The generous sage Valmiki searched for more details about the story
of Rama in addition to what has been told by
Sage Narada. Sage Valmiki touched and sipped a little water, as is
done at the start of any ritual or religious ceremony, [which is called
aachamana] and sat down eastward on a mat of darbha [grass
mat]. He sat there contemplating virtuously
about the course of the epic and its presentation.
Sage Valmiki sitting there thus in contemplative meditation saw veritably
all events that happened. He could visualise the actions of Rama,
Lakshmana, and Seetha; King Dasaratha's decree and the entire kingdom's
destiny. He was also able to comprehend their smiles, talks, deeds and
movements in their entirety with his meditative power. Sage Valmiki visualised
all that happened to the truthful Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana while they
were moving around in the forest. Thus by his contemplative yoga, Valmiki
the virtuous sage, could see all that happened clearly, as though seeing
a citric fruit in one's own palm.
Valmiki saw the entire story of Rama in its actuality by his meditation.
This is the story of one who is loved by all worlds. This epic, if read
to or listened to, results in fulfilled desires, enriches virtuous living
and is like a great ocean with invaluable gems at the bottom. Valmiki,
the great resplendent sage desired to author Ramayana in a way that shall
be melodious to the listeners. That godly saint Valmiki authored Ramayana,
the story of Rama, who was born in the dynasty of Raghu, as told to him
by divine sage Narada. The life of Rama [an incarnation of Vishnu] is indeed
truly great. It is the life of a courageous one in character and in truthfulness,
an exemplary and ideal one to all. In his behavior, perseverance, and beauty
he was a favorite and affectionate one to all in the world.
Valmiki narrates many amusing stories when Rama meets Sage Viswamitra.
Seetha's marriage to Rama after breaking a great bow is related elegantly.
Dispute of Rama and Parasurama and the qualities of Rama, the son of Dasaratha
are narrated well. Declaration of Rama as the crown prince and details
of that ceremony, Queen Kaikeyi's vicious intentions are also told. Disruption
of celebrations of the crown prince ceremony, Raghava's [Rama's] exile,
King Dasaratha's sorrowing over his son's exile and thus departing to other
worlds (are also described). The grief of his subjects; Rama's sending
them off; Rama's meeting with Guha, a tribal chief; Sumantra's (the charioteer
and Prime Minister of King Dasaratha) leaving the trio at the banks
of river Ganga - all these elements are described well. Their crossing
of river Ganga; reaching the hermitage of Sage Bharadwaja and arriving
at Chitrakuta with his advise are described. Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha
constructing a hermitage; Bharata's arrival there to pacify and convince
his brother to come back to Ayodhya; Rama's rejecting that request; His
hearing the demise of his father and Rama's offering water ablutions to
his father are all narrated by Valmiki heart touchingly. Bharata, who took
the sandal shoes of Rama to be enthroned to rule the kingdom in absence
of Rama, has placed the shoes on the throne as proxy of Rama and made a
village called Nandigrama as capital instead of Ayodhya, the actual capital.
Valmiki details Rama's arrival in the forests of Dandaka and killing a
demon named Viradha in this epic Ramayana. Rama's visit to the hermitages
of Sarabhanga and Suteekshna is narrated. Seetha's meeting with Anasuuya,
a great hermitess, and her giving to Seetha a body cream, are incorporated
by Valmiki with great detail. Rama's visit to Sage Agastya; meeting with
Jatayu, an eagle; going to a place called Panchavati and seeing Soorpanakha
a demoness were detailed. The argumentative Soorpanakha being deformed
of her face; thereby the invading demons Khara and Trisira, brothers of
Soorpanakha, being killed and whereby Ravana's starting the effort to harm
Rama (are also described). Rama's killing of Mareecha; abduction of Seetha
by Ravana to the agony of Rama; killing of Jatayu by Ravana in the course
of abduction are narrated. Rama's meeting Kabandha, a cursed celestial
being; watching Pampa, a lake of par excellence; meeting Sabari, an old
hermitess who waited for Rama a long time; and his meeting Hanuma, the
great Vanara hero is also described. Rama's going to the great mountain
called Rishyamooka; meeting Sugreeva there; generating confidence in Sugreeva
and Sugreeva's fight with Vali are also described. Rama after killing Vali,
established Sugreeva as vanara king and pacified the grieving vanara queen
Tara. As per the agreement made with Sugreeva, the rainy season is spent
there. Rama, the lion of Raghu's dynasty was angered by Sugreeva's delay.
