The Rámáyan of Válmíki, Translated into English Verse

“You cannot count on the physical proximity of someone you love, all the time. A seed that sprouts at the foot of its parent tree remains stunted until it is transplanted. Rama will be in my care, and he will be quite well. But ultimately, he will leave me too. Every human being, when the time comes, has to depart to seek his fulfillment in his own way.””

— Valmiki

“I came in several times and spoke, but perhaps you were asleep when I thought you were awake.''You are very considerate to explain it this way,' Sugreeva said, 'but I was drunk””

— Valmiki

“Valmiki the Poet held all the moving world inside a water drop in his hand.The gods and saints from heaven looked down on Lanka,And Valmiki looked down at the gods in the morning of Time.””

— Valmiki

“He lit the night he brought with the fire that puts out the planets when time ends.””

— Valmiki

“In a world where we are accustomed to rivalries over possession, authority, and borders, and people clashing over the issue, “Ours,” or “Mine, not yours,” it is rather strange to find two people debating whose the kingdom is not, and asserting: “Yours, not mine.””

— Valmiki

“Even when you realize that the one before you is an enemy and must be treated sternly, do not hurt with words.””

— Valmiki

“Little baby Hanuman was hungry.””

— Valmiki

“She had lost her heart the moment she set eyes on him: it was this prince she had always dreamed of and waited for. She knew him from long ago, from countless lives before. They had belonged together since time began.””

— Valmiki

“In all this world, I pray thee, who Is virtuous, heroic, true?””

— Valmiki