Sage Valmiki goes to River Tamasa for a bath and sees bird couple, of which a hunter kills one. Valmiki unintentionally [without intention] utters [recites] a poem, which is rich in grammar and new in meter [rhythm that continuously repeats a single basic patter], of which he is very much confused as to why such a poem has come from his tongue. Brahma, the presiding deity of letters appears and ordains [appoints] Valmiki to author Ramayana, excellent epic of Rama, for which purpose alone he gave such divine meter and grammar to him.
Chapter [Sarga] 2 in Detail
naaradasya tu tadvaakyam shrutvaa vaakya vishaaradah |
puujayaamaasa dharmaatmaa saha shishhyo mahaamunih || 1-2-1
On hearing that sentence of that eminent [famous] sentence-maker Sage Narada, that great sage of virtuous mind, namely Valmiki, revered [worshipped] the Divine Sage Narada, along with his disciples. [1-2-1]
yathaavat puujitah tena devarshhih naaradah tathaa |
aapricchaiva abhyanujjnaatah sa jagaama vihaayasam || 1-2-2
That divine sage Narada is worshipped that way by Valmiki in a befitting [appropriate] way, and on seeking permission of Valmiki to leave, and having been permitted by Valmiki went away heavenward. [1-2-2]
sa muhuurtam gate tasmin devalokam munih tadaa |
jagaama tamasaa tiiram jaahnavyaat aviduuratah || 1-2-3
A while after the departure of Narada to heavens, Valmiki proceed to the riverbanks of Tamasa, which are not far-off from River Jahnavi [i.e., River Ganga.] [1-2-3]
sa tu tiiram samaasaadya tamasaayaa munih tadaa |
shishhyam aaha sthitam paarshve drishhtvaa tiirtham akardamam || 1-2-4
Then Valmiki drew nigh [near] of River Tamasa's riverbanks, and on beholding [seeing] an un-filthy strand [shore] of that river, he spoke to his disciple available at his side. [1-2-5]
akardamam idam tiirtham bharadvaaja nishaamaya |
ramaniiyam prasanna ambu san manushhya mano yathaa || 1-2-5
"Oh! Bharadwaja, un-filthy is this watery foreshore [a strip of land margining a body of water], and with pleasant waters it is heart pleasing... like a noble man's heart... behold it... [1-2-5]
nyasyataam kalashah taata diiyataam valkalam mama |
idam eva avagaahishhye tamasaa tiirtham uttamam || 1-2-6
"Keep that handy-vessel there, and give me my loincloth... I will enter only this best ford [a shallow part of a body of water that may be crossed by wading] of Tamasa River... [1-2-6]
evam ukto bharadvaajo vaalmiikena mahaatmanaa |
prayachchhata muneh tasya valkalam niyatah guroh || 1-2-7
When Bharadwaja is said that way by great-souled Valmiki, himself being a humble one before his mentor [coach or tutor] gave that jute-cloth to that saint, that humbly. [1-2-7]
sa shishhya hastaat aadaaya valkalam niyatendriyah |
vichachaara ha pashyan tat sarvato vipulam vanam || 1-2-8
That self-controlled Sage Valmiki on taking loincloth from his disciple's hands, indeed ambled [to go at] towards the river, looking everywhere at the wide of forest. [1-2-8]
tasya abhyaashe tu mithunam charantam anapaayinam |
dadarsha bhagavaan tatra kraunchayoh chaaru nisvanam || 1-2-9
There godly sage Valmiki saw a couple of lovely Krouncha birds [There are three subspecies of Sarus Crane known worldwide. This elegant bird called Krouncha in India, is revered as a symbol of marital fidelity and is celebrated in myth and legend. The Krouncha birds usually stay in pairs], in the vicinity [neighborhood] of that river's foreshore, flying there about in togetherness, and calling charmingly [1-2-9]
tasmaat tu mithunaat ekam pumaa.msam paapa nishchayah |
jaghaana vairanilayo nishhaadah tasya pashyatah || 1-2-10
A tribal hunter with all his evil intent [purpose], as he is an enemy of foresters, killed the male, while Valmiki is looking on. [1-2-10]
tam shonita pariitaangam cestamaanam mahiitale |