Fearing that anger, Sugreeva gathered all his forces together and ushered
them to all sides of earth after giving a beautiful and vivid account of
topography of lands, countries and cultures that existed then. Rama gives
his ring to Hanuma as a token of recognition for Seetha. Thus searching
for Seetha, the Vanara heroes enter a cave of Ruksha. Some of them who
could not locate Seetha, self immolate themselves for not fulfilling Sugreeva's
orders. One group in their search sees Sampati, the eagle, and the brother
of Jatayu, slain by Ravana while abducting Seetha. Sampati helps them with
the direction in which Seetha is taken. Valmiki eventfully narrates all
these. Hanuma's scaling of a great mountain called Mahendragiri, his crossing
over the great sea by air, on the advice of Samudra, the Lord of Ocean,
one great mountain submerged in the ocean, called Mainaka, was also seen
by Hanuma. Hanuma's killing of Simhika, and on reaching Lanka seeing a
mountain; during the night he enters the city alone, in his search for
Seetha, thinks over as what to do next. Hanuma in his search for Seetha
sees Ravana, the king and also Pushpaka, the divine aeroplane. After searching
at the liquor consuming place, Hanuma enters the highly secured palace.
Hanuma finds Seetha in beautiful Ashoka gardens of Ravana. He presents
the ring of Rama as his credentials to her. He also witnesses the arrival
and dialogue of Ravana with Seetha. Hanuma's witnessing of those scenes
like the demoness' scaring Seetha, and Trijata, a benign demoness, giving
an account of her dream of bad omens to Ravana are narrated. Further events
like Seetha giving a jewel to Hanuma for showing it to Rama, whereby Hanuma
becomes jubilant and uproots the beautiful garden's trees, are also well
narrated by Valmiki. The events of fleeing demoness from those gardens
at the sight of Hanuma, killings of the guards of the gardens, and also
the capture of Hanuma, the son of Vayu, the Lord of Wind, and finally the
burning of that pompous city Lanka by Hanuma with a roar are described
by Valmiki. Hanuma's return by flying and Vanara heroes usurping and drinking
forest honey on their way; on return Rama's getting consoled by Hanuma's
presenting the jewel which Seetha gave to Hanuma in Lanka is narrated.
Rama's reaching the ocean; Nala's construction of bridge across the ocean;
crossing the ocean and attacking Lanka in the night are also described.
Rama's excellent relationship with Vibheeshana, the younger and noble brother
of Ravana; Vibheeshana's telling Rama the way to kill Ravana; killing of
Kumbhakarna and Meghanada are described. Rama's destruction of Ravana,
[it is not just a killing of an enemy or a demon but destroying the vice
or evil altogether] and regaining of Seetha are narrated. Rama's enthroning
Vibheeshana in the place of Ravana, and seeing Pushpaka, a divine aeroplane
are also narrated. Valmiki describes Rama's going to Ayodhya in the Pushpaka
aeroplane, his meeting with Bharata, and his crowning ceremony as emperor.
Further, disbanding of all his army, ruling his kingdom for its prosperity
is detailed. In addition, leaving Seetha is also narrated. Valmiki has
authored all of Rama's story that happened on the surface of earth, including
even minor incidents. He has written hereinafter the epic on Rama, the
Ramayana, and made it available to us as a godly Sage.
Thus, this is the third chapter in Bala Kanda of the Epic Ramayana.