The Birth of Ramayana and its Composition

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 shorebird and has a bill that is sickle-shaped, curving downward at the tip. The birds have long necks and long legs.

Once, when the birds devoted themselves to each other, they seemed unaware to the sage Valmiki. As they made love, they were so engrossed in each other that they overlooked 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.

Valmiki sat meditating, unable to forget the birds or his own peculiar verse, composed in a moment of grief. At that moment, a cosmic guest appeared and set his mind at ease.

Valmiki sat meditating when Brahma, the Creator of the universe, appeared before him. Astonished, Valmiki prostrated and greeted him with folded hands.

He then paid Brahma his respect and offered him water to wash his feet, some whole rice grains (arghya), a gift, and asana (a seat).

Valmiki sat down but, despite being in front of the great lord, was unable to forget the birds and the cruelty of the hunter's act. Overcome by grief, he uttered the verse again.

Seeing Valmiki's dilemma. and perhaps delighted at the fruition of his plan, Brahma said with a smile. "Do not think about this anymore. You have composed a structured shloka. The poetry and speech were born because I wanted it to be so.

"Best of seers, now use this beautiful structure to compose a complete account of Rama's conduct as you heard it from Narada.

"Nothing of the acts of Rama, Sita, or Lakshmana shall remain hidden from you. You shall have full knowledge of all they did, in public or private. Not a word of what you say in this composition shall ever be rendered false."

Thus, according to Valmiki's supernatural insight. Brahma vanished.