Sarga 2: Birth of Poetry
Krouncha Vadha
Grief becomes shloka — shoka becomes shloka. The Ramayana is born from compassion.
Jump to a shloka · 41 in this sarga
नारदस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वाक्यविशारद:। पूजयामास धर्मात्मा सहशिष्यो महामुनि: ।।1.2.1।।
Meaning
On hearing Narada's words, Valmiki — righteous, learned, and skilled in speech — worshipped him in his heart, together with his disciples.
यथावत्पूजितस्तेन देवर्षिर्नारदस्तदा । आपृष्ट्वैवाभ्यनुज्ञातस्स जगाम विहायसम् ।।1.2.2।।
Meaning
Having been duly honored by Valmiki, the divine sage Narada sought leave, and having been permitted, ascended into the sky toward the heavens.
स मुहूर्तं गते तस्मिन्देवलोकं मुनिस्तदा । जगाम तमसातीरं जाह्नव्यास्त्वविदूरत: ।।1.2.3।।
Meaning
Soon after Narada departed for the celestial world, sage Valmiki set out for the bank of the river Tamasa, not far from the Ganga.
स तु तीरं समासाद्य तमसाया महामुनि: । शिष्यमाह स्थितं पार्श्वे दृष्ट्वा तीर्थमकर्दमम् ।।1.2.4।।
Meaning
Reaching the bank of the Tamasa and seeing a clear, mud-free descent into the water, the great sage spoke to the disciple standing beside him.
अकर्दममिदं तीर्थं भरद्वाज निशामय । रमणीयं प्रसन्नाम्बु सन्मनुष्यमनो यथा ।।1.2.5।।
Meaning
"O Bharadwaja, behold this pure and pleasant water — clear and untroubled, like the mind of a virtuous man," Valmiki said.
न्यस्यतां कलशस्तात दीयतां वल्कलं मम । इदमेवावगाहिष्ये तमसातीर्थमुत्तमम् ।।1.2.6।।
Meaning
"Set the water-pot down, dear one, and bring me my bark garment — I mean to bathe in this best of Tamasa's holy fords," he said.
एवमुक्तो भरद्वाजो वाल्मीकेन महात्मना । प्रायच्छत मुनेस्तस्य वल्कलं नियतो गुरो: ।।1.2.7।।
Meaning
So asked by the noble-minded Valmiki, Bharadwaja, ever obedient to his teacher, brought and handed him the bark garment.
स शिष्यहस्तादादाय वल्कलं नियतेन्द्रिय: । विचचार ह पश्यंस्तत्सर्वतो विपुलं वनम् ।।1.2.8।।
Meaning
Valmiki, his senses fully mastered, took the garment from his disciple's hands and wandered on, taking in the wide forest all around.
तस्याभ्याशे तु मिथुनं चरन्तमनपायिनम् । ददर्श भगवांस्तत्र क्रौञ्चयोश्चारुनिस्वनम् ।।1.2.9।।
Meaning
Near that spot, the revered sage noticed a pair of sweet-voiced krauncha birds moving through the forest together, inseparable.
तस्मात्तु मिथुनादेकं पुमांसं पापनिश्चय: । जघान वैरनिलयो निषादस्तस्य पश्यत: ।।1.2.10।।
Meaning
A cruel-hearted, sinful-minded hunter, harboring hostility, struck down the male of the pair right before the sage's eyes.