस्य पश्यत: ।।1.2.10।।

tasmāttu mithunādekaṃ pumāṃsaṃ pāpaniścaya: | jaghāna vairanilayo niṣādastasya paśyata:

A sinful and cruelhearted hunter struck down the male bird of the pair in his very presence.

तं शोणितपरीताङ्गं वेष्टमानं महीतले । भार्या तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा रुराव करुणां गिरम् ।।1.2.11।। वियुक्ता पतिना तेन द्विजेन सहचारिणा । ताम्रशीर्षेण मत्तेन पत्रिणा सहितेन वै ।।1.2.12।।

taṃ śoṇitaparītāṅgaṃ veṣṭamānaṃ mahītale | bhāryā tu nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā rurāva karuṇāṃ giram viyuktā patinā tena dvijena sahacāriṇā | tāmraśīrṣeṇa mattena patriṇā sahitena vai

The female companion saw the male bird struck down by the hunter and rolling on the earth, drenched in blood. Separated from her winged comparion with coppercrested head intoxicated with her love, the female companion lifted a piteous wail.

तं शोणितपरीताङ्गं वेष्टमानं महीतले । भार्या तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा रुराव करुणां गिरम् ।।1.2.11।। वियुक्ता पतिना तेन द्विजेन सहचारिणा । ताम्रशीर्षेण मत्तेन पत्रिणा सहितेन वै ।।1.2.12।।

taṃ śoṇitaparītāṅgaṃ veṣṭamānaṃ mahītale | bhāryā tu nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā rurāva karuṇāṃ giram viyuktā patinā tena dvijena sahacāriṇā | tāmraśīrṣeṇa mattena patriṇā sahitena vai

The female companion saw the male bird struck down by the hunter and rolling on the earth, drenched in blood. Separated from her winged comparion with coppercrested head intoxicated with her love, the female companion lifted a piteous wail.

तदा तु तं द्विजं दृष्ट्वा निषादेन निपातितम् । ऋषेर्धर्मात्मनस्तस्य कारुण्यं समपद्यत ।।1.2.13।।

tadā tu taṃ dvijaṃ dṛṣṭvā niṣādena nipātitam | ṛṣerdharmātmanastasya kāruṇyaṃ samapadyata

Then, having seen the bird struck down by the fowler, the pious sage Valmiki was filled with compassion.

तत: करुणवेदित्वादधर्मोऽयमिति द्विज: । निशाम्य रुदतीं क्रौञ्चीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।।1.2.14।।

tata: karuṇaveditvādadharmo'yamiti dvija: | niśāmya rudatīṃ krauñcīmidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Having heard the wailing of the female bird, the sage (Valmiki) moved to pity at this irreligious act uttered the following words.

मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमश्शाश्वतीस्समा: । यत्क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधी: काममोहितम् ।।1.2.15।। 15

mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhāṃ tvamagamaśśāśvatīssamā: | yatkrauñcamithunādekamavadhī: kāmamohitam 15

"O fowler, since you have killed one of the pair of infatuated kraunchas you will be permanently deprived of your position".

तस्यैवं ब्रुवतश्चिन्ता बभूव हृदि वीक्षतः । शोकार्तेनास्य शकुने: किमिदं व्याहृतं मया ।।1.2.16।।

tasyaivaṃ bruvataścintā babhūva hṛdi vīkṣataḥ | śokārtenāsya śakune: kimidaṃ vyāhṛtaṃ mayā

Brooding over his utterances, he reflected, 'What is this that I uttered in reaction to the grief of this bird?'

चिन्तयन्स महाप्राज्ञश्चकार मतिमान्मतिम् । शिष्यं चैवाऽब्रवीद्वाक्यमिदं स मुनिपुङ्गव: ।।1.2.17।।

cintayansa mahāprājñaścakāra matimānmatim | śiṣyaṃ caivā'bravīdvākyamidaṃ sa munipuṅgava:

Very wise and learned, he (Valmiki), preeminent among sages, pondered over it (for a while) and spoke these words to his disciple.

पादबद्धोऽक्षरसमस्तन्त्रीलयसमन्वित: । शोकार्तस्य प्रवृत्तो मे श्लोको भवतु नान्यथा ।।1.2.18।।

pādabaddho'kṣarasamastantrīlayasamanvita: | śokārtasya pravṛtto me śloko bhavatu nānyathā

"Occasioned by the griefstricken (state of the bird) and composed in rhymed lines each of equal number of syllables tuned to the accompaniment of stringed instruments, let it be known as a sloka and not by any other name".