bhaaryaa tu nihatam dristvaa ruraava karunaam giram || 1-2-11
viyuktaa patinaa tena dvijena sahachaarinaa |
taamra shiirshhena mattena patrinaa sahitena vai | 1-2-12
She who is ever together with her husband, a lusty [merry and joyous] male bird with flighty wings and with a prideful red crest, and one who always had a heart for her, but she is now separated from him, and gone is that togetherness; and she, on seeing her slain husband whose body is blood-soaked, and who is reeling [to turn or move round and round] on the ground in the anguish [anger] of pain, bewailed [to express deep sorrow] with piteous utterances [vocal expression]. [1-2-11, 12]
tathaa vidhim dvijam drishhtvaa nishhaadena nipaatitam |
risheh dharmaatmaanah tasya kaarunyam samapadyata || 1-2-13
On seeing at that bird felled [killed] that way by the tribal hunter, compassion is aroused [raise] in that kind-hearted sage Valmiki. [1-2-13]
tatah karuna veditvaat adharmo ayam iti dvijah |
nishaamya rudatiim krounchiim idam vacanam abraiit || 1-2-14
Then on seeing the wailing [sorrowful] female Krouncha bird, compassion haunting him and apperceiving [to have mental perception of] the killing of male bird as unjust, the sage uttered [said] this sentence... [1-2-14]
maa nishhaada pratisthaamtva | magamah shaashvatiih samaah |
yat krauncha mithunaat eka | mavadhiih kaama mohitam || 1-2-15
"Oh! ill-fated Hunter, by which reason you have killed one male bird of the couple, when it is in its lustful [indulgence in sexual activity] passion, thereby you will get an ever-lasting reputation for ages to come..." [1-2-15]
tasya evam bruvatah chintaa babhuuva hridi viikshatah |
shokaartena asya shakuneh kim idam vyaahritam mayaa || 1-2-16
On saying thus, and pondering for a while in his heart, 'annoyed by the anguish [anger] for that bird, what is it uttered [said] by me...' thus he became cogitative [thoughtful] of those lines uttered. [1-2-16]
chintayan sa mahaapraajnah chakaara matimaan matim |
shishyam cha eva abraviit vaakyam idam sa munipungavah || 1-2-17
On thinking, he that eminently [famous] astute [shrewd] and intellectual sage made up his mind, and he that erudite [learned] scholar also spoke this sentence to his disciples, thus as... [1-2-17]
paada baddhah akshara samah tantrii laya samanvitah |
shokaartasya pravritto me shloko bhavatu na anyathaa || 1-2-18
"This utterance of mine has emerged out of anguished annoyance [the act of being disturbed], and it is well- arranged with letters metrically posited [fixed], tuneful and rhythmical to be sung with string instrument, and hence, this shall be a verse, not otherwise..." [1-2-18]
shisyah tu tasya bruvato muner vaakyam anuttamam |
prati jagraaha sa.ntushhtah tasya tustoah abhavat munih || 1-2-19
Even the disciples happily received what that is articulated [put into words] by the saint, a unique articulation [assembly of words], by which the saint too, became happy. [1-2-19]
so.abhisekam tatah kritvaa tiirthe tasmin yathaavidhi |
tam eva chintayan artham upaavartata vai munih || 1-2-20
Then that saint on performing his bathing in that ford [a shallow part of a body of water that may be crossed by wading] according to custom, and still thinking on the purport of his utterance, he returned towards his hermitage. [1-2-20]
bharadvaajah tatah shisyo viniitah shrutavaan guroh |
kalasham puurnamaadaaya prishhthatah anujagaama ha || 1-2-21
Then Bharadwaja, the obedient disciple and an erudite [learned] scholar, for he heard and learnt many scriptures by listening, on taking handy-vessel full with water followed at the behind of his mentor. [1-2-21]
sa pravishya aashrama padam shisyena saha dharmavit |
upavishhtah kathaah cha anyaah chakaara dhyaanamaasthitah || 1-2-22
