Uttara Kanda, Sarga 95

Meaning

While that most wonderful sacrifice was going on, the venerable sage Vālmīki with his pupils came there soon. (1)

Meaning

Ṛṣi Vālmīki saw the divine and astounding sacrifice. Vālmīki got his hut raised in the vicinity of other cottages of seers. They were all wonderful to look at. A number of carts, full of food-grains, lovely roots and fruits, were provided near his hut, not far from the sacrificial ground. (2-3)

Meaning

The self-controlled Vālmīki of great lustre was respected by the king, Śrī Rāma and other hermits and great souls staying there.(4)

Meaning

Vālmīki addressed the two cheerful pupils thus; ‘Go and carefully sing the entire poem, Rāmāyaṇa, most joyfully. (5)

Meaning

‘Sing in the holy huts of sages, in the dwellings of Brāhmaṇas, on the by-ways and highways and also in the residences of the kings,” (6)

Meaning

‘At the entrance of the apartment of Śrī Rāma and also where the ritual is being performed, and specially before the priests, this poem is to be sung. (7)

Meaning

‘These tasty fruits of many varieties have grown on the tops of the mountains. Enjoying them again and again, sing the poem. (8)

Meaning

‘O you two, dear ones, having eaten the fruits and also the roots well-ruled, you shall not tire and not deviate from the Rāga (musical notes). (9)

Meaning

‘If Śrī Rāma calls you to hear your song, then perform the singing of the poem in front of the sages seated, to the best of your ability. (10)

Meaning

‘Twenty cantoes are to be sung in a day in a melodious voice, as instructed by me with different number of verses as instructed by me earlier. (11)

Meaning

‘Do not be greedy even in the least with desire for wealth; of what use is wealth to dwellers of hermitages and subsisting always on fruits and roots? (12)

Meaning

‘If that scion of Kakutstha asks you: “whose sons are you two, then say to the king thus “We are the two disciples of Vālmīki”. (13)

Meaning

‘Playing on these lutes, emitting sweet sounds, and wonderfully divided according to musical notes, sing sweetly, having no worry. (14)

Meaning

‘This Rāmāyaṇa has to be sung from the beginning; do nothing disrespectful to the king; the king is the father of all beings, according to the law. (15)

Meaning

‘Therefore, you two, with a cheerful mind and attentively sing tomorrow morning the sweet song, accompanied with the lute and keeping proper tune and rhythm. (16)

Meaning

Having thus instructed many times, the son of Pracetā, the great sage Vālmīki, the most large-hearted one, then became silent. (17)

Meaning

Thus instructed by that sage, both those two sons of Maithilī (Sītā), the subduer of foes, saying ‘we shall do as you say’ went out. (18)

Meaning

Then keeping the wonderful words of the sage Vālmīki, the two young children, Lava and Kuśa, eager to sing slept with ease like the two Aśwanīkumāras having learnt the teachings of Śukra. (19)