The story of evolution of Sage Valmiki from a forest-wayside-robber to a Sage, and then to an Epic-Writer evokes great admiration. Of course, Priests and Temple-Discoursers did not apparently want Sage Valmiki to remain a forest-dwelling tribal. In Uttara Ramayana, an attempt was made to establish Sage Valmiki as a Brahmin Body, who had lost his way in a forest, and was picked up by some Tribal Parents, which led to his leading to a forest-wayside-robber's life. After becoming a Sage, when Valmiki was going to river to bathe, he found a hunter killing a male krauncha bid, leaving the female krauncha bird love-lost. From that great compassion of Valmiki's heart, the first verse of Valmiki Ramayana is believed to have emerged from his lips. WHAT TYPE OF HERO DID VALMIKI WANT TO CREATE AND RAMAYANA AIM TO PRESENT?
CONTEXT: Opening of the Epic. Poet-sage Valmiiki questions sage Narada inquisitively about the greatest ideal person in the world. Narada replies.
PART 1, CHAPTER 1, VERSEs 2, 3 and 4, SANSKRIT:
kahnu asmin sampratam lookee gun`avaan kaha ca viiryavaan
dharmagnaaha ca krutagnaha ca satya vaakyoo dhrud`ha vrataha.
Caaritreen`a ca koo yuktaha sarva bhuuteeshu koo hitaha
vidvaan kaha kaha samarthaha ca kaha ca eeka priya darshanaha.
aatmavaan koo jita kroodhoo dyutimaan kaha anasuuyakaha
kasya bibhyati devaaha ca jaata roshasya samyugee
GIST
ENGLISH: Who in this ‘contemporary world’ is
1. top in characters and principles
2. most potent
3. conscientious and wise
4. top in gratitude
5. truthful
6. perseverant
7. exemplarily behaving
8. a doer of good to all living beings
9. scholar
10. efficient and capable
11. handsome and pleasing to look at
12. courageous
13. conquerer of anger
13. brilliant
14. free of envy
15. feared even by gods of heaven, when he is provoked to war
In reply, Narada gave the name of Rama.
BLOGGER'S VIEW
Did Valmiki get a protagonist with the above characteristics? The hundred blog posts here will show a different picture.
Have you ever seen scripture preachers, temple speakers, TV commentators, covering the hundred verses pointed out in these blog posts?