शिष्यस्तु तस्य ब्रुवतो मुनेर्वाक्यमनुत्तमम् । प्रतिजग्राह संहृष्टस्तस्य तुष्टोऽभवद्गुरु: ।।1.2.19।।

śiṣyastu tasya bruvato munervākyamanuttamam | pratijagrāha saṃhṛṣṭastasya tuṣṭo'bhavadguru:

His disciple, delighted by the excellent verse composed by the sage, committed it to memory which left his spiritual preceptor pleased.

सोऽभिषेकं तत: कृत्वा तीर्थे तस्मिन्यथाविधि । तमेव चिन्तयन्नर्थमुपावर्तत वै मुनि: ।।1.2.20।।

so'bhiṣekaṃ tata: kṛtvā tīrthe tasminyathāvidhi | tameva cintayannarthamupāvartata vai muni:

After having performed his ablution at that holy spot according to the prescribed ritual, the sage (Valmiki) returned (to his hermitage), pondering over the matter.

भरद्वाजस्ततश्शिष्यो विनीतश्श्रुतवान्मुनेः । कलशं पूर्णमादाय पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम ह ।।1.2.21।।

bharadvājastataśśiṣyo vinītaśśrutavānmuneḥ | kalaśaṃ pūrṇamādāya pṛṣṭhato'nujagāma ha

Then saint Bharadwaja, his disciple humble and learned in scriptures, followed him with a pitcher full (of water).

स प्रविश्याश्रमपदं शिष्येण सह धर्मवित् । उपविष्ट: कथाश्चान्याश्चकार ध्यानमास्थित: ।।1.2.22।।

sa praviśyāśramapadaṃ śiṣyeṇa saha dharmavit | upaviṣṭa: kathāścānyāścakāra dhyānamāsthita:

Valmiki who knows dharma entered the hermitage along with his disciple and sat in meditation and composed other stories.

आजगाम ततो ब्रह्मा लोककर्ता स्वयं प्रभु: । चतुर्मुखो महातेजा द्रष्टुं तं मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।।1.2.23।।

ājagāma tato brahmā lokakartā svayaṃ prabhu: | caturmukho mahātejā draṣṭuṃ taṃ munipuṅgavam

At that moment, the effulgent, fourfaced Brahma, creator and lord of the world, himself, desirous of seeing him (Valmiki), the best among sages, arrived.

वाल्मीकिरथ तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय वाग्यत: । प्राञ्जलि: प्रयतो भूत्वा तस्थौ परमविस्मित: ।।1.2.24।।

vālmīkiratha taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya vāgyata: | prāñjali: prayato bhūtvā tasthau paramavismita:

Greatly surprised to see him, Valmiki, purified by austerities and disciplined in speech, immediately got up and with folded palms stood before him.

पूजयामास तं देवं पाद्यार्घ्यासनवन्दनै: । प्रणम्य विधिवच्चैनं पृष्ट्वाऽनामयमव्ययम् ।।1.2.25।।

pūjayāmāsa taṃ devaṃ pādyārghyāsanavandanai: | praṇamya vidhivaccainaṃ pṛṣṭvā'nāmayamavyayam

Bowing with reverence as enjoined by tradition and having enquired of his well being, Valmiki worshipped the immutable Brahma by falling at his feet and welcoming him with a seat and water to wash his feet with.

अथोपविश्य भगवानासने परमार्चिते । वाल्मीकये महर्षये सन्दिदेशासनं तत: ।।1.2.26।।

athopaviśya bhagavānāsane paramārcite | vālmīkaye maharṣaye sandideśāsanaṃ tata:

Lord Brahma sat down on a highly worshipful seat and showed a seat for the ascetic Valmiki to be seated.

ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञातस्सोऽप्युपाविशदासने । उपविष्टे तदा तस्मिन्सर्वलोकपितामहे। तद्गतेनैव मनसा वाल्मीकिर्ध्यानमास्थित: ।।1.2.27।।

brahmaṇā samanujñātasso'pyupāviśadāsane | upaviṣṭe tadā tasminsarvalokapitāmahe| tadgatenaiva manasā vālmīkirdhyānamāsthita:

Having been ordered by Brahma, he also sat down on a seat. Although seated in the presence of the lord of the worlds, he was absorbed in the thought of events (leading to the death of the krauncha ).

