What a funny and stupid title? Who does not know that Ramayan was written by Valmiki? This is not a matter for discussion! These might be your immediate reactions. But I have found something what is worth discussion.
These stanzas are from "The Ramayan of Valmiki, translated into English verse" by Ralph T.H. Griffith published around 1870s.
"Praise to Válmíki, bird of charming song
Who mounts on Poesy’s sublimest spray,
And sweetly sings with accent clear and strong
Ráma, aye Ráma, in his deathless lay.
Hail, Saint Válmíki, lord of every lore!
Hail, holy Hermit, calm and pure of mind!
Hail, First of Bards, Válmíki, hail once more!"
These stanzas are present in "Invocation". I would have thought that the translator had written these if he had not added the following footnote:
"The MSS.(manuscripts written in the original language) vary very considerably in these stanzas of invocation: many lines are generally prefixed in which not only the poet, but those who play the chief parts in the poem are panegyrized. It is self-apparent that they are not by the author of the Rámáyan himself."
But I have never read the Sanskrit version(I am not a Sanskrit scholar so I don't think I would have ever understood). I haven't even read other translated versions. So, I would be grateful if someone joined the discussion and solved my doubts.
Since I believe that no author praises himself, I think Griffith presents his findings during the translation. Even if Valmiki is the writer, the writing of the events of Rama's life are believed to be after 16 years(Is this TRUE?) of his enthronement(after returning from the forest) that too, when Narad Muni asks him to write the story in slokas invented by Valmiki. As Valmiki hears the complete story from Brahma( some say Brahma gave him yogic powers and through which he was able to see all the events as a seer which I believe is false), it is apparent that he associated the story with myth. What I believe is that Valmiki sang the Ramayan which he taught to Luv and Kusa and was later written by someone else.
These stanzas are from "The Ramayan of Valmiki, translated into English verse" by Ralph T.H. Griffith published around 1870s.
"Praise to Válmíki, bird of charming song
Who mounts on Poesy’s sublimest spray,
And sweetly sings with accent clear and strong
Ráma, aye Ráma, in his deathless lay.
Where breathes the man can listen to the strain
That flows in music from Válmíki’s tongue,
Nor feel his feet the path of bliss attain
When Ráma’s glory by the saint is sung!
That flows in music from Válmíki’s tongue,
Nor feel his feet the path of bliss attain
When Ráma’s glory by the saint is sung!
The stream Rámáyan leaves its sacred fount
The whole wide world from sin and stain to free.
The whole wide world from sin and stain to free.
The Prince of Hermits is the parent mount,
The lordly Ráma is the darling sea.
The lordly Ráma is the darling sea.
Glory to him whose fame is ever bright!
Glory to him, Prachetas’ holy son!
Whose pure lips quaff with ever new delight
The nectar-sea of deeds by Ráma done.
Hail, arch-ascetic, pious, good, and kind!Glory to him, Prachetas’ holy son!
Whose pure lips quaff with ever new delight
The nectar-sea of deeds by Ráma done.
Hail, Saint Válmíki, lord of every lore!
Hail, holy Hermit, calm and pure of mind!
Hail, First of Bards, Válmíki, hail once more!"
These stanzas are present in "Invocation". I would have thought that the translator had written these if he had not added the following footnote:
"The MSS.(manuscripts written in the original language) vary very considerably in these stanzas of invocation: many lines are generally prefixed in which not only the poet, but those who play the chief parts in the poem are panegyrized. It is self-apparent that they are not by the author of the Rámáyan himself."
But I have never read the Sanskrit version(I am not a Sanskrit scholar so I don't think I would have ever understood). I haven't even read other translated versions. So, I would be grateful if someone joined the discussion and solved my doubts.
Since I believe that no author praises himself, I think Griffith presents his findings during the translation. Even if Valmiki is the writer, the writing of the events of Rama's life are believed to be after 16 years(Is this TRUE?) of his enthronement(after returning from the forest) that too, when Narad Muni asks him to write the story in slokas invented by Valmiki. As Valmiki hears the complete story from Brahma( some say Brahma gave him yogic powers and through which he was able to see all the events as a seer which I believe is false), it is apparent that he associated the story with myth. What I believe is that Valmiki sang the Ramayan which he taught to Luv and Kusa and was later written by someone else.
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