He that knower of dharma, Valmiki, having entered the threshold of hermitage along with disciples, and having seated spoke about the day-to-day teachings and also other things, but he himself is preoccupied in cogitation [thought] on the verse. [1-2-22]
aajagaama tatah brahmo lokakartaa svayam prabhuh |
chatur mukho mahaatejaa drastum tam munipungavam || 1-2-23
Then, the great resplendent [shining brilliantly] Four-faced creator of fourteen worlds, almighty Brahma, arrived there on his own, to see that eminent [famous] saint Valmiki. [1-2-23]
vaalmiikih atha tam dristvaa sahasaa utthaaya vaagyatah |
praanjalih prayato bhuutvaa tasthau parama vismitah || 1-2-24
Then that pious [virtuous] saint Valmiki is highly surprised on seeing Brahma, and on quickly getting up from his seat with his palms adjoined [joining] humbly, he stood aside, as he is spellbind [to bind or hold by or as if by a spell]. [1-2-24]
puujayaamaasa tam devam paadya arghya aasana vandanaih |
pranamya vidhivat ca enam prishhtvaa ca eva niraamayam || 1-2-25
Valmiki venerated [to regard or treat with reverence] Brahma, on inquiring into his well-being, washed his feet, drenched his thirst, seated him to rest, and adored at best with customarily obeisance [homage]. [1-2-25]
atha upavishya bhagavaan aasane parama archite |
vaalmiikaye ca risaye sandidesha aasanam tatah || 1-2-26
Then god Brahma, who is seated on a high seat, very highly worshipped by Valmiki, also beckoned [signal typically with a wave or nod] at Valmiki to take a seat. [1-2-26]
brahmanaa samanujnaatah so.api upaavishat aasane |
upaviste tadaa tasmin saakshaat loka pitaamahe | 1-2-27
tat gatena eva manasaa vaalmiikih dhyaanam aasthitah ||
Even though Valmiki sat on his seat when duly permitted by Brahma, and though the Grandparent of the worlds is manifestly [obviously] sitting before him, but the same broodings [to think anxiously] on those happenings occurred on that day have recurred [came] on his mind. [1-2-27-28a]
paapaatmanaa kritam kastam vaira grahana buddhinaa | 1-2-28
yat taadrisham chaaruravam krauncham hanyaat akaaranaat ||
"He that tribal hunter, who killed a cutely [attractive or pretty] calling krouncha bird for no good reason than intending [planning] to capture the kill, is an evil souled one that caused hardship..." [1-2-28b-29a]
shochan eva punah kraunchiim upa shlokam imam jagau | 1-2-29
punar antargata manaa bhuutvaa shoka paraayanah ||
Remaining in melancholic [depressed] mood Valmiki turned his mind to the depth of thinking, and again thinking only on the krouncha bird he sung the same verse, involuntarily [done contrary to or without choice]. [1-2-29b-30a]
tam uvaacha tato brahmaa prahasan munipu.ngavam | 1-2-30
shloka evaastvayaam baddho na atra kaaryaa vichaaranaa ||
Then, Brahma smilingly spoke to that eminent [famous] saint Valmiki, "But, what that is composed is a verse only... and there is no need to think through... [1-2-30b-31a]
mat cchandaat eva te brahman pravritte ayam sarasvatii | 1-2-31
raamasya charitam kritsnam kuru tvam rishhisattama |
"Oh, Brahman, that speech of yours sprang forth at my wish alone, hence oh, eminent [famous] sage, you shall render the legend of Rama, in its entirety... [1-2-31b-32a]
dharmaatmano bhagavato loke raamasya dhiimatah || 1-2-32
vrittam kathaya dhiirasya yathaa te naaradaat shrutam |
"You shall narrate the legend of Rama, the virtuous, intellectual and an intrepid [fearlessness] one, and a godlike person in this world as well, as you have heard it from sage Narada. [1-2-32b-33a]
rahasyam cha prakaasham cha yad vrittam tasya dhiimatah || 1-2-33
raamasya saha saumitre raakshasaanaam cha sarvashah |
vaidehyaah cha eva yad vrittam prakaasham yadi vaa rahah || 1-2-34
tat ca api aviditam sarvam viditam te bhavisyati |
