This sacred Epic, the first of its kind, affording piety, fame, and long life, and describing the conquest of tire kings, was composed by Vālmīki in the days of yore.
धयं यशस्यमायुष्यं राज्ञां च विजयावहम्। आदिकाव्यमिदं चार्ष पुरा वाल्मीकिना कृतम्॥