6 - Fish Highwayman

Summary

In this episode of 'Stories from India,' host Narad Monei, a mythological character with eternal life, delves into the origins of the Ramayana, one of India's most famous epics. The narrative begins with the transformation of Valmiki, a highwayman turned poet, who composes the Ramayana after a divine encounter. The episode also features the tale of Subhadra's abduction of Prince Arjuna to avoid an arranged marriage, showcasing the rich tapestry of Indian mythology and its enduring influence.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The podcast 'Stories from India' narrates myths, legends, and folk tales from India, hosted by Narad Monei, a mythological character with eternal life and omniscience.
• 📚 The podcast begins with the Ramayana, one of the two most famous Indian epics, known to almost every Indian through various mediums including school curriculum, books, TV series, and movies.
• 📖 The original Valmiki Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses, and the podcast will cover it in several episodes to maintain variety and interest.
• 🎼 Valmiki, initially a highwayman, was inspired by two sages to give up his life of crime and became a devotee of Lord Rama, composing the Ramayana after receiving a divine vision.
• 🌟 Valmiki is also an important character within the Ramayana, where he narrates how he heard the story of Rama from Narad and was asked by Brahma to spread the message of Rama.
• 🐦 Valmiki's invention of poetry occurred when he cursed a hunter for shooting a bird, and the words he uttered fit the meter of an ancient Indian musical instrument, the veena.
• 🎼 Valmiki's poetry was recognized by Brahma, who encouraged him to start calling his verses 'poetry' and later instructed him to tell the story of Rama.
• 👦👦 Valmiki taught the Ramayana to Lava and Kusha, the sons of Rama, without revealing their lineage, who later performed it at Rama's court, impressing the audience and receiving gifts.
• 🤔 The script mentions two different versions of Valmiki's past, one as a highwayman/fisherman and another where he met Narad, leaving it to the listener to discern the truth.
• 👸 This week's character, Subhadra, is the sister of Krishna and Balaram, and is considered an incarnation of the goddess Yogamaya, involved in a story of love and abduction to avoid an unwanted marriage.
• 📅 The podcast invites listeners to follow the story of the Ramayana from King Dasharatha, Rama's father, and promises to continue the narrative in the next episode, focusing on a historical queen.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the podcast 'Stories from India'?

The podcast 'Stories from India' is dedicated to discussing myths, legends, and folk tales from India, with each episode featuring a story from Indian mythology followed by a 'Character of the Week' segment.

Who is the host of 'Stories from India' and what is his mythological significance?

The host is Narad Moneii, a mythological character who was given the gift of eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future. He is also a traveling musician and storyteller.

What are the two most famous epics from India mentioned in the podcast?

The two most famous epics from India mentioned are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which are known by almost every single person in India.

How many verses are there in the original version of the Ramayana called the Valmiki Ramayana?

The original version of the Ramayana, known as the Valmiki Ramayana, contains 24,000 verses.

What significant event happened in the life of Valmiki that led to his transformation from a highwayman?

Valmiki encountered two sages who had no material possessions but were respected and fed by people for their wisdom and songs about gods. This encounter inspired Valmiki to give up his life of crime and become a devotee of Lord Rama.

What is the significance of the poem that Valmiki composed about the cranes?

The poem Valmiki composed about the cranes is significant because it is considered the invention of a new form of poetry in India, which he later used to compose the Ramayana.

Who is the character 'Subhadra' mentioned in the podcast and what is her significance?

Subhadra is the sister of Krishna and Balaram, and is considered an incarnation of the goddess Yogaya. She is known for abducting Prince Arjun to avoid marrying his cousin, as per her wishes.

What is the role of the character 'Nal and Kush' in the Ramayana?

Nal and Kush are the sons of Lord Rama who were raised by Valmiki. They played the veena and sang the story of the Ramayana to King Rama's court, which was the first time the story was shared.

What is the significance of the 'veena' in the story of Nal and Kush?

The veena is an ancient Indian guitar-like instrument that Nal and Kush played exceptionally well. They used it to perform the story of the Ramayana at King Rama's court.

What is the source of the information about Valmiki's profession as a highwayman/fisherman?

The information about Valmiki's profession comes from a different source called the Puranas, which provides an alternative version of his story.

How does the podcast 'Stories from India' engage with its audience for feedback and suggestions?

The podcast encourages audience feedback and suggestions through their website SFI podcast.com and also via Twitter at @SFIpodcast.

Outlines

00:00

🎙️ Introduction to Stories from India Podcast

The script introduces the 'Stories from India' podcast, a platform exploring Indian myths, legends, and folk tales. The host, Narad Monei, a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and omniscience, is also a traveling musician and storyteller. Each episode features a story from Indian mythology followed by a 'Character of the Week' segment. The podcast begins with the Ramayana, one of India's most famous epics, known widely across the country. The original Valmiki Ramayana consisted of 24,000 verses, and the podcast will cover it in several episodes. The first character segment discusses the fisherman-highwayman Valmiki, who encounters two Rishis, leading to a profound change in his life.

05:01

🌿 Valmiki's Transformation and Invention of Poetry

This paragraph delves into Valmiki's transformation from a criminal to a devotee of Lord Rama, the seventh Avatar of Vishnu. After an enlightening encounter with two Rishis, Valmiki renounces his life of crime and devotes himself to meditation and prayer. He is rewarded with a vision of Rama's life, which he composes into the Ramayana. Valmiki also invents a new form of poetry, which fits the meter of the ancient Indian guitar, the veena. The story highlights his interaction with Lord Brahma, who encourages him to tell Rama's story, leading to the creation of the epic Ramayana.

10:02

🎼 Teaching Ramayana to Rama's Sons: Lava and Kusha

The narrative continues with Valmiki teaching the Ramayana to Lava and Kusha, the sons of Rama who live with him unknowingly. The boys, who are skilled musicians, learn the story and perform it at King Rama's court, captivating the audience with their rendition. Despite the physical demands of performing for two days straight, they recount the epic again at Rama's request. This leads to the revelation of their true identities and the connection to the story they performed.

15:06

🏰 Subhadra's Abduction of Arjuna and Upcoming Stories

The final paragraph introduces the character Subhadra, sister of Krishna and Balