After the divine sage Narada left his hermitage, the great sage Valmiki continued to think deeply about the inspiring story of Rama. The tale of Rama's courage, virtue, and devotion to righteousness filled Valmiki's mind and heart. He wondered how such a noble story could be preserved and shared with the world.
One day, Valmiki decided to go to the banks of the sacred Tamasa River with his disciple Bharadwaja. The river flowed calmly through the forest, its waters clear and peaceful. Seeing the beautiful surroundings, Valmiki remarked that the river was pure and gentle, perfect for meditation and prayer.
As they walked through the forest, Valmiki suddenly noticed a pair of krauncha birds (a type of crane). The two birds were flying together joyfully, expressing their love and companionship. The peaceful moment filled the forest with beauty.
But suddenly, a hunter hiding nearby shot an arrow.
The arrow struck the male bird, which fell to the ground and died instantly. The female bird, seeing her companion killed, cried out in deep sorrow and pain. Her heartbreaking cries echoed through the forest.
Valmiki was deeply moved by this tragic sight. Compassion and grief filled his heart. At that moment, he spontaneously spoke words condemning the hunter for his cruel act. But the words that came out of his mouth were not ordinary speech—they formed a rhythmic poetic verse.
This became the first shloka (verse) of Sanskrit poetry.
Realizing this strange and powerful moment, Valmiki was surprised. He began to wonder about the meaning of this divine inspiration. Just then, something extraordinary was about to happen—an event that would change his life forever.
A divine visitor was soon going to appear and give Valmiki a great mission: to compose the complete story of Rama for all upcoming generations.