Valmiki

To Valmiki, we Indians owe a deeper debt of gratitude than to any other poet. He gave us the Ramayana, one of the most fascinating stories of all time. No words can describe the hold the Ramayana has had on the people of India from ancient times to the present day. It has affected the life and thou ght of our people and played an important role in shaping Indian culture. Valmiki was the Adikavi, the first poet, and his Ramayana the Adikavya, the first poem. While remembering the man’s work, we must not forget the man. How he wrote the Kamayana, and under what conditions, is itself an absorbing story. This version is based on Valmiki Ramayana and Vallathol’s Malayalam translation.

SAYINGS OF VALMIKI

The mind is the cause for the direction of all senses leading to good and evil acts.

Honour the wives of others and protect them, O Ravana, as you will your own. Set an example by loving your own wife.

Kindness is a supreme virtue. Great men when they undertake todoa great deed, are never upset. They are the blessed,who by their wisdom, can control their anger, even as water subdues a conflagration. Whoever does anything with enthusiasm rarely fails to jachieve his $bject. A PCL- LCN yet

a7 Vv , JONAVSK A VJERSKA Inne good reading. |

‘AJEDNICA SPLIT Over 78 million copies sold so far,

HRAMSKA BBLIOTEKA

Retold by :; Mali Artwork : Prabhakar Khanolkar

Editor : Anant Pai ©1995 India Book House Pvt. Ltd. Published by H. G. Mirchandani, for India Book House Pvt, Lid., Fleet Bidg, Mathuradas Vissanji Road, Marol Naka, Andheri (East), Bombay 400 059, and printed by him at Shashi Offset, 124, Ansa ‘H’ Ind. Estate, Saki Vihar Road, Bombay- 400 072.

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VALMIK) INAS THE ADIKAV! GR FILET POET AND id (WS FIRST POEM OR ADIKAVYA WAS THE PAMAYANT.

POAMING FARE JUNGLE AE SOs DOWN AHABMLESS SIRES.

STCANGELY, VALMIE! WAS A HUNTER AND

AAOHE Ae Ono,

HE ALSO WAYLAID AND ROBBED LONE TRAVELLERS IN THE JUNGLE.

HANP OVER THAT BUNDLE OF ELSE iWIELL KILL YOU,

HAVE MERCY. SPARE ME.

HERE I TODAY’"S

p RE PATIENT. fF A GROUP OF RICH MERCHANTS WILL BE ‘ PASSING THROUGH THE ff JUNGLE TOMORROW.

REATAINGE TE: SAR TAS EA ES A BEVEL CREAT: ON

" i ) f A | f “1 : fi f s

y Vans" )/ALL THE WEALTH Wf f STOP,IF You Va =e. THAT YOU

LOVE YOUR [eas HAVE ON YOU. Ja

WE ARE MEN OF GOD AND OWN NO WEALTH.

BUT WHY DO YOU

, ‘WANT TO ROB Us 2

BUT FIRST WILL YOU ANSWER MY GUES TION ¢

OUT WITH IT! AND BE QUICK,

| | HAVE TO MAINTAIN MAY WIFE

AND? CHILPEEN. ROBBERY IS MY MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD,

YOUR FAMILY LIVES ON THE FRUITS

| OF YOUR SIN. WILL THEY PARTAKE (= { OF COURSE, 2 : ame | A OTHEY WILL.

60 ANP ASK THEM, COME BACK WITH THEIR ANSWEE.

ALL FIGHT. BUT IF YOu RUN AWAY, | WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR IT,

THE ROBEER WALKER TOWARDS AVS INGIDE THE AUT...

AUT WAILE THE AIShYS STC = = = IWATIOMIVG AYA. - DEAR WIFE, YOU BENEFIT FROM MY

cone SINFUL LIFE. DON'T YOu ? OF COURSE, | PO. WHAT OF THAT ¢

Wi aes | oe el b ara. :

YOU WILL ee eet GY You ARE THE SINNER. SHARE MY sINS;})) —s—ié‘(} SAS lO WHY SHOULD | WON'T YOU? J ee '

¥ WONT YOU AT LEAST SHARE MY SIN, MAY wt PAPLING? 4 99]

NO FATHER, \gumm | WILL NOT.

IWE BOBBER COULD NOT BELIE ve MS EARS. HE STOQD STUNNED AND | HAZ Eo —

BEVOWGS UNDE THE WEIGNT OF ¢ CREOW, ME WENT OUT WNT FALTERING STEPS.

AS HE CAME NEAR THEM AE &446S7 INTO TEARS,

WHAT DIP THEY TELL

= ’ t 4 } | } | i f A 7 a i A le ye | } hi 4 1 Ay Pm i COANE

MY SOUL IS LOST, FEPEEM IT, © COMPASSIONATE

THE AISAIS TOOK ATS OM FAT.

eSslT DOWN AND RECITE*MA-RA. PUT YOUF HEART

\ DON'T STOP FOR } A MOMENT TILL WE RETURN. GOP BLESS YOU...

THEREUPON THE ROBBER SQUAT TED OM THE GROUND, CLOSED HIE EYES, AND FOSSETT TING AVIIGE! & BeOS, FECT IVG *A14-e4? belie Oa ey bs “BAMA? INVERTED , 2 —_

MONTHS PASSED INTO YEARS, AND STILL HE SAT UNVAAOVING. AROUND AAA AM ANTHILL MAS ee deta SE ee sil apc ae AV TATTLE. See hss teh acini deat

AT LAST ONE DAY THE SEVEN RIGHIG RETURNED TO THE PLACE.

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RAMA THE MIRACLE ‘1S DUE, AND TO YOU, O GREAT RISHIS.

ey EO

AMONG THE SREATEST RISGHIS YOU AFE ONE, © VALMIKI. AND

SEEATER GLORY AWAITS “OU,

| FWEREAF TER VALMIK BECAUSE OF Fi/S SPIRITUAL. POWER AMD! KNOWLEDGE EARNED THE RESPECT OF AOLY MEN EVESCYAIVERE

xs ae EWS MAHA RIGHI NARADA SY way con eLess | Se a ae a YOU, O HOLIEST AMONG | ‘. HOLY MEN. atl

| THEY ENGAGED THEMSELVES i CON- VES SAT ey,

RAMA \WHO [Ss THE

PRESENT KING

f\. OF AYODHYA,

WHO AMONG MEN, | 'S THE MOST PERFECT ONE, O NARADA?

| HAVE TOLD oF YOU ALL | KNOW. S

WHAT A FASCINATING Sa

STORY. | AM GRATEFUL TO YOu, &# © NARADA, ffl

LET ME TELL You THE WONDERFUL STORY OF FAMA.

PLEASE BEGIN, 1AM IMPATIENT TO HEAR IT.

EVER ALTER, THE STARY KEMAIWED ERESH i UALMIASTS MING, JOST AS AE HAG MEARL £7,

ALL THE TIME / CAA THINE OF NOTING ELSE. STRAVEE

WVPEED,

PE ri Feit ee | UNE a NS Se pe | AA &ONAN GS To

THE TAMASA FIVER FOR

A BATH, Go“Ace |

WHITH AAE.

LEAD MASTEF, | FOLLOW.

LOOK, NATURE : HAS PECKED HERSELF BN IN ALL HER FINERY,

SEE HOW BLISSFUL THOSE TWO BIRPS ARE, AND HOW INNOCENT ANP PURE IS THEIR LOVE FOR

» EACH OTHER.

r wr earl §

ee ee

i

|

OH GOP, VV HAT CRUELTY!

iV AYS GRIEF VAL AMIE Ctse AUNTEL

SEL TAME

YOU HAVE SLAIN A HARAALESS CREATUFE. MAY YOU NEVER PROGPEF, O CRUEL MAN.

VALMUKI'S UTTERANCE WHICH WAS (NV | SANEKEAIT, CAME OUT IN VERSE WITH | MELOY ANE BAY FPA,

| THUS CAME INTO BEING THE FIRST | S7AVZA EVES, AS IT ALOSE FAH MS | "SHOKA"OR GRIEF HE CALLED IT “SHLOKA”™

THE WORDS! THE FORM! SOMETHING QUITE NEW! AMAZING INDEED!

| THAT DAY HE HAD A VISITOR — BRAHMA THE CREATOR MAISELF.

BLESSED INDEED ARE | YOU, ; : WHAT MAY

HAS HAPPENED AS DECREED By |

ME.

YOU HAVE HEARD PAMA?S STORY FROM NARADA, WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW AND ALSO WHAT

IS UNKNOWN TO You.

BUT LORE, HOW CAN | WRITE ABOUT THINGS | DON’T KNOW?

WHATEVER KNOWLEDGE YOu PO NOT POSSESS 2 i SHALL BE PEVEALED TO YOU. AS LONG AS MOUNTAINS Jal” AND SEAS EXISTON EARTH, SO LONG WILL é YOUR PAMAYANA

7 LAMATRS AH, HOW

h CORONATION. . CLEAR.IS MY Re < VISION.

| AFTELUAEOSS HE WEOTE THE GLORIOUS EPIC) PAMAYANA, iV VERSE.

bs i We seiiitass <

MASTER HAS FINISHED THE CAAA ASAIA, .

KAS HELD THE LISTENERS INP. :

=. rae }, eee ae ha r j |

YEARS LATER, SQUE DISCIPLES WENT DEEP WVTO THE WOOPS.THGCE THEY FONE A OMA CHING _— ee GROUND AVE CAV AS 1 NE Sie WOeGLE BELA,

WHO IS SHE ANG WHY [6

BEAUTIFUL LADY. IS SHE A

4. GOPDESS?

\ Tan

VALMUIKI'S SPILITUAL INGIGAT TOLO MAA WHO THE LADY WAS.

O MASTER,THERE I¢ ALACY IN THE — WOODS. SHE IS WEEPING WITHOUT A STOP. SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!LIKE GODDESS

OW GOD. SHE 1S S(TA, LORD RAMA’S * WHEE.

<<

| THE RIGA! HURRIED TO THE PEACE WHERE SITA LAT.

= Ny . My OSITA,CHASTEST AMONG WOMEN, DO NOT GRIEVE. | AM HERE TO : HELP YOU.

SITA WHO HAD BEEN ABANDONED \ * ZS~ tye ae sf O JEWELOF IN THE FOREST B¢ RAMA FOUND |\% Si AR | WOMANHOOD,

| A BENEFACT OL (iN VALMIES, - nw yl COME WITH | = ; ny = 2 ‘to =,

nrg = Was Lala ge &

a | HERMITAGE. |

Ne fe, CONSIDER

: , iT YOUR OWN

PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL CAFE OF SITA. SHE (5 GOING TO BE A MOTHER.

THE BOYS, LUV ANP KUSH MEE

BROUGHT UF BY VALAMIL AND EBUCATED BY HIM.

J

AMONG THE MANY THINGS HE TAUGHT THEM WAS TO RECITE THE RAMAYANA 7O THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF THE VEENA.

—

+

J IF RAMA ASKS YOU ABOUT YOUR FATHER, MERELY SAY “Ou APE VALMIKI?S

| DISCIPLES,

BAMA AND THE ASSEMBLY WERE ENTPANCED BY THE SINGING OF THE EOYs,

WONDERFUL POETRY AND

a : mai ar] mau” mil Ni i) qu! iii r sil un i yn | | il le = 6

ip | BA r mi ill” Zag

CHILPREN, WHO COMPOSED THIS GREAT

Rai \\\\\ \i-7 WE ARE cIScIPLes our ff i (ae f \ OF mt MASTER ANWR |

VALMIFI!

RAMA GAVE AN ORDER TO MIS MINISTER.

| AM MIGHTILY PLEASED WITH THE | PERFORMANCE OF THESE BOYS.

GIVE THEM EIGHTEEN pa THOUSAND GOLD | #5

| ACCEPT MONEY WE . APE S0/NG&,

wn

2s i wi

LATER THE TRUTH COAWVES OV KAMA.

THE B0C7S 4£E AS ANY SONS! SITA /S THEE MOTAES. f ew S&VE

€ SURPRISING al

eine Oo Q

WHAT? A MESSAGE

FEOM RAMA?

SITA, FAMA is PREPARED Te TAKE YOu BACK Fe

IF YOU WILL SWEAR BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY THAT YOU ARE BLAMELESS.

YOUR OATH IS MERELY TO AFFIEM YOUR PURITY IN PUBLIC, WILL

YOU GO WITH

BUT | AAA

| WILL PO te ANY THING AA’ HUSBAND COMMANDS. COME, LET us GO.

BLAMELESS.

THE INMATES OF THE HERMITAGE BADE SITA A TEARFUL FAREWELL.

ALL EVES NOW TURNEP TOWARPS VALMIKI ANP SITA.

1 AAA HONOUREP BY YOUR VISIT,

et cue cp = a di = eo ae) ae a8. ene oP Us

Se Vow EARTH, MY MOTHER, AS WITNESS | SWEAR THAT | HAVE ALVVAYS BEEN FAITHFUL.

[ WILL BE PELIGHTED IF SITA HEeSELF

SVvVvEears,

AND THEN A MIRACLE TOOK PLACE. THE ERRTH OPENED BY ITEELE AND UP CAME

BHOONM DEW EIT TING ON HER THRONE,

SITA, MY DEAR PAUGHTER, 1 HAVE COME TO TAKE

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| SUCH WAS VALMIEL | AUTHOR OF THE RAMAYANA. \IAsS THROUGH THE CENTUGES ‘BIN MIS WORK HAS LIVED, THE SAME AS WHEN HE WROTE (7 FOR ATS OU PLEASURE ANO THAT OF GENERATIONS FO CAME. ANG IT WILL LAKE, AS BEAHMA SAID, TILL THE MOUNTAING ANO THE SEAS EX/ST ON THE EARTH.

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