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class="vector-toc-link" href="#Quotes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>Quotes</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Quotes-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Quotes subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Quotes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Ramayana" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ramayana"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>Ramayana</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ramayana-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-About_Valmiki" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#About_Valmiki"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>About Valmiki</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-About_Valmiki-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle About Valmiki subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-About_Valmiki-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-The_Epic_Civilization" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Epic_Civilization"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>The Epic Civilization</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Epic_Civilization-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Ramayana_of_Valmiki" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Ramayana_of_Valmiki"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>The Ramayana of Valmiki</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Ramayana_of_Valmiki-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Valmiki" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Valmiki"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Valmiki</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Valmiki-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input 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srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Valmiki_Ramayana.jpg/330px-Valmiki_Ramayana.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Valmiki_Ramayana.jpg 2x" data-file-width="385" data-file-height="497" /></a><figcaption>This is truly how I remember the ways of the world. Those words I cursed him with make a verse, and that verse could be sung to music.</figcaption></figure> <p><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmiki" class="extiw" title="w:Valmiki">Valmiki</a></b> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_language" class="extiw" title="w:Sanskrit language">Sanskrit</a>: वाल्मीकि <b>Vālmīki</b>) is celebrated as the harbinger-<a href="/wiki/Poet" class="mw-redirect" title="Poet">poet</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_literature" class="extiw" title="w:Sanskrit literature">Sanskrit literature</a>. He is the author of the epic <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Rāmāyaṇa</a>, based on the attribution in the text of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic" class="extiw" title="w:Epic">epic</a> itself. He is revered as the Ādi Kavi, which translates to First Poet, for he invented <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shloka" class="extiw" title="w:Shloka">śloka</a> (i.e. first verse or epic metre), which set the base and defined the form to Sanskrit poetry. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Quotes">Quotes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Quotes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit_language" class="extiw" title="w:Sanskrit language">Sanskrit</a></b>:<br /><i>मां निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।<br /> यत्क्रौंचमिथुनादेकम् अवधीः काममोहितम्॥</i></li> <li><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_alphabet" class="extiw" title="w:Latin alphabet">Roman transliteration</a></b>:<br /><i>mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhāṁ tvamagamaḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ<br />yat krauñcamithunādekam avadhīḥ kāmamohitam</i></li> <li><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation" class="extiw" title="w:Translation">English translation</a></b>:<br />You will find no rest for the long years of Eternity<br />For you killed a bird in love and unsuspecting <ul><li>In: <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a> translated by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Buck" class="extiw" title="w:William Buck">William Buck</a> in:<i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.co.in/books?id=vvuIp2kqIkMC&pg=PA7">Ramayana</a></i>, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1 January 2000, p. 7.</li> <li>He expressed anguish in a poetic form when he found the hunter killing the male dove with his arrow.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>This is truly how I remember the ways of the world. Those words I cursed him with make a verse, and that verse could be sung to music. <ul><li>In. p. 7.</li> <li>He remembered these words uttered in a verse form, when he got back to his hermitage. It was then that Brahma appeared before him.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Sit by me. <ul><li>In. p. 7.</li> <li>He welcomed <a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a> formally gave him <a href="/wiki/Water" title="Water">water</a> to drink but was still thinking of the two birds</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>What a crime! There was not one bit of meat on that little bird. What use is a world run all wrong without a grain of <a href="/wiki/Mercy" title="Mercy">mercy</a> on it? <ul><li>In. p. 7-8.