"The adventures of valorous [courageous] Rama along with Lakshmana, and the misadventures [misfortunes] of demons, known or unknown in every detail, and even the plight [an unfortunate, difficult, or precarious situation] of Vaidehi (Seetha) which is either revealed or un-revealed so far, and whatever legend that has happened, all that will also be known to you, even if it were to be unknown, as yet... [1-2-33b-35a]
na te vaak anritaa kaavye kaachit atra bhavishhyati || 1-2-35
kuru raama kathaam punyaam shloka baddhaam manoramaam |
"You shall versify [to compose verses] the heart pleasing and merit-yielding legend of Rama and not a single word of yours will be unfounded in this epic... [1-2-35b-36a]
yaavat sthaasyanti girayah saritah cha mahiitale || 1-2-36
taavat raamaayana kathaa lokesu pracharisyati |
"As long as the mountains and even rivers flourish [prosper or present] on the surface of the earth, so long the legend of Ramayana will flourish in this world... [1-2-36b-37a]
yaavat raamasya ca kathaa tvat kritaa pracharishhyati | 1-2-37
taavat uurdhvam adhah cha tvam mat lokeshhu nivatsyasi |
"And as long as Rama's legend authored by you flourishes...till then you will flourish in heavenly, in netherworlds [the world of the dead], and even in my abode, namely abode of Brahma... [1-2-37]
iti uktvaa bhagavaan brahmaa tatra eva antaradhiiyata |
tatah sa shishhyo bhagavaan munih vismayam aayayau || 1-2-38
On saying thus that Divinity Brahma vanished then and there only, and then that godly sage Valmiki came by astonishment [amazement], along with his disciples. [1-2-38b-c]
tasya shishhyaah tatah sarve jaguh shlokam imam punah |
muhur muhuh priiyamaanaah praahuh cha bhrisha vismitaah || 1-2-39
Then all of the disciples of Valmiki sang this verse time and again very delightedly, and much astonished they also recited this verse, reciprocally [shared, felt, or shown by both side]. [1-2-39]
samaaksharaih chaturbhih yah paadaih giito maharshhinaa |
sah anuvyaaharanaat bhuuyah shokah shlokatvam aagatah || 1-2-40
Equally lettered, four-footed is that verse when great Sage Valmiki articulated [put into word] it, and when repetitively recited by one and all, it attained prominence [importance] as verse proper. [1-2-40]
tasya buddhih iyam jaataa maharseh bhaavitaatmanah |
kritsnam raamaayanam kaavyam iidrishaih karavaanyaham || 1-2-41
Born is an intuition [quick and ready insight] in that great sage and contemplated [satisfied] soul asserting [to state or declare positively] that "I will compose entire Ramayana, the epic, in suchlike verses...' [1-2-41]
udaara vritta artha padaih manoramaih
tadaa asya raamasya chakaara kiirtimaan |
sama aksharaih shloka shataih yashasvino
yashaskaram kaavyam udaara darshanah || 1-2-42
That celebrated sage and magnanimous [showing or suggesting a lofty and courageous spirit] seer [one that predicts events] Valmiki then authored the highly renowned Rama's legend extolling [glorifying] Rama's renown, with symmetrically worded verses, and words versified to yield [give] meanings semantically, prosody [the language] free-flowing, and with hundreds of such verses. [1-2-42]
tad upagata samaasa sandhi yogam
sama madhuropanata artha vaakya baddham |
raghuvara charitam munipraniitam
dasha shirasah cha vadham nishaamaya adhvam || 1-2-43
That epic which is with uncomplicated compounds, conjunctions and conjugations, and which has expressive sentences that are well-knit and led evenly and sweetly, and that legend of the best one from Raghu's dynasty [a succession of rulers of the same line of descent], namely Rama, which also includes the extermination of the Ten-headed evil named Ravana, that may be listened as narrated by the sage. [1-2-43]
iti vaalmiki raamaayane aadikaavye baala kaande dvitiiyah sargah
Thus, this is the 2nd chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate