From Ayodhya to Lanka

Valmiki's Divine Vision (1.3.1 - 1.3.6)

After hearing the story of Rama from the wise Narada, the righteous Valmiki wanted to know more. He sat on kusha grass (a sacred grass used in rituals) facing east, sipped water to purify himself, and used his spiritual power to see the past events clearly.

Valmiki saw everything that happened to Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and King Dasharatha. He witnessed their experiences, conversations, and even their laughter, as if watching it happen in real time. Through his spiritual vision, Valmiki saw all that Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana went through in the Dandaka forest.

The sage's mystical powers allowed him to see these past events as clearly as if he held them in his hand.

The Epic Takes Shape (1.3.7 - 1.3.9)

Valmiki, filled with divine inspiration, prepared to compose the story of Rama. He crafted it to include:

• The pursuit of pleasure and prosperity

• The importance of righteousness

• Captivating details, like an ocean full of gems

The sage wrote the history of the Raghu dynasty just as Narada had told it to him.

The Life of Rama (1.3.10 - 1.3.20)

Valmiki's epic covered Rama's entire life, including:

• His birth and great strength

• His kindness to all and his popularity

• His patience, good looks, and truthfulness

• His meeting with the sage Vishwamitra

• Various amazing stories

• Breaking the great bow and marrying Sita (Janaki)

• His argument with Parashurama (another incarnation of Vishnu)

• Preparations for Rama's coronation

• Kaikeyi's wicked plan

• The cancellation of the coronation and Rama's exile

• King Dasharatha's sorrow and death

• The people's grief and Rama leaving them behind

• Rama's conversation with Guha (king of the Nishadas, a forest tribe)

• Crossing the Ganges river

• Meeting the sage Bharadwaja

• Arriving at Chitrakuta mountain

• Building a hut and living there

• Bharata's arrival and attempt to persuade Rama to return

• Rama's performance of his father's funeral rites

• The symbolic coronation of Rama's sandals

• Bharata ruling from Nandigrama

• Rama's journey to the Dandaka forest

• The killing of the demon Viradha

Adventures in the Forest (1.3.21 - 1.3.24)

Valmiki's epic continued to describe Rama's journey:

• Meeting the sage Sharabhanga

• Encountering Sutikshna

• Sita's friendship with Anasuya, who gave her fragrant ointments

• Meeting the sage Agastya

• Befriending Jatayu, the vulture king

• Arriving at Panchavati

• The appearance of Surpanakha (Ravana's sister)

• Rama's conversation with Surpanakha and her disfigurement

• The killing of demons Khara and Trishiras

• Ravana's plot against Rama

• The killing of Maricha (who took the form of a golden deer)

• Sita's abduction

• Rama's grief

• The death of Jatayu while trying to save Sita

• Meeting Kabandha (a cursed being)

• Seeing the Pampa lake

• Meeting Shabari, a devoted ascetic

• Encountering Hanuman

Alliance with the Monkeys (1.3.25 - 1.3.27)

The story then moves to Rama's alliance with the monkeys:

• Rama's journey to Rishyamuka mountain

• Meeting Sugriva, the exiled monkey prince

• Forming a friendship and alliance

• The fight between Sugriva and his brother Vali

• Rama killing Vali and crowning Sugriva as king

• Tara (Vali's wife) mourning

• Rama waiting through the rainy season for Sugriva to fulfill his promise

• Rama's anger at Sugriva's delay

• Gathering the monkey army

• Sending search parties in all directions

• Rama giving his ring to Hanuman as a token for Sita

Hanuman's Journey to Lanka (1.3.28 - 1.3.33)

The epic then focuses on Hanuman's search for Sita:

• Hanuman and his team entering a cave

• Meeting Sampati, Jatayu's brother

• Hanuman leaping across the ocean

• The appearance of Mount Mainaka in the ocean

• Hanuman killing the demoness Simhika

• Reaching Lanka and seeing its beauty

• Entering Lanka at night and searching for Sita

• Seeing Ravana and his flying chariot, Pushpaka

• Finding Sita in the Ashoka garden

• Giving her Rama's ring and receiving her jewel in return

• Ravana threatening Sita

• Trijata's (a female demon) dream predicting Ravana's defeat

• Hanuman destroying the Ashoka garden

• Fighting and defeating Ravana's guards

• Being captured and setting his tail on fire

• Burning down much of Lanka

• Leaping back across the ocean

• Informing Rama about Sita's location

The War in Lanka (1.3.34 - 1.3.36)

Valmiki then described the great war:

• Rama's army building a bridge to Lanka with Nala's help

• Crossing the ocean and besieging Lanka at night

• Vibhishana (Ravana's brother) joining Rama's side

• The death of Kumbhakarna (Ravana's giant brother)

• The killing of Indrajit (Meghanada, Ravana's son)

• Ravana's destruction

• Rama reuniting with Sita in Lanka

• Vibhishana's coronation as the new king of Lanka

• The appearance of the Pushpaka chariot

Return to Ayodhya and Beyond (1.3.37 - 1.3.38)

The epic concludes with:

• Rama's return to Ayodhya

• Reunion with his brother Bharata

• Rama's coronation celebrations

• Dismissing the monkey army

• Rama making his subjects happy

• The banishment of Sita

Valmiki also mentioned that he composed future events in Rama's life in the Uttara Kanda (the last book of the Ramayana).

This concludes the third chapter (sarga) of Balakanda, the first book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.