</li> <li>Perceiving the words thought by Valmiki, <a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a> told him "So, by a river, the <a href="/wiki/World" title="World">world</a>'s first <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verse" class="extiw" title="w:Verse">verse</a> has been born from <a href="/wiki/Pity" title="Pity">pity</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Love" title="Love">love</a> and <a href="/wiki/Compassion" title="Compassion">compassion</a> for a tiny <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird" class="extiw" title="w:Bird">bird</a> has made you a <a href="/wiki/Poet" class="mw-redirect" title="Poet">poet</a>. Use your <a href="/wiki/Discovery" class="mw-redirect" title="Discovery">discovery</a> to tell Rama's story, and your verses will defeat Time. As make you <a href="/wiki/Poem" class="mw-redirect" title="Poem">poem</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a>'s life will be revealed to you, and no word of yours will be untrue.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>In all this <a href="/wiki/World" title="World">world</a>, I pray thee, who<br /> Is <a href="/wiki/Virtuous" class="mw-redirect" title="Virtuous">virtuous</a>, heroic, true?<br /> Firm in his vows, of grateful <a href="/wiki/Mind" title="Mind">mind</a>,<br />To every <a href="/wiki/Creature" class="mw-redirect" title="Creature">creature</a> good and <a href="/wiki/Kind" class="mw-redirect" title="Kind">kind</a>?<br />Alone most fair to all men’s eyes?<br /> Devoid of <a href="/wiki/Envy" title="Envy">envy</a>, firm, and sage,<br /> Whose tranquil <a href="/wiki/Soul" title="Soul">soul</a> ne'er yields to <a href="/wiki/Rage" class="mw-redirect" title="Rage">rage</a>? <br />Whom, when his <a href="/wiki/Warrior" title="Warrior">warrior</a> wrath is high, <br />Do <a href="/wiki/Gods" class="mw-redirect" title="Gods">Gods</a> embattled <a href="/wiki/Fear" title="Fear">fear</a> and fly? <br />Whose noble might and gentle skill <br />The triple world can guard from ill? Who is the best of princes, he <br />Who <a href="/wiki/Loves" class="mw-redirect" title="Loves">loves</a> his people’s good to see. <ul><li>In: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Yodfa_Chulaloke" class="extiw" title="w:Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke">King of Siam Rama I</a> <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.co.in/books?id=OvqbCHa3zWkC&pg=PA19">The-Ramayana</a>,</i> Islamic Books, 1967, p. 19.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>And the high mandate of his sire. <br />Led by the Lord who rules the <a href="/wiki/Sky" title="Sky">sky</a>, <br />The <a href="/wiki/Gods" class="mw-redirect" title="Gods">Gods</a> and heavenly <a href="/wiki/Saints" title="Saints">saints</a> drew nigh, <br />And honoured him with worthy meed, <br />Rejoicing in each glorious deed. <br /> His task achieved, his foe removed, <br /> He triumphed, by the <a href="/wiki/Gods" class="mw-redirect" title="Gods">Gods</a> approved. <br />By <a href="/wiki/Grace" title="Grace">grace</a> of <a href="/wiki/Heaven" title="Heaven">Heaven</a> he raised to <a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">life</a><br />The chieftains slain in mortal strife; <br />Then in the <a href="/wiki/Magic" class="mw-redirect" title="Magic">magic</a> chariot through <br />The <a href="/wiki/Clouds" title="Clouds">clouds</a> to Nandigráma flew. <br />Met by his faithful brothers there, <br />He loosed his votive coil of hair: <br />Thence fair <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayodhya" class="extiw" title="w:Ayodhya">Ayodhyá</a>'s town he gained, <br />And o'er his father's kingdom reigned. <br />Disease or famine ne'er oppressed <br />His <a href="/wiki/Happy" class="mw-redirect" title="Happy">happy</a> people, richly blest. <ul><li>In: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Yodfa_Chulaloke" class="extiw" title="w:Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke">King of Siam Rama I</a> "The-Ramayana", p. 28.</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ramayana">Ramayana</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Ramayana"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Narada_visits_Valmiki.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Narada_visits_Valmiki.jpg/220px-Narada_visits_Valmiki.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="158" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Narada_visits_Valmiki.jpg/330px-Narada_visits_Valmiki.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Narada_visits_Valmiki.jpg/440px-Narada_visits_Valmiki.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1111" data-file-height="796" /></a><figcaption>Would I ever? See how <a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">Life</a> goes by, with every creature doing what follows his nature. Master, what can I say to you? - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a>.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Hermitage_of_Valmiki,_Folio_from_the_%22Nadaun%22_Ramayana_(Adventures_of_Rama)_LACMA_AC1999.127.45.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Hermitage_of_Valmiki%2C_Folio_from_the_%22Nadaun%22_Ramayana_%28Adventures_of_Rama%29_LACMA_AC1999.127.45.jpg/220px-Hermitage_of_Valmiki%2C_Folio_from_the_%22Nadaun%22_Ramayana_%28Adventures_of_Rama%29_LACMA_AC1999.127.45.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="175" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Hermitage_of_Valmiki%2C_Folio_from_the_%22Nadaun%22_Ramayana_%28Adventures_of_Rama%29_LACMA_AC1999.127.45.jpg/330px-Hermitage_of_Valmiki%2C_Folio_from_the_%22Nadaun%22_Ramayana_%28Adventures_of_Rama%29_LACMA_AC1999.127.45.