Praise to Válmíki, 2 bird of charming song, 3
Where breathes the man can listen to the strain
The stream Rámáyan leaves its sacred fount
Glory to him whose fame is ever bright!
Hail, arch-ascetic, pious, good, and kind! 1:1 The MSS. vary very considerably in these
stanzas of invocation: many lines are
generally prefixed in which not only the
poet, but those who play the chief parts in
the poem are panegyrized. It is self-apparent
that they are not by the author
of the Rámáyan himself. 1:2 'Válmíki was the son of Varuna, the
regent of the waters, one of whose names
is Prachetas. According to the Adhyátmá
Rámáyana, the sage, although a Bráhman
by birth, associated with foresters and
robbers. Attacking on one occasion the
seven Rishis, they expostulated with him
successfully, and taught him the mantra
of Ráma 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 valmik or ant-hill, by the nests of the
termites, whence his name of Válmíki.'
WILSON. Specimens of the Hindu
Theatre, Vol. I. p. 313.
'Válmíki is said to have lived a solitary
life in the woods: he is called both a muni
and a rishi. The former word properly
signifies an anchorite or hermit; the latter
has reference chiefly to wisdom. The two
words are frequently used promiscuously,
and may both be rendered by the Latin
cates in its earliest meaning of seer:
Válmíki was both poet and seer, as he is
said to have sung the exploits of Ráma by
the aid of divining insight rather than of
knowledge naturally acquired.' SCHLEGEL. 1:3 Literally, Kokila, the Koil, or Indian
Cuckoo. Schlegel translates 'luscinium.'
Who mounts on Poesy's sublimest spray,
And sweetly sings with accent clear and strong
Ráma, aye Ráma, in his deathless lay.
That flows in music from Válmíki's tongue,
Nor feel his feet the path of bliss attain
When Ráma's glory by the saint is sung!
The whole wide world from sin and stain to free. 1b
The Prince of Hermits is the parent mount,
The lordly Ráma is the darling sea.
Glory to him, Prachetas' 2b holy son!
Whose pure lips quaff with ever new delight
The nectar-sea of deeds by Ráma done.
Hail, Saint Válmíki, lord of every lore!
Hail, holy Hermit, calm and pure of mind!
Hail, First of Bards, Válmíki, hail once more!
Footnotes