Ratnakar was a feared name—a robber who haunted dense forests, lurking behind the shadows of towering trees, waiting to ambush unsuspecting travelers. Ruthless and feared, he would strip his victims of their valuables, leaving them shivering in fear and gratitude merely to escape alive. His heart had become hardened by circumstances, devoid of empathy or compassion. But destiny had other plans.
One day, as fate would have it, Ratnakar stumbled upon a unique pair of travelers. The sage Narada, radiant and calm, accompanied by his companion, moved through the forest fearlessly, singing hymns that seemed to resonate with the very trees around him. Ratnakar, perceiving another easy target, sprang from the bushes, his dagger gleaming ominously in hand.
“Hand over your valuables!” he thundered, voice echoing through the forest.
Narada smiled gently, unaffected by the threat. “Friend, what valuables do you speak of? All I possess is my veena and the name of Lord Vishnu.”
Enraged yet intrigued, Ratnakar growled, “Then you shall die here!” But before he could strike, Narada asked calmly, “Why do you commit these sins?”
“To feed my family,” Ratnakar retorted. “They share in the wealth; they shall share in my sins.”
Narada raised an eyebrow gently, “Have you asked them? Will they truly share the consequences of your deeds?”
Ratnakar hesitated. Something in Narada’s voice planted a seed of doubt.
Narada smiled knowingly. “Go, ask them. I shall wait.”
Ratnakar rushed home, confronting his family—his wife, his children, his parents. To his astonishment and horror, each declined the burden of his sins. “It is your responsibility alone,” they said, eyes cast downward.
Shaken, Ratnakar returned to Narada, bewildered and broken. “What can I do? My sins are many; my heart is stained deeply.”
Narada’s compassion enveloped him. “Repentance is powerful. Chant the name of Rama. Chant ‘Rama.’”
Ratnakar tried, but the weight of his sins prevented him. Narada, wise beyond measure, gently guided him, “Then chant ‘Mara’ instead.”
“Mara… Mara… Mara…” Ratnakar began to chant. Gradually, unbeknownst to him, “Mara” transformed into the divine syllable “Rama.” Days became months, months turned to years. Immersed in deep meditation, Ratnakar lost himself in divine consciousness. Anthills formed around him—nature itself cocooning him as he transcended his earthly past.
When Narada returned years later, Ratnakar emerged from the anthill—a rebirth, marked by a newfound spiritual clarity and serenity. “From now,” Narada proclaimed, “you shall be known as Valmiki—the sage born of an anthill, pure of heart, wise in spirit.”
Maharishi Valmiki, transformed profoundly, began a life of contemplation, teaching, and compassion. His illiteracy vanished as divine wisdom filled his consciousness, revealing truths beyond ordinary understanding. One day, deeply moved by witnessing a pair of krauncha birds separated cruelly by a hunter’s arrow, Valmiki spontaneously composed poetry—the first shloka, bursting forth from his heart:
मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः। यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकम् अवधीः काममोहितम्॥
Mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhāṁ tvamagamaḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ |
yat krauñcamithunādekam avadhīḥ kāmamohitam ||
Literal Translation:
“O hunter (Niṣāda), may you never attain stability or peace for eternal years,
for you have killed one of a pair of Krauncha birds who were engrossed in love.”
This verse is renowned for several reasons:
-
First Poetry (Adi-Kavya):
It is considered the first-ever verse (shloka) composed in Sanskrit literature, marking Valmiki as Adi-Kavi (the first poet). -
Deep Emotion (Karuna Rasa):
This shloka arose spontaneously from Valmiki’s heart due to intense compassion and grief (karuna rasa) upon seeing the bird’s suffering, demonstrating poetry born directly out of profound empathy. -
Symbolic Meaning:
It symbolizes the disruption of harmony and innocence through violence. The killing of one bird represents separation, loss, and cruelty, which deeply resonated with Valmiki’s compassionate heart.
This pivotal moment laid the foundation for Valmiki to write the epic Ramayana, a timeless exploration of human virtues, emotions, and ethics.
From this powerful moment emerged the seed of the epic Ramayana—Lord Rama’s story, the embodiment of sixteen unparalleled virtues.
Valmiki began narrating Rama’s tale—a prince whose virtues outshone all mortal beings. Rama was Gunvaan, exemplifying integrity; Veerayavan, unmatched in valor; Dharmajna, a keeper of righteousness; Kritajna, grateful and humble; and Satyavaak, a steadfast keeper of promises. Valmiki’s verses painted Rama as Drisha Vrata, unwavering in resolve; Charitravan, an epitome of morality; Sarva Bhuteshu Hitah, compassionate toward all living beings.
His poetry portrayed Rama as Vidyavaan, a fountain of knowledge; Samarthah, exceedingly competent; Ek Priya Darshanah, charming and delightful to behold; Aatmavan, brave and courageous; Jitakrodha, unclouded by anger; Dyutiman, radiantly brilliant; Anasuyakh, utterly devoid of envy. Lastly, Rama’s Jata Roshaya—the valor so immense even gods trembled—completed the portrait of an ideal human, divine yet earthly.
A model man thus is one who embodies virtues like integrity, courage, righteousness, gratitude, truthfulness, steadfastness, moral purity, compassion, knowledge, competence, charm, bravery, composure, brilliance, humility, and unmatched valor.
Through Rama’s story, Valmiki unveiled the path of righteousness, duty, love, and sacrifice. The transformation from Ratnakar to Valmiki symbolizes humanity’s inherent capacity to transcend past wrongs and reach divine greatness. Each verse Valmiki composed was both penance for his past and an offering of hope, illuminating that even the darkest souls can embrace the purest light.
The moral of Ratnakar’s story is profound and clear: No matter how dark one’s past, genuine remorse, sincere repentance, and devotion have the transformative power to lead an individual from darkness to spiritual enlightenment and greatness. Within each of us lies the potential for profound transformation, guided by introspection, wisdom, and divine grace.