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Hermitage_of_Valmiki%2C_Folio_from_the_%22Nadaun%22_Ramayana_%28Adventures_of_Rama%29_LACMA_AC1999.127.45.jpg/440px-Hermitage_of_Valmiki%2C_Folio_from_the_%22Nadaun%22_Ramayana_%28Adventures_of_Rama%29_LACMA_AC1999.127.45.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2100" data-file-height="1669" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Sita" title="Sita">Sita</a>, stay here in my hermitage, you have found here your father's house in a foreign land, we will care for you as our <a href="/wiki/Daughter" class="mw-redirect" title="Daughter">daughter</a>. Looking at Sita he thought :What a fair woman, how <a href="/wiki/Beautiful" class="mw-redirect" title="Beautiful">beautiful</a>! - Valmiki</figcaption></figure> <p><small> Ramayana in: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Buck" class="extiw" title="w:William Buck">William Buck</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.co.in/books?id=vvuIp2kqIkMC&pg=PA7">Ramayana</a>, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1 January 2000</small> </p> <ul><li>It’s too cold. Away from the <a href="/wiki/Worlds" class="mw-redirect" title="Worlds">worlds</a>, where a little <a href="/wiki/Pleasure" title="Pleasure">pleasure</a> costs a lot of <a href="/wiki/Pain" title="Pain">pain</a>. Don’t make trouble. <ul><li>Valmiki to Brahma who appeared before him. p. 5.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>As a young man, Valmiki searched through the <a href="/wiki/World" title="World">world</a> seeking open <a href="/wiki/Friendship" title="Friendship">friendship</a> and <a href="/wiki/Happiness" title="Happiness">happiness</a> and <a href="/wiki/Hope" title="Hope">hope</a> and finding none of these he went alone into the empty <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest" class="extiw" title="w:Forest">forest</a> where no man lived, to as spot where the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamsa_River" class="extiw" title="w:Tamsa River">Tamasa River</a> flows into <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges" class="extiw" title="w:Ganges">Ganga</a>. There he sat for years without moving, so still that white ants built an anthill over him. There Valmiki sat inside that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthill" class="extiw" title="w:Anthill">anthill</a> for thousands of years with only his eyes showing out, trying to find the True, his hands folded and his mind lost in contemplation. <ul><li>In p. 5.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Would I ever? See how <a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">Life</a> goes by, with every creature doing what follows his nature. Master, what can I say to you? <ul><li>In p. 5</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a> to Valmiki looking at him intently</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Just name me one <a href="/wiki/Honest" class="mw-redirect" title="Honest">honest</a> man and I'll move. <ul><li>In p. 5'</li> <li>Valmiki To <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a>! Come out of there!. <ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a> to Valmiki</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Who is <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a>?" <ul><li>In p. 5.</li> <li>Valmiki To <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a> rules as King in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayodhya" class="extiw" title="w:Ayodhya">Ayodhya</a>. He is born in the Solar race and a descendant of the Sun; he is brave and gentle and firm in fight. By Rama's command his adorable Queen <a href="/wiki/Sita" title="Sita">Sita</a> is being brought here into the forest on a chariot, and though she suspects nothing yet, here she will be left abandoned. Unless you comfort her she will drown herself in Ganga and kill as well her unborn sons by Rama. <ul><li>In p. 5.</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a> to Valmiki</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>What did she do <a href="/wiki/Wrong" class="mw-redirect" title="Wrong">wrong</a>? <ul><li>In p. 5.</li> <li>Valmiki To <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Nothing. She is <a href="/wiki/Innocent" class="mw-redirect" title="Innocent">innocent</a> and blameless. She has lived as <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a>’s queen ten thousand years; before that Rama saved her from great danger by wondrous and incredible deeds. And now behold one of the terrors of kingship, that Rama let her go because his people talk against her. Get up, save her <a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">life</a> with you and your companions; and make in measured words the <a href="/wiki/Song" title="Song">song</a> of Rama, and teach it to Rama’s two sons. <ul><li>In p. 6.</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a> to Valmiki</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>I have no companions here. <ul><li>In p. 6.</li> <li>Valmiki to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>You have now. Coming here, I sang a friend-gathering song. Valmiki, I've seen other skies than these, other <a href="/wiki/Worlds" class="mw-redirect" title="Worlds">worlds</a>, and other <a href="/wiki/Friends" class="mw-redirect" title="Friends">friends</a>. People are counting on you... and I can hear the chariot from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayodhya" class="extiw" title="w:Ayodhya">Ayodhya</a> approaching across Ganga. <ul><li>In p. 6.</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a> to Valmiki</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>I have no <a href="/wiki/Skill" title="Skill">skill</a> in any craft, even in words. <ul><li>In p. 6.