Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 5: The City of Ayodhyā
Text 1.5.4
तदिदं वर्तयिष्यामि सर्वं निखिलमादितः।
धर्मकामार्थसहितं श्रोतव्यमनसूयया॥
tad idaṁ vartayiṣyāmi sarvaṁ nikhilam āditaḥ
dharma-kāmārtha-sahitaṁ śrotavyam anasūyayā
tat = this Rāmāyaṇa; idam = of this Rāmayaṇa; vartayiṣyāmi = I will broadcast; sarvam = the entirety of; nikhilam = without any omission; āditaḥ = from the beginning; dharma-kāma-artha-sa-hitam = which grants dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa;1 śrotavyam = it should be heard; anasūyayā = without envy.
1. Literally this means, “which grants dharma, artha, kāma along with [permanent] benefit.” That “[permanent] benefit” is mokṣa.
I will broadcast the entirety of this Rāmāyaṇa which grants dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa, without any omission, from the beginning. It should be heard without envy.
If this Rāmāyaṇa has come about by the blessings of Lord Brahmā, what was Śrī Vālmīki’s duty? This verse points out that his duty was only to broadcast it in its entirety from the beginning, that is, from the narration of the beginning of its writing. It should be heard by the intelligent without envy, that is, it should be heard with devotion, respect and faith.
The previous verse stated the subject matter. This verse states its goals and audience. It was stated earlier (1.1.95) that by reading this Rāmāyaṇa one is liberated from all sinful reactions: yaḥ paṭhed rāma-caritaṁ sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate. Therefore, in addition to dharma, artha and kāma, mokṣa is understood to be another goal of this book.