Chereads / Rise of the Divine: A Ramayan Revival / Chapter 2 - 2. The Chosen Scribe of Ramayan

Chapter 2 - 2. The Chosen Scribe of Ramayan

Just as he was meditating Valmiki's gaze fell upon a pair of krauńca birds (cranes) engaged in a sexual relationship and singing very melodiously. Suddenly, a malicious hunter of the Nisada race[ a member of a low caste in India] came out of hiding and released his arrow. Being pierced, the male bird fell to the ground, shrieking with pain. Seeing her mate writhing due to the agony of death and smeared with blood, the female krauñca cried out piteously, having been cast down from the heights of sensual enjoyment to the depths of despair.

Seeing this, Välmiki felt pained at heart, considering the hunter to be very sinful. Flaring up with rage, the sage cursed the hunter, saying, "O killer of birds, may you never find peace of mind for endless years to follow. Let this be the punishment for your heartless killing of an innocent creature who was engaged in gratifying his mate."

However, as soon as the curse was uttered, Välmiki felt shame for having become a victim of uncontrolled anger. As an enlightened soul, he knew very well that all living beings are acting helplessly under the influence of the three modes of material nature. Valmiki thus regretted that he had retaliated against the hunter. And yet, at the same time, he was astonished to realize that the curse had come out of his mouth in a perfect poetic meter. And, the curse seemed to hint at the predominant emotional theme portrayed in the life story of Lord Rama, which Välmiki had been contemplating ever since his meeting with Nārada.

Välmiki remarked to Bharadvaja, "From my sorrow has come a verse of four lines, each containing eight syllables. From soka (remorse) has come a very nice sloka (verse), for without compassion there can be no genuine poetic expression."

Välmiki bathed in the River Tamasã and then returned to his äśrama. Soon thereafter, as he was seated at ease, contemplating deeply about his having cursed the hunter, Välmiki saw Lord Brahmă [The creator of universe According to Hinduism] descending from his abode, the topmost planet in the universe. Being highly astonished, Välmiki jubilantly got up from his seat to welcome the secondary creator of the universe, who had appeared directly from the abdomen of Lord Visņu. As Lord Brahma came before him, Välmiki very humbly bowed down to offer obeisances. He then very respectfully I worshiped Lord Brahma to the best of his ability, with great respect. After being honored, Lord Brahma, who can understand the hearts of everyone, spoke as follows, "Blessed sage, do not grieve, thinking that you had wrongly cursed the hunter. I will tell you something very confidential. The words that you had angrily spoken were not your own. They were my words, spoken by you instrumentally for the purpose of inspiring you to accomplish a great task. The time has come for you to compose the history of Lord Ramacandra's life. This will be a narration, full of transcendental pastimes, meant for the ultimate welfare of all within this world."

"My dear Välmiki, please give up your anxiety. By the strength of my benediction, even that which is unknown to you will be clearly revealed from within your heart. By my grace, your narration of Ramayana will be faultless."

After favoring Välmīki, Lord Brahmã departed upon his celestial swan carrier, filling the hearts of those who beheld him with wonder. Välmiki then sat down in meditation so that he could visualize all the pastimes of Lord Ramacandra. Indeed, when Välmiki became deeply absorbed in the trance of meditation, he was able to clearly see all the events comprising Lord Ramacandra's manifested appearance on this earth. (This may seem quite astonishing, but Välmiki was able to witness the entire life of Lord Rama, just as we are now able to watch live coverage of a distant event on television.)

Välmiki composed the Rāmāyana in 24,000 verses. After completing the epic poem, he wondered to whom he could teach it so that it would remain intact in memory and then later on propagated all over the world. (These were the times before printing presses were invented, or alternatively, the times when memory was so sharp that writing was unnecessary.)

While Valmiki was considering this, Lava and Kusa came to submissively touch his feet, as was their daily custom. Dressed like rishis(sage), these two sons of Lord Rama, that Sitâdevi had delivered while in exile, had been under Välmiki's care ever since birth. As Välmiki fondly gazed upon the twins, he realized that they were most suitable and qualified to become the recipients of his great epic.

Thereafter, Välmiki very carefully taught Lava and Kusa the entire Ramayana, and after it was memorized, they recited it for the first time in an assembly of brahmanas. These learned brahmanas experienced great transcendental pleasure while listening to the pastimes of Lord Rama. After praising Lava and Kusa very highly, they rewarded the twins with ample gifts.

🙂This is just the starting part of how ramayana was written the real story will start after a few more chapters.🙂