</li> <li>Valmiki to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Act now Valmiki; Call out and the rest must follow. <ul><li>In p. 6.</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a> to Valmiki.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Valmiki stood up and broke free out of that hard <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthill" class="extiw" title="w:Anthill">anthill</a>. Suddenly he saw all around him many houses of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermits" class="extiw" title="w:Hermits">hermits</a> and their families, young trees carefully watered, a retreat cleared from the forest. Four boys ran up to him from the river and cried "The wife of some great <a href="/wiki/Warrior" title="Warrior">warrior</a> weeps by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges" class="extiw" title="w:Ganges">Ganges</a>. She is fair as a <a href="/wiki/Goddess" title="Goddess">Goddess</a> fallen from <a href="/wiki/Heaven" title="Heaven">heaven</a>, all bewildered, all alone, never seen before, with child, and with small gifts tied from the city within a <a href="/wiki/Silk" title="Silk">silk</a> cloth beside her. Go to her, welcome her and protect her. <ul><li>In p. 6.</li> <li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narada" class="extiw" title="w:Narada">Narada</a> to Valmiki.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Sita" title="Sita">Sita</a>, stay here in my hermitage, you have found here your father's house in a foreign land, we will care for you as our <a href="/wiki/Daughter" class="mw-redirect" title="Daughter">daughter</a>. Looking at Sita he thought :What a fair woman, how <a href="/wiki/Beautiful" class="mw-redirect" title="Beautiful">beautiful</a>! <ul><li>In p. 6.</li> <li>Valmiki to <a href="/wiki/Sita" title="Sita">Sita</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Valmiki went alone to the clear <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganga" class="extiw" title="w:Ganga">Ganga</a> waterside and bathed. He washed away the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthill" class="extiw" title="w:Anthill">anthill</a> dust and peeled grey <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bark" class="extiw" title="w:Bark">bark</a> from a <a href="/wiki/Tree" class="mw-redirect" title="Tree">tree</a> and made new fresh clothes.Then he sat back resting against a <a href="/wiki/Stone" title="Stone">stone</a>. He watched two small water birds in a tree nearby. The male bird was singing to his mate when before Valmiki’s eyes an arrow hit him, and the little bird fell from the limb. He thrashed on the ground an instant and then lay <a href="/wiki/Dead" class="mw-redirect" title="Dead">dead</a> and <a href="/wiki/Blood" title="Blood">blood</a> drops strained his feathers. <ul><li>In: p. 7.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Heartbroken the dead bird’s mate cried – Your long feathers! Your tuneful <a href="/wiki/Songs" class="mw-redirect" title="Songs">songs</a>. A bird hunter came from the forest holding a bow. Valmiki’s <a href="/wiki/Heart" title="Heart">heart</a> was pounding and he cursed the killer. <ul><li>In: p. 7.</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="About_Valmiki">About Valmiki</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: About Valmiki"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Valmiki the <a href="/wiki/Poet" class="mw-redirect" title="Poet">Poet</a> held all the moving <a href="/wiki/World" title="World">world</a> inside a water drop in his hand. The <a href="/wiki/Gods" class="mw-redirect" title="Gods">gods</a> and <a href="/wiki/Saints" title="Saints">saints</a> from <a href="/wiki/Heaven" title="Heaven">heaven</a> looked down on <a href="/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Lanka</a>, And Valmiki looked down at the gods in the morning of <a href="/wiki/Time" title="Time">Time</a>. <ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Buck" class="extiw" title="w:William Buck"> William Buck</a> in: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.co.in/books?id=vvuIp2kqIkMC&pg=PA325">Ramayana</a>, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1 January 2000, p. 325.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>His [Valmiki’s] <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayan</a> is generally treated as Adi Kavya, the first Sanskrit <a href="/wiki/Poetry" title="Poetry">poetry</a> ever written. While it was part of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_tradition" class="extiw" title="w:Oral tradition">oral tradition</a> for centuries, it reached its final form somewhere between 200 BC and 200 AD. The content took a lyrical form after he experienced a painful episode. <ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devdutt_Pattanaik" class="extiw" title="w:Devdutt Pattanaik">Devdutt Pattanaik</a> in: <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://books.google.com/books?id=sQl8lRbuHvwC&pg=PT75">The Book of Ram</a></i>, Penguin UK, 21 October 2008, p. 182.