New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi fondly remembered Maharishi Valmiki this morning. He extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion of Maharishi Valmiki’s birth anniversary. Additionally, he shared an episode involving Mother Sita. According to tradition, when Mother Sita was left in the forest, it was Maharishi Valmiki who provided her with shelter in his hermitage. He also taught Luv and Kush the art of reciting the story of Lord Rama (Ramkatha).
On X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Modi wrote, “Heartfelt greetings to everyone on the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki. His noble thoughts have been the core elements of Indian culture and heritage, and they will continue to nurture and flourish the nation through every era. His invaluable messages for humanity will always serve as a guiding light for the people of our country.”
On this occasion, he also shared a shloka (verse) as a subhashitam
तामभ्यगच्छद्रुदितप्रवादात्कविः कुशेध्माहरणाय यातः।
निषादविद्धाण्डजदर्शनोत्थः श्लोकत्वमापद्यत यस्य शोकः॥ https://t.co/5A5PP39t0Z
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2026
‘तामभ्यगच्छद्रुदितप्रवादात्कविः कुशेध्माहरणाय यातः। निषादविद्धाण्डजदर्शनोत्थः श्लोकत्वमापद्यत यस्य शोकः॥‘ This is the 70th verse from the 14th ‘sarga’ (canto) of the epic ‘Raghuvansham’, composed by the great poet Kalidasa. The context is that when Lakshmana leaves Mother Sita in the forest near the hermitage of Sage Valmiki, the sage approaches the weeping Sita. This verse captures the arrival of Maharishi Valmiki—the ‘Adikavi’ (the first poet)—and the origin of his ‘shloka’ (which marks the beginning of the ‘Ramayana’).