पापात्मना कृतं कष्टं वैरग्रहणबुद्धिना । यस्तादृशं चारुरवं क्रौञ्चं हन्यादकारणात् ।।1.2.28।।

pāpātmanā kṛtaṃ kaṣṭaṃ vairagrahaṇabuddhinā | yastādṛśaṃ cāruravaṃ krauñcaṃ hanyādakāraṇāt

The hunter killed the sweetvoiced krauncha without any cause. That sinfulminded one with hostile feeling of capturing it, had perpetrated this cruel act, he thought.

शोचन्नेव मुहु: क्रौञ्चीमुपश्लोकमिमं पुन: । जगावन्तर्गतमना भूत्वा शोकपरायण: ।।1.2.29।।

śocanneva muhu: krauñcīmupaślokamimaṃ puna: | jagāvantargatamanā bhūtvā śokaparāyaṇa:

Griefstricken, Valmiki having become introspective and lamenting the plight of the female krauncha again and again, recited this sloka.

तमुवाच ततो ब्रह्मा प्रहसन्मुनिपुङ्गवम् । श्लोक एव त्वया बद्धो नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।।1.2.30।।

tamuvāca tato brahmā prahasanmunipuṅgavam | śloka eva tvayā baddho nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Thereafter lord Brahma smilingly addressed Valmiki, the preeminent among sages, saying, "You have indeed composed a sloka.There is no doubt about it".

मच्छन्दादेव ते ब्रह्मन् प्रवृत्तेयं सरस्वती । रामस्य चरितं सर्वं कुरु त्वमृषिसत्तम ।।1.2.31।।

macchandādeva te brahman pravṛtteyaṃ sarasvatī | rāmasya caritaṃ sarvaṃ kuru tvamṛṣisattama

"OBrahmarshi, at my will, this speech had originated from you. Most excellent ascetic, compose the history of Rama in its entirety (in this metre).

धर्मात्मनो गुणवतो लोके रामस्य धीमत: । वृत्तं कथय धीरस्य यथा ते नारदाच्छ्रुतम् ।।1.2.32।।

dharmātmano guṇavato loke rāmasya dhīmata: | vṛttaṃ kathaya dhīrasya yathā te nāradācchrutam

Narrate the history of Rama who is renowned for righteousness, virtues, wisdom and steadfastness in the manner you have heard it from sage Narada.

रहस्यं च प्रकाशं च यद्वृत्तं तस्य धीमत: । रामस्य सहसौमित्रेः राक्षसानां च सर्वश: ।।1.2.33।। वैदेह्याश्चैव यद्वृत्तं प्रकाशं यदि वा रह: । तच्चाप्यविदितं सर्वं विदितं ते भविष्यति ।।1.2.34।।

rahasyaṃ ca prakāśaṃ ca yadvṛttaṃ tasya dhīmata: | rāmasya sahasaumitreḥ rākṣasānāṃ ca sarvaśa: vaidehyāścaiva yadvṛttaṃ prakāśaṃ yadi vā raha: | taccāpyaviditaṃ sarvaṃ viditaṃ te bhaviṣyati

The incidents pertaining to sagacious Rama together with Lakshmana, Sita, Bharata, etc. and the rakshasas their deeds, thoughts, unknown or known to everybody and even not known to you, will be revealed to you by my grace.

रहस्यं च प्रकाशं च यद्वृत्तं तस्य धीमत: । रामस्य सहसौमित्रेः राक्षसानां च सर्वश: ।।1.2.33।। वैदेह्याश्चैव यद्वृत्तं प्रकाशं यदि वा रह: । तच्चाप्यविदितं सर्वं विदितं ते भविष्यति ।।1.2.34।।

rahasyaṃ ca prakāśaṃ ca yadvṛttaṃ tasya dhīmata: | rāmasya sahasaumitreḥ rākṣasānāṃ ca sarvaśa: vaidehyāścaiva yadvṛttaṃ prakāśaṃ yadi vā raha: | taccāpyaviditaṃ sarvaṃ viditaṃ te bhaviṣyati

The incidents pertaining to sagacious Rama together with Lakshmana, Sita, Bharata, etc. and the rakshasas their deeds, thoughts, unknown or known to everybody and even not known to you, will be revealed to you by my grace.