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Legendary sage Valmiki, venerated as the ‘Adikavi’, First <a href="/wiki/Poet" class="mw-redirect" title="Poet">Poet</a>, in Sanskrit, though unequivocally recognises <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a> as an <a href="/wiki/Incarnation" title="Incarnation">incarnation</a> of Lord <a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threthayuga" class="extiw" title="w:Threthayuga">Threthayuga</a>, second <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeon" class="extiw" title="w:Aeon">aeon</a> in the cycle of ages, depicts the hero <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a> as the most virtuous human being, personifying all the highest ingredients of <a href="/wiki/Dharma" title="Dharma">Dharma</a>. <ul><li>Govindaraju Ramakrishna Rao in: <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/universal-appeal/article6319396.ece">Universal appeal</a></i>, The Hindu, 15 August 2014</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Rishi Valmiki taught us that in order to make progress in society, you have to take along Shabari with you; if you want your society to progress, you have to ensure that even vanars stand by you. If you want to move ahead, you have to embrace Kevat. ...We have come together at this place to express our commitment to follow his message.... Rishi Valmiki laid central focus on awakening the power of truth in order to destroy evil. He did not desire or envisage the slaying of demonic forces merely through the force of war. He has presented a whole vision of a well-organised society in order to defeat asuri (demonic) powers. Prabhu Ramchandra was competent to handle his adversary [Ravan] by himself. But Rishi Valmiki inspired him to mobilise and carry along the power of the entire range of vanjeevan (forest life) including vanars (monkeys), to ignite divine energy in them for the purpose of destroying subversive forces in society that appear in the form of asuras (demons). This social mobilisation of the good included not just Ravan’s own brother and son, but his whole family. Rishi Valmiki has taught us to live by energising and bringing together positive energies of society in order to destroy asuri shakti. He taught us that in order to make progress in society, you have to take along Shabari with you; if you want your society to progress, you have to ensure that even vanars stand by you. If you want to move ahead, you have to embrace Kevat . Rishi Valmiki gave all these messages. We have come together at this place to express our commitment to follow his message. <ul><li>Narendra Modi on December 1, 2001 quoted in Madhu Purnima Kishwar: Modi, Muslims and Media. Voices from Narendra Modi’s Gujarat, Manushi Publications, Delhi 2014.</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="The_Epic_Civilization">The Epic Civilization</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: The Epic Civilization"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Killing_of_Krouncha_Heron.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/The_Killing_of_Krouncha_Heron.jpg/220px-The_Killing_of_Krouncha_Heron.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="220" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/The_Killing_of_Krouncha_Heron.jpg/330px-The_Killing_of_Krouncha_Heron.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/The_Killing_of_Krouncha_Heron.jpg/440px-The_Killing_of_Krouncha_Heron.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2448" data-file-height="2448" /></a><figcaption>As the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove" class="extiw" title="w:Dove">dove</a> fell down on the ground, the female dove went on whirling round and round the dead body of its companion in <a href="/wiki/Grief" title="Grief">grief</a>. In a moment the poet became miserable, and looking round, he saw the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter" class="extiw" title="w:Hunter">hunter</a>. "Thou art a wretch," he cried, without the smallest mercy!, "I have never spoken in this sort of way before."</figcaption></figure> <p><small>R.K. Pruthi in: <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://books.google.co.in/books?id=QTSwN8JBJJAC&pg=PA52&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false">The Epic Civilization</a></i>, Discovery Publishing House, Jan 1, 2004</small> </p> <ul><li>It is surely more important to discover what he [Valmiki] had in mind when he wrote the work [Ramayana] and how he intended his readers to study and interpret it. From this standpoint, there is hardly any doubt that his intention was to delineate <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a> as an <a href="/wiki/Avatar" title="Avatar">avatar</a>. <ul><li>In: p. 48.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>He excels in description of forests and the hermitages of sages. <a href="/wiki/Nature" title="Nature">Nature</a>, in all its aspects and varieties — <a href="/wiki/Trees" title="Trees">trees</a>, mountains, <a href="/wiki/Rivers" title="Rivers">rivers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Clouds" title="Clouds">clouds</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dawn" class="mw-redirect" title="Dawn">dawn</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sunset" title="Sunset">sunset</a>, had a great fascination for him. His sketches of some of the sages have a deft touch and they dwell on the greatness of <a href="/wiki/Penance" title="Penance">penance</a> and the sublimity of a <a href="/wiki/Spiritual" class="mw-redirect" title="Spiritual">spiritual</a> <a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">life</a> of self-realisation. <ul><li>In: p. 51.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>The two most ancient epics of India are called the <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Mahabharata" title="Mahabharata">Mahabharata</a>. The oldest of these epics is called the Ramayana or "The Life of Rama". The name of the poet, or sage, was Valmiki. And this is how he became a poet. One day as this sage, Valmiki, was going to bathe in the holy river Ganga, he saw a pair of doves wheeling round and round, and kissing each other. The sage looked up and was pleased at the sight, but in a second an arrow whisked past him and killed the male dove. <ul><li>In: p. 52.