Balakanda Chapter 3 with Audio - Valmiki Summarizes the Ramayana

Summary

Chapter [Sarga] 3 in Detail

On hearing the essence of Ramayana from Sage Narada, which is abound with probity [adherence to the highest principles and ideals] and prosperity, and a propitious one too, that virtue-souled Valmiki started searching for further known details in the legend of that dexterous [skillful] Rama. [1-3-1]

Valmiki sitting on a sacred grass mat, whose apices [the uppermost point or vertex] are towards east, touched waters, and made his palms adjoined in reverence, and then by his yogic insight started to search comprehensively [broadly], for the narrative course of Ramayana. [1-3-2]

Of Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha, also of King Dasharatha and his wives, and what bechanced [befell] on Rama when he was in kingdom Ayodhya; Valmiki veritably [being in fact] discerned [distinguished] all that. Their smiles, their conversations, their deeds and the succession of events as well, all of them the sage saw wholly and clearly by the yogic power conferred by Brahma...] [1-3-3-4]

Then, that which bechanced [befell] on truth-abiding Rama, while he is trekking in forests, with a lady being the third partner, where Lakshmana is the lone male aide [a person who acts as an assistant], Valmiki visualized all that. [1-3-5]

Then that virtue-souled sage saw what all that has happened earlier, by his yogic exaltation [power], as though it is a citric fruit in his own palm. [1-3-6]

Discerning all of Ramayana in its actuality by his yogic prowess [extraordinary ability] that highly intellectual Valmiki pioneered to author all of the legend of Rama, for Rama is a delighter of all in all worlds, and whose legend is abounding with the real functional qualities of earthly pleasures and prosperities, and which clearly elaborates the meaning of probity [adherence to the highest principles and ideals] and its operative qualities, and thus this legend is like an ocean replete [full] with such gems called thoughts, and an ear-pleasing legend, as well. [1-3-7-7-8]

That godly saint Valmiki composed the legend of Rama, the legatee [one to whom a legacy is bequeathed] of Raghu, exactly as the divine-soul Narada narrated it earlier. [1-3-9]

The birth of Rama as an incarnation of Vishnu, his very great valor, his gracefulness to all, his universal cordiality [sincere affection and kindness], perseverance [steadfastness], courteousness, and his truthful conduct, Valmiki described them all. [1-3-10]

Narrated are very many other amusing stories, Rama's breaking the great bow; his marriage with Janaki after with the help of Sage Visvamitra... [1-3-11]

Disruption in royal unction [coronation] of Raghava; his exile to forests; King Dasharatha's grief and bewailing, and thus his departing to other worlds... [1-3-13]

The grief of the subjects; Rama leaving them off; his conversing with tribal chief Guha; returning the charioteer Sumantra to kingdom from forests, leaving the trio [three people] at the banks of river Ganga... all these elements are well- described. [1-3-14]

Crossing over River Ganga; looking up Sage Bharadwaja; their look up at Chitrakuta on Sage Bharadwaja's advise... [1-3-15]

Construction of a hermitage and dwelling [a shelter (as a house) in which people live] therein; Bharata's arrival at that place for the graciousness of Rama to take back the kingdom; Rama's denial of it; Rama's offering water oblations to his father on hearing the demise of his father... [1-3-16]

Enthroning [to seat ceremonially on a throne] shoe-sandals of Rama by Bharata; Bharata's living in a village Nandigrama; Rama's going to Dandaka forests; killing the demon named Viradha... [1-3-17]

Rama's visit to Sage Sharabhanga and Suteekshna; their visiting hermitic lady Anasuya, and her smooth speaking with Seetha and also her giving a body cream to Seetha...[by applying which cream Seetha will not wither away in the rough weather of woods. These details are incorporated with great care.] [1-3-18]

Also even Rama's seeing the Sage Agastya, and likewise taking a great bow from that sage... also the palaver [discussion] with Shuurpanakha, the lady demon, and defacing her, likewise... [1-3-19]

The killing of demons like Khara, Trishirasa and the upsurge of Ravana thereby, and also killing demon Maareecha, and Ravana's abduction of Vaidehi, likewise... [1-3-20]

Raghava's anguish at the loss of Seetha; Ravana's slaying the mighty eagle Jataayu; Rama's seeing Kabandha, and also Lake Pampa...[1-3-21]

