Bala Kanda 3

Valmiki Ramayana: Translation by Uma Sri

Posted: Jul 22, 2026

The Krauncha Birds

Having heard Narada's words, Valmiki duly venerated him before the divine sage took his leave. Following Narada's departure, Valmiki made his way to the banks of the Tamasa River, located a short distance from the Jahnavi (Ganges).

Upon reaching the pristine banks of the Tamasa, Valmiki remarked to his disciple: "Dear child, Bharadvaja, I shall bathe at this ghat, which has serene, crystal-clear water that mirrors the mind of a virtuous soul. Set down the water pot and hand me my bark garment.'"

Thus instructed by his teacher, Bharadvaja—a mindful sage in his own right—dutifully presented the bark garment to Valmiki.

Just as Valmiki accepted the garment, his gaze fell upon an inseparable pair of Krauncha birds wandering together, uttering sweet melodies in a state of sheer delight.

However, as Valmiki looked on, a hunter struck down the male bird. Seeing her mate writhing on the ground, his body drenched in blood, the female bird let out a poignant, heart-wrenching cry.

First Poetic Verse

Observing the bird struck down by the hunter, profound compassion surged within the righteous-minded sage. Decrying the deed as an act of unrighteousness, Sage Valmiki, moved by the lamentation of the female Krauncha, uttered these words:

mā nişāda pratişthām tvam
agamah śāśvatīm samāh |
yat krauñňcamithunād ekam
vadhīh kāmamohitam ||

May you not, O Hunter,
attain peace for endless years;
for, one of a pair of coupling herons
enraptured by love, you have slain.

As those words left his lips, a realization struck his heart: "What is this that I have uttered, overcome with grief for this bird?"

Reflecting deeply, Valmiki arrived at a resolve and declared aloud to his disciple Bharadvaja: "May that which I uttered in sorrow—perfectly structured in four pādas (quarters) of eight syllables each, set to an even rhythm—emerge as a verse, and not otherwise (a curse)."

Hearing this, Bharadvaja was filled with wonder and delight at Valmiki's compassionate nature. The disciple religiously accepted the verse from his teacher (thereby ensuring it became a poetic transmission and not a curse for the hunter).

Soon, Sage Valmiki returned to his abode, still pondering the incident. The humble Bharadvaja followed closely behind.