Narada

 

Narada

Narada, the celestial sage born from Brahma’s mind, is a devoted messenger of Vishnu, renowned for his wisdom and wandering nature. He plays a pivotal role in sacred texts, guiding Vyasa to compose the Puranas and inspiring Valmiki with the tale of Rama.

When Valmiki seeks an ideal man, Narada describes Rama: virtuous, mighty, and radiant as the gods. Later, while meditating by the Tamasa River, Valmiki witnesses a hunter kill a mating curlew.

A curlew is a medium-sized or large shorebird and having a bill that is decurved, or sickle-shaped, curving downward at the tip. Curlews are marked, gray or brown birds with long necks and long legs.

The birds devoted themselves to each other, they seemed unaware to the sage. As they made love, they were so engrossed in each other that they did not notice the Nishada (hunter) nearby.

As the great sage looked at the birds, the Nishada struck the male with an arrow. It fell to the ground, trembling and soaked in its blood. Seeing her dying mate, the female cried out in pathetic tones. Valmiki saw the struggling bird. desperate for life and heard the cries of separation of the female.

Shocked at this cruel interruption of love.

Valmiki, overwhelmed with grief, reacted with deep compassion and pain.

He spoke: The first shloka

maa nishaada pratishtha

tvam/ agamah shashvatech samah//

yat-kraunca-mithunad-ekam/avadhih kama-mohitam //

("O Nishada! This couple of curlews was in the throes of passion and you killed one of them. Therefore, you will possess ill repute for an eternal number of years.")

Astonished that he had spoken these words aloud, Valmiki wondered, "What are these words that I have uttered while overcome with sorrow?"

Grief, in verse-

Overcome by grief, Valmiki suddenly utters a rhythmic curse—the first shloka—birthing Sanskrit poetry. This moment transforms sorrow into art, marking the dawn of epic storytelling.