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>As the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove" class="extiw" title="w:Dove">dove</a> fell down on the ground, the female dove went on whirling round and round the dead body of its companion in <a href="/wiki/Grief" title="Grief">grief</a>. In a moment the poet became miserable, and looking round, he saw the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter" class="extiw" title="w:Hunter">hunter</a>. "Thou art a wretch," he cried, without the smallest mercy!, "I have never spoken in this sort of way before." <ul><li>In: p. 52.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Be not afraid. This is <a href="/wiki/Poetry" title="Poetry">poetry</a> that is coming out of your mouth. Write the <a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">life</a> of <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a> in <a href="/wiki/Poetic" class="mw-redirect" title="Poetic">poetic</a> <a href="/wiki/Language" title="Language">language</a> for the benefit of the <a href="/wiki/World" title="World">world</a>. And that is how the poem first began. The first verse sprang out of pity, from the mouth of the first poet. And it was after that he [Valmiki] wrote the beautiful <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a>, the “Life of Rama”. <ul><li>In: p. 52.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>The <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a> contains the stories of the northeastern kingdoms. But here the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legends" class="extiw" title="w:Legends">legends</a> were rewritten by one man, the poet Valmiki, who played a role analogous to that of <a href="/wiki/Homer" title="Homer">Homer</a>. <ul><li>In: p. 103.</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="The_Ramayana_of_Valmiki">The Ramayana of Valmiki</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: The Ramayana of Valmiki"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Replica_of_sage_Valmiki_at_Dwaraka_Tirumala,_Andhra_Pradesh.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Replica_of_sage_Valmiki_at_Dwaraka_Tirumala%2C_Andhra_Pradesh.jpg/220px-Replica_of_sage_Valmiki_at_Dwaraka_Tirumala%2C_Andhra_Pradesh.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="263" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Replica_of_sage_Valmiki_at_Dwaraka_Tirumala%2C_Andhra_Pradesh.jpg/330px-Replica_of_sage_Valmiki_at_Dwaraka_Tirumala%2C_Andhra_Pradesh.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Replica_of_sage_Valmiki_at_Dwaraka_Tirumala%2C_Andhra_Pradesh.jpg/440px-Replica_of_sage_Valmiki_at_Dwaraka_Tirumala%2C_Andhra_Pradesh.jpg 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="1076" /></a><figcaption>...Attacking on one occasion the seven <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishis" class="extiw" title="w:Rishis">Rishis</a>, they expostulated with him successfully, and taught him the <a href="/wiki/Mantra" title="Mantra">mantra</a> of <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Ráma</a> reversed, or Mará, Mará, in the inaudible repetition of which he remained immovable for thousands of years, so that when the sages returned to the same spot they found him still there, converted into a <i>valmik</i> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthill" class="extiw" title="w:Anthill">ant-hill</a>, by the nests of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termites" class="extiw" title="w:Termites">termites</a>, whence his name of Válmíki.</figcaption></figure> <p><small>The <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a> translated by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_T._H._Griffith" class="extiw" title="w:Ralph T. H. Griffith">Ralph T. H. Griffith</a> in: <i><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Ramayana/Invocation">The Ramayana of Valmiki</a></i>, Wikisource</small> </p> <ul><li>He [Válmíki] was the son of <a href="/wiki/Varuna" title="Varuna">Varuna</a>, the regent of the waters, one of whose names is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prachetas" class="extiw" title="w:Prachetas">Prachetas</a>. According to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhyatma_Ramayana" class="extiw" title="w:Adhyatma Ramayana">Adhyátmá Rámáyana</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sage" class="extiw" title="w:Sage">sage</a>, although a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin" class="extiw" title="w:Brahmin">Bráhman</a> by birth, associated with foresters and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbers" class="extiw" title="w:Robbers">robbers</a>. Attacking on one occasion the seven <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishis" class="extiw" title="w:Rishis">Rishis</a>, they expostulated with him successfully, and taught him the <a href="/wiki/Mantra" title="Mantra">mantra</a> of <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Ráma</a> reversed, or Mará, Mará, in the inaudible repetition of which he remained immovable for thousands of years, so that when the sages returned to the same spot they found him still there, converted into a <i>valmik</i> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthill" class="extiw" title="w:Anthill">ant-hill</a>, by the nests of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termites" class="extiw" title="w:Termites">termites</a>, whence his name of Válmíki.