Válmíki
Role: sage and poet · First appears: Book I, Canto 2 · Brahmá’s Visit
In Book I, Canto 2, at his hermitage, Brahmá commanded Válmíki to recount Ráma’s life and promised that the poem would contain no falsehood. Válmíki chose the śloka meter and composed verses of Ráma’s deeds, describing them in “hundreds of such verses.”
In Book I, Canto 4, Válmíki taught Kuśa (son of Ráma) and Lava the Rámáyan and instructed them to recite it in public places, from sages’ gatherings to royal courts. In Book II, Canto 56, he welcomed Ráma, Lakshmaṇ, and Sítá as guests, entertaining them with honour.
Relationship record
Life events
- Brahmá commanded Válmíki to compose Ráma’s life in verse.(Book I, Canto 2 · Brahmá’s Visit · 📍 Válmíki’s hermitage)
- With: Brahmá
- “Then come, O best of seers, relate The life of Ráma good and great, The tale that saintly Nárad told, In all its glorious length unfold.”
- Brahmá promised that Válmíki’s poem would contain no falsehood.(Book I, Canto 2 · Brahmá’s Visit)
- With: Brahmá
- “In all thy poem, through my grace, No word of falsehood shall have place.”
- Válmíki chose the śloka meter for composing his story.(Book I, Canto 2 · Brahmá’s Visit)
- “This measure now Válmíki chose Wherein his story to compose.”
- Válmíki composed verses telling Ráma’s glorious deeds.(Book I, Canto 2 · Brahmá’s Visit)
- “In hundreds of such verses, sweet With equal lines and even feet, The saintly poet, lofty-souled, The glorious deeds of Ráma told.”
- Válmíki taught Kuśá and Lava the Rámáyan.(Book I, Canto 4 · The Rhapsodists)
- With: Kuśa (son of Ráma) Lava
- “And so the great Rámáyan, fraught With lore divine, to these he taught:”
- Válmíki instructed Kuśá and Lava to recite the song in public places.(Book I, Canto 4 · The Rhapsodists)
- With: Kuśa (son of Ráma) Lava
- “Recite ye this heroic song In tranquil shades where sages throng: Recite it where the good resort, In lowly home and royal court.”
- Válmíki welcomes and entertains the three as his guests.(Book II, Canto 56 · Chitrakúta)
Book I, Canto 2 · Brahmá’s Visit
- pupil: Bharadvája “To Bharadvája by his side He turned in ecstasy, and cried: “See, pupil dear, this lovely sight,”
- patron: Brahmá “In all thy poem, through my grace, No word of falsehood shall have place.”
Book I, Canto 4 · The Rhapsodists
- pupil: Kuśa (son of Ráma) “And so the great Rámáyan, fraught With lore divine, to these he taught:”
- pupil: Lava “And so the great Rámáyan, fraught With lore divine, to these he taught:”
Book II, Canto 56 · Chitrakúta
- protégé: Ráma “He gave his guests a welcome fair, And bade them sit and rest them there,”
- protégé: Lakshmaṇ “He gave his guests a welcome fair, And bade them sit and rest them there,”
- protégé: Sítá “He gave his guests a welcome fair, And bade them sit and rest them there,”
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Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.