[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c4.2469 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.2469 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c4.2469 - **Language:** English ### [c4.2469](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2469) A fowler of the forest tribe shot down one of a couple of snipes which were carrying on love-making, on the banks of the River Tamasā. Seeing this Vālmīki cursed the fowler. The curse came out of the mouth of Vālmīki in the form of a verse,¹ “mā niṣāda pratiṣṭhāṃ tvama-gamaḥ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ, yat krauñcamithunādekam, avadhīḥ kāmamohitam,” which according to hearsay, is the first piece of poetry in the world. Brahmā who was attracted by the poetry came to the hermitage of Vālmīki and instigated him to compose the story of Rāma in verse. It is stated in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Sarga 2, that the Rāmāyaṇa was composed thus. - [Previous: c4.2468](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2468) - [Next: c4.2470](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2470) - [Up: c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4) ## Linked texts (1) - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2469](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.2469) · Pramāṇa