The process of writing Ramayanam starts....1

The process of writing Ramayanam starts....1

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In the third Sargam of Balakandam of Valmikiramayanam, the great thoughts that arose in the mind of Sage Valmiki as he set out to compose the great story of Rama are described in some detail.

श्रुत्वा वस्तु समग्रं तद्दर्मार्थसहितं हितम्।

व्यक्तमन्वेषते भुयो यद्वृत्तं तस्य धीमतः॥१

Having heard the story of Rama which represented virtue in great deapth,

__ the story which was for the welfare of all-- as narrated by sage Narada-- and whose value was further validated by the appearance of Brahma in person -- the sage Valmiki of great intellectual accomplishments

started further contemplation on the same

with a desire to get a very clear picture as to what really happened in the lives of Rama and others.

उपस्पृश्योदकं सम्यङ्मुनिः स्थित्वा कृताञ्जलिः।

प्राचीनाग्रेषु दर्भेषु धर्मेणन्वेषते गतिम्॥२

After formally purifying himself abundantly with water performing aachamanam the Sage seated himself on the floor with Darbhas spread with their edges directed towards east, and engaed hims mind in the path of contemplation of the virtuous story of Rama.

रामलक्ष्मणसीताभी राज्ञा दशरथेन च।

सभार्येण सराष्ट्रेण यत्प्राप्तं तत्र तत्त्वतः॥३

हसितं भाषितं चैव गतिर्यावच्च चेष्टितं।

तत्सर्वं धर्मवीर्येण यथावत्सम्प्रपश्यति॥४

On contemplation, all the activities and happenings in the lives of Rama, Lakshman, Sita and King Dasratha and his queens, the people of his country.. what all they achieved, what all they talked, how they laughed .. all these became clear in the mind of the Sage thorugh the power of Dharma

स्त्रीतृतीयेन च तथा यत्प्राप्तं चरता वने।

सत्यसन्धेन रामेण तत्सर्वं चान्ववैक्षत॥५

Whatever that the honest Rama did and achieved while wandering in the forest with Lakshmana and also the third person who was a woman.. Sita, all those things were clearly visible to the Sage in his minds vision.. on such deep contemplation..

ततः पश्यति धर्मात्मा तत्सर्वं योगमास्थितः।

पुरा यत्तत्र निर्वृत्तं पाणवामलकं यथा॥६

Sage Valmiki, who is the embodiment of virtues is seeing in his yogic contemplation all that transpired in the past ( in respect of Rama ) , and the vision is so clear as is an amla fruit kept on the palm is seen.

तत्सर्वं तत्त्वतो दृष्त्वा धर्मेण स महामतिः।

अभिरामस्य रामस्य तत्सर्वं कर्तुमुद्यतः॥७

कामार्थगुणसंयुक्त्रं धर्मार्थगुणविस्तरं।

समुद्रमिव रत्नाढ्यं सर्वश्रुतिमनोहरं॥८

स यथाकथितं पूर्वं नारदेन महात्मना।

रघुवंशस्य चरितं चकार भगवान्मुनिः॥९

The great Sage Valmiki of great intellect could visualize in his mind all that happened in the life Rama who is the source of happiness to all… set out to describe his story which covered the aspects of all the four purushaarthas namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.. The story was so full and beautiful like an an ocean resplendent with gems, the story which was sure to captivate the minds of all those who would listen to it.

And Sage Valmiki of immense Gracee composed the history of the Clan of Raghu, just in the same way as was imparted to him by the Divine Seer Narada.

After the above description, the various incidents in the life of Rama which were visualized by Valmiki are recounted briefly..

That description could be covered by the next post.. In fact, that would cover the entire story of Ramayanam in a nutshell..

(To be continued..)
https://kanfusion.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-process-of-writing-ramayanm-starts2.html

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