</li></ul> <ul><li>He [Válmíki] is said to have lived a solitary <a href="/wiki/Life" title="Life">life</a> in the woods: he is called both a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishi_Muni" class="extiw" title="w:Rishi Muni">muni</a> and a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishi" class="extiw" title="w:Rishi">rishi</a>. The former word properly signifies an anchorite or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermit" class="extiw" title="w:Hermit">hermit</a>; the latter has reference chiefly to <a href="/wiki/Wisdom" title="Wisdom">wisdom</a>. The two words are frequently used promiscuously, and may both be rendered by the Latin <i>cates</i> in its earliest meaning of seer: Válmíki was both <a href="/wiki/Poet" class="mw-redirect" title="Poet">poet</a> and <a href="/wiki/Prophet" title="Prophet">seer</a>, as he is said to have sung the exploits of <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Ráma</a> by the aid of divining insight rather than of <a href="/wiki/Knowledge" title="Knowledge">knowledge</a> naturally acquired.</li></ul> <ul><li>Praise to Válmíki, bird of charming <a href="/wiki/Song" title="Song">song</a>,<br />Who mounts on Poety's sublimest spray,<br />And sweetly sings with accent clear and strong<br /> <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Ráma</a>, aye Ráma, in his deathless lay.</li></ul> <ul><li>Where breathes the man can listen to the strain<br />That flows in <a href="/wiki/Music" title="Music">music</a> from Válmíki's tongue,<br />Nor feel his feet the path of bliss attain<br />When <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Ráma</a>'s glory by the <a href="/wiki/Saint" class="mw-redirect" title="Saint">saint</a> is sung!</li></ul> <ul><li>The stream <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Rámáyan</a> leaves its sacred fount<br />The whole wide <a href="/wiki/World" title="World">world</a> from <a href="/wiki/Sin" title="Sin">sin</a> and stain to free.<br />The Prince of Hermits is the parent mount,<br />The lordly <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Ráma</a> is the darling <a href="/wiki/Sea" title="Sea">sea</a>.</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Glory" title="Glory">Glory</a> to him whose <a href="/wiki/Fame" title="Fame">fame</a> is ever bright!<br />Glory to him, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prachetas" class="extiw" title="w:Prachetas">Prachetas</a>' holy son!<br />Whose pure lips quaff with ever new <a href="/wiki/Delight" title="Delight">delight</a><br />The nectar-sea of deeds by <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Ráma</a> done.</li></ul> <ul><li>Hail, arch-<a href="/wiki/Ascetic" class="mw-redirect" title="Ascetic">ascetic</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pious" class="mw-redirect" title="Pious">pious</a>, good, and kind!<br />Hail, Saint Válmíki, lord of every lore!<br />Hail, holy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermit" class="extiw" title="w:Hermit">Hermit</a>, calm and pure of <a href="/wiki/Mind" title="Mind">mind</a>!<br />Hail, First of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bard" class="extiw" title="w:Bard">Bards</a>, Válmíki, hail once more!</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Valmiki">Valmiki</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Valmiki"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:A_fowler_kills_a_bird_and_the_cry_of_its_mate_gives_Valmiki_the_measures_in_which_he_composes_the_%22Ramayana%22.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/A_fowler_kills_a_bird_and_the_cry_of_its_mate_gives_Valmiki_the_measures_in_which_he_composes_the_%22Ramayana%22.jpg/220px-A_fowler_kills_a_bird_and_the_cry_of_its_mate_gives_Valmiki_the_measures_in_which_he_composes_the_%22Ramayana%22.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="410" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/A_fowler_kills_a_bird_and_the_cry_of_its_mate_gives_Valmiki_the_measures_in_which_he_composes_the_%22Ramayana%22.jpg/330px-A_fowler_kills_a_bird_and_the_cry_of_its_mate_gives_Valmiki_the_measures_in_which_he_composes_the_%22Ramayana%22.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/A_fowler_kills_a_bird_and_the_cry_of_its_mate_gives_Valmiki_the_measures_in_which_he_composes_the_%22Ramayana%22.jpg/440px-A_fowler_kills_a_bird_and_the_cry_of_its_mate_gives_Valmiki_the_measures_in_which_he_composes_the_%22Ramayana%22.jpg 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="1118" /></a><figcaption>...The urge to write <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a> was triggered by Valmiki's sensitive reaction to the wailing of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird" class="extiw" title="w:Bird">bird</a>, whose mate was killed by a hunter. The ideal <a href="/wiki/Society" title="Society">society</a> portrayed so realistically in the Ramayana by Valmiki made <a href="/wiki/Gandhi" class="mw-redirect" title="Gandhi">Gandhiji</a> name the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia" class="extiw" title="w:Utopia">Utopia</a> he envisaged for <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>: Rama Rajya!</figcaption></figure> <p><small>V.K. Subramanian in: <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/valmiki/article3228366.ece">Valmiki</a></i>, the Hindu, 4 August 2006</small> </p> <ul><li>Valmiki (14th - 15th century B.C.), the author of the epic <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a>, bears comparison with <a href="/wiki/Homer" title="Homer">Homer</a>.