Rama's seeing Shabari, a hermetic lady and eating fruits and tubers [a short fleshy usually underground stem] given by her in utmost adoration; Rama's bemoaning [to express deep grief or distress over] for Seetha; his sighting Hanuma at Lake Pampa... [1-3-22]

Also going to Mt. Rishyamuka, meeting Sugreeva and generating confidence in Sugreeva, befriending him and the duel of Vali and Sugreeva... [1-3-23]

Also thus Vali's elimination and establishing Sugreeva on throne of monkey kingdom, grieving of Tara, the wife of Vali and empress [the wife or widow of an emperor] of that kingdom, and as consented [agreed] Rama's stopover during the days of rain... [1-3-24]

The wrath [anger] of Raghava, the lion, at the delay caused by Sugreeva, and Sugreeva's foregathering of all troops, and sending them to all quarters, and Sugreeva's description of earth's topography to monkey-troops... [1-3-25]

Rama's giving his ring to Hanuman as a token for Seetha's recognition... and the monkeys thus searching see Riskha cave, bear-cave, and their fasting unto death for their quest remained unsuccessful, and their seeing Sampaati, another mighty eagle and the brother of slain Jataayu, who guides the monkeys to the destination where Seetha is held captive. [1-3-26]

Hanuma's climbing Mt. Mahendra to leap over the ocean, and on the advice of the Ocean, Mt. Mainaka's coming up from under waters to give rest to Hanuma, and Hanuma's seeing that mountain are depicted. [1-3-27]

Hanuma's killing the lady demon Surasa, and his seeing of Simhika, a rapacious [living on prey] creature of gigantic origin, which captures its prey by the shadow, and Hanuma's killing that Simhika, and his seeing the mountain of Lanka, called Mt. Trikuta, on which the state of Lanka is built, Valmiki described them all. [1-3-28]

In night Hanuma's entry into Lanka, for being lonely his thinking over the course to search for Seetha, and his going to the liquor consumption place, and also his seeing the palace chambers of Ravana... [1-3-29]

Hanuma's seeing Ravana, and also his seeing Pushpaka, the divine aircraft, and in Ashoka gardens, his seeing Seetha also... [1-3-30]

Presenting his credential [something that gives confidence], the ring of Rama, to Seetha and his talk with Sita, and also his witnessing the lady demon scaring Seetha to oblige [agree] Ravana, and his witnessing lady demon Trijata narrating her bad dream, are all narrated in the epic.] [1-3-31]

Seetha's giving her bejeweled hair-slide or hair-clip to be shown to Rama, Hanuma's uprooting of the trees of that beautiful Ashoka gardens, thereby the lady demon fleeing in scare, his killing the guards of that garden... [1-3-32]

The capture of Hanuma, the son of Air-god, by the magical missile of Indrajit, son of Ravana, and also Hanuma's burning down Lanka, and his blaring [to shout] at the demons, also his return flight from Lanka... and on his way back Hanuma's seeing a honey garden, and the appropriation [to take exclusive possession of] of honey... [1-3-33]

Hanuman's action in presenting the jewel sent by Seetha solaces [consoles] Raghava, and thus the meeting of Rama with the Ocean, and Nala's building the bridge on ocean... [1-3-34]

Crossing over the ocean by the boulder bridge built by Nala, and seizure of Lanka in night, and Vibhishana, the younger brother of Ravana, whom Ravana banished, comes to meet Rama, and his telling the scheme to kill Ravana to Rama... [1-3-35]

Destruction of Kumbhakarna, another brother of Ravana, and the elimination of Meghanatha, the valiant fighter and son of Ravana, and the annihilation [destruction] of Ravana, and also retrieval of Seetha in enemy's city, all these are narrated in the epic. [1-3-36]

Crowning of Vibhishana as the king of Lanka, after the demise of Ravana, and also Rama's seeing Pushpaka, the divine aircraft, and returning to Ayodhya in that aircraft... and Rama's meeting Sage Bharadvaja on his way back... [1-3-37]

Sending Hanuma to meet Bharata, for he avowed [acknowledged] to self-immolate [to offer in sacrifice] if Rama were not to come in time; the coronation festival of Rama; disbandment of all military troops of monkeys; Rama's ruling his kingdom to the delight of his subjects, and the desolation [grief] of Vaidehi too... are described by Valmiki. [1-3-38]

The godly sage Valmiki composed the futuristic [forward thinking] legend of Rama while on the surface of earth, and whatever that is there, that is composed in all its minuteness, in the coming chapters of this epic. [1-3-39]

Thus, this is the 3rd chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate