बालकाण्डम्Bālakāṇḍa

The righteous one, having heard that whole — matter indeed, in accord with dharma, clearly sought out still further whatever conduct there was of that wise one.

Having sipped water, self-restrained, the sage, taking his place with palms joined on blades of darbha grass whose tips pointed east, sought, through the power of dharma, the course of the tale.

And so he beheld: the birth of Rāma, his very great valor, his favor toward all, his dearness to the world, his forbearance, his gentleness, his truthfulness of character;

the variously wondrous other tales too in the companionship of Viśvāmitra; the marriage of Jānakī and, the breaking of the bow as well;

the dispute between Rāma and Rāma and the virtues of Dāśarathi likewise; and so too the consecration of Rāma, the malign purpose of Kaikeyī;

the thwarting and of the consecration, the banishing of Rāma and; the king's grief-stricken lament and, his departure to the next world as well;

the subjects' despondency and, the dismissing of the subjects; the colloquy with the lord of the Niṣādas, the return of the charioteer as well;

the crossing of the Gaṅgā too, the visit to Bharadvāja; and by the leave of Bharadvāja, the beholding of Citrakūṭa;

the building of a dwelling and its founding and; Bharata's coming as well, and the appeasing of Rāma, and the water-rite for his father too;

the consecrating of the sandals, that peerless act, and, the dwelling at Nandigrāma; the going to the Daṇḍaka forest, the meeting with Sutīkṣṇa;

the meeting with Anasūyā and, and the bestowal of the unguent too; the exchange with Śūrpaṇakhā and, her disfiguring as well;

the slaying of Khara and Triśiras, the rousing of Rāvaṇa and; and the slaying of Mārīca indeed, the carrying-off of Vaidehī as well;

Rāghava's lament and, the slaying of the king of vultures; the encounter with Kabandha indeed, and the sight of Pampā too;

the visit to Śabarī indeed, and the meeting with Hanumān as well; and the lament indeed at Pampā of Rāghava the great-souled;

the going to R̥ṣyamūka, the meeting with Sugrīva; the winning of his trust, the pact of friendship, the strife of Vālin and Sugrīva;

the slaying of Vālin indeed, and the installing of Sugrīva; the time of lament of Tārā, the dwelling through the season of rains;

the wrath of the lion of the Rāghavas, the mustering of the armies; the sending forth to the directions indeed, and the describing of the earth;

the giving of the signet-ring and, the finding of the bear's cave; the sitting down to fast unto death indeed, and the encounter with Saṁpāti too;

the ascent of the mountain indeed, and the leaping over of the ocean too; the entering of Laṅkā by night and, the pondering of the lone one even;

the going to the banquet-ground, the viewing of the inner harem; the going to the aśoka grove, and the finding of Sītā too;

the giving of the token of recognition and, and the speaking with Sītā too; the threatening by the rākṣasīs indeed, and the vision in a dream of Trijaṭā;

the giving of the crest-jewel by Sītā, the wrecking of the trees just so too; the rout of the rākṣasīs indeed, and the slaughter of the kiṁkaras;

the seizing of the Wind-god's son and, the burning of Laṅkā and the roar of defiance; the leaping back indeed thereupon, and the plundering of the honey-stores as well;

the consoling of Rāghava indeed, and the delivery of the jewel as well; the parley with the ocean and, and the building of Nala's bridge;

the crossing and of the ocean, the besieging of Laṅkā by night —; the alliance with Vibhīṣaṇa, the disclosing of the means to slay Rāvaṇa;

the death of Kumbhakarṇa, the slaying of Meghanāda; the destruction of Rāvaṇa and, the recovery of Sītā in the city of the enemy;

the consecration of Vibhīṣaṇa and, the sight of the Puṣpaka too; the journey to Ayodhyā and, the reunion with Bharata;

the festal triumph of Rāma's consecration, the disbanding of all the army; the gladdening of his own realm indeed, and the sending away of Vaidehī too;

and whatever yet to come there was of Rāma upon the face of the earth — that Vālmīki, the venerable seer, composed in the latter part of the poem.