</li></ul> <ul><li>Valmiki, <a href="/wiki/Vyasa" title="Vyasa">Vyasa</a> and <a href="/wiki/Kalidasa" title="Kalidasa">Kalidasa</a> are the Indian equivalents of <a href="/wiki/Homer" title="Homer">Homer</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dante" class="mw-redirect" title="Dante">Dante</a> and <a href="/wiki/Shakespeare" class="mw-redirect" title="Shakespeare">Shakespeare</a>. The story of <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a>, the ideal son and ruler, <a href="/wiki/Sita" title="Sita">Sita</a>, the ideal wife, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharata" class="extiw" title="w:Bharata">Bharata</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmana" class="extiw" title="w:Lakshmana">Lakshmana</a>, the ideal brothers and <a href="/wiki/Hanuman" title="Hanuman">Hanuman</a>, the ideal devotee, has been so <a href="/wiki/Beautifully" class="mw-redirect" title="Beautifully">beautifully</a> stated in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic" class="extiw" title="w:Epic">epic</a> <a href="/wiki/Poem" class="mw-redirect" title="Poem">poem</a> of <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a> that even in the remotest village of <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>, even the most illiterate man, woman or child is familiar with the characters and situations in the <a href="/wiki/Story" title="Story">story</a>. The credit for this goes to the poetic and dramatic <a href="/wiki/Genius" title="Genius">genius</a> of Valmiki. <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Sri_Aurobindo" title="Sri Aurobindo">Sri Aurobindo</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Though the subsequent poets like <a href="/wiki/Tulsidas" title="Tulsidas">Tulsidas</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamban" class="extiw" title="w:Kamban">Kamban</a> have restated the story in their own style, their inspiration has been Valmiki. No <a href="/wiki/Poem" class="mw-redirect" title="Poem">poem</a> in the <a href="/wiki/World" title="World">world</a> is superior to the <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a> of Valmiki, **<a href="/wiki/Aurobindo" class="mw-redirect" title="Aurobindo">Aurobindo</a></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmiki" class="extiw" title="w:Valmiki">Ratnakar</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandit" class="extiw" title="w:Bandit">bandit</a>, became the <a href="/wiki/Poet" class="mw-redirect" title="Poet">poet</a> Valmiki. Once when he tried to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob" class="extiw" title="w:Rob">rob</a> a sage, of his meagre belongings, he was told that no one else but he would suffer the consequences of his misdeeds. Repentant and reformed, he asked the sage for the way out of <a href="/wiki/Sin" title="Sin">sin</a>. He was told to recite Mara, mar (reverse of <a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a>). The bandit sat in <a href="/wiki/Penance" title="Penance">penance</a> and recited the <a href="/wiki/Mantra" title="Mantra">mantra</a> and forgot the <a href="/wiki/World" title="World">world</a>. An <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthill" class="extiw" title="w:Anthill">anthill</a> enveloped him. When he was dug out, he was a realised <a href="/wiki/Soul" title="Soul">soul</a> and called Valmiki (one who came out of Valmike - Sanskrit for anthill). The urge to write <a href="/wiki/Ramayan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ramayan">Ramayana</a> was triggered by Valmiki's sensitive reaction to the wailing of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird" class="extiw" title="w:Bird">bird</a>, whose mate was killed by a hunter. The ideal <a href="/wiki/Society" title="Society">society</a> portrayed so realistically in the Ramayana by Valmiki made <a href="/wiki/Gandhi" class="mw-redirect" title="Gandhi">Gandhiji</a> name the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia" class="extiw" title="w:Utopia">Utopia</a> he envisaged for <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>: Rama Rajya!</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="noprint" style="clear: right; border: solid #aaa 1px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 90%; background: #f9f9f9; width: 250px; padding: 4px; spacing: 0px; text-align: left; float: right;"> <div style="float: left;"><figure class="mw-halign-none" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Wikipedia"><img alt="Wikipedia" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg/50px-Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="46" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg/75px-Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg/100px-Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="103" data-file-height="94" /></a><figcaption>Wikipedia</figcaption></figure></div> <div style="margin-left: 60px;"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> has an article about: <div style="margin-left: 10px;"><i><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmiki" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:Valmiki">Valmiki</a></b></i></div> </div> </div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&oldid=3639285">https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Valmiki&oldid=3639285</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Poets_from_India" title="Category:Poets from India">Poets from India</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Hindu_mythology" title="Category:Hindu mythology">Hindu mythology</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Epic_poets" title="Category:Epic poets">Epic poets</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 26 December 2024, at 12:07.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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