न ते वागनृता काव्ये काचिदत्र भविष्यति । कुरु रामकथां पुण्यां श्लोकबद्धां मनोरमाम् ।।1.2.35।।

na te vāganṛtā kāvye kācidatra bhaviṣyati | kuru rāmakathāṃ puṇyāṃ ślokabaddhāṃ manoramām

Not even a single word of yours in this epic will ever prove untruthful. Compose this sacred, delightful story of Rama, set in the form of slokas.

यावत् स्थास्यन्ति गिरयस्सरितश्च महीतले । तावद्रामायणकथा लोकेषु प्रचरिष्यति ।।1.2.36।।

yāvat sthāsyanti girayassaritaśca mahītale | tāvadrāmāyaṇakathā lokeṣu pracariṣyati

As long as the mountains and rivers exist on this earth, the story of Ramayana will prevail among the people.

यावद्रामायणकथा त्वत्कृता प्रचरिष्यति । तावदूर्ध्वमधश्च त्वं मल्लोकेषु निवत्स्यसि ।।1.2.37।।

yāvadrāmāyaṇakathā tvatkṛtā pracariṣyati | tāvadūrdhvamadhaśca tvaṃ mallokeṣu nivatsyasi

So long as the story of the Ramayana composed by you is remembered in this world, you will live in the upper world, the nether world and Brahmaloka".

इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्ब्रह्मा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । ततस्सशिष्यो भगवान्मुनिर्विस्मयमाययौ ।।1.2.38।।

ityuktvā bhagavānbrahmā tatraivāntaradhīyata | tatassaśiṣyo bhagavānmunirvismayamāyayau

Having spoken these words, lord Brahma vanished. At this he and his disciples were astonished.

तस्य शिष्यास्ततस्सर्वे जगुश्श्लोकमिमं पुन: । मुहुर्मुहु: प्रीयमाणा: प्राहुश्च भृशविस्मिता: ।।1.2.39।।

tasya śiṣyāstatassarve jaguśślokamimaṃ puna: | muhurmuhu: prīyamāṇā: prāhuśca bhṛśavismitā:

Thereafter, the disciples of Valmiki chanted this sloka again and again in delight. They were greatly astonished and spoke about it often.

समाक्षरैश्चतुर्भिर्य: पादैर्गीतो महर्षिणा । सोऽनुव्याहरणाद्भूयश्श्लोकश्श्लोकत्वमागत: ।।1.2.40।।

samākṣaraiścaturbhirya: pādairgīto maharṣiṇā | so'nuvyāharaṇādbhūyaśślokaśślokatvamāgata:

This sloka of four lines, each consisting of equal number of syllables, was recited by the maharshi. Constant recitation (by others) elicited admiration (from the listeners).

तस्य बुद्धिरियं जाता वाल्मीकेर्भावितात्मन: । कृत्स्नं रामायणं काव्यमीदृशै: करवाण्यहम् ।।1.2.41।।

tasya buddhiriyaṃ jātā vālmīkerbhāvitātmana: | kṛtsnaṃ rāmāyaṇaṃ kāvyamīdṛśai: karavāṇyaham

A thought occurred to Valmiki, who is capable of putting thoughts into action "I shall compose the epic named Ramayana entirely in this metre".

उदारवृत्तार्थपदैर्मनोरमैः तदास्य रामस्य चकारकीर्तिमान् । समाक्षरैश्श्लोकशतैर्यशस्विनो यशस्करं काव्यमुदारधीर्मुनि: ।।1.2.42।।

udāravṛttārthapadairmanoramaiḥ tadāsya rāmasya cakārakīrtimān | samākṣaraiśślokaśatairyaśasvino yaśaskaraṃ kāvyamudāradhīrmuni:

The renowned and sagacious sage composed a kavya with hundreds of charming verses, each containing equal number of syllables and excellent meaningful words set in metre, conferring glory on celebrated Rama.

तदुपगतसमाससन्धियोगं सममधुरोपनतार्थवाक्यबद्धम् । रघुवरचरितं मुनिप्रणीतं दशशिरसश्च वधं निशामयध्वम् ।।1.2.43।।

tadupagatasamāsasandhiyogaṃ samamadhuropanatārthavākyabaddham | raghuvaracaritaṃ munipraṇītaṃ daśaśirasaśca vadhaṃ niśāmayadhvam

This story of Rama and the killing of Ravana composed by the sage consists of compound words, melodious sandhis and lines composed in lucid, melodious and meaningful phrases. Listen to it. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे द्वितीयस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the second sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana in synopsis of the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.