Studies in the Epics and Puranas c7.s2.4

c7.s2.4

With these prefatory remarks about the common and contrasting features of the two epics, let us turn to the study of the *Rām*. Macdonell rightly remarks that probably no work of world literature, secular in its origin, has ever produced so profound an influence on the life and thought of the people as the *Rām*.⁵¹ Tradition ascribes the authorship of the *Rām* to Vālmīki, the *ādikavi*, also known as Bhārgava and Prācetasa, who had his hermitage on the banks of the Gaṅgā. Tenth in descent from Pracetas, he is also represented as Cyavanaputra. Originally known as Ratnākara, Vālmīki has narrated his past history in the *Adhyātma-Rāmāyaṇa*, describing how he was transformed into a devotee from a robber. According to the Uttarakāṇḍa of the *Rām*, Vālmīki wrote the main story and Bhārgava added the episodes at a subsequent period.⁵² The story of how the poet's lament (*śoka*) on seeing a hunter killing the male krauñca bird was turned into a stanza (*śloka*) is graphically described in the introductory part of the *Rām*. Vālmīki is highly praised for his excellence of thought and expression, and throughout the length and breadth of India, from the peasant's hut to the lord's parlour the story of Rāma is familiar and is listened to with devotion and pleasure. Truly prophetic were the words of Brahmā who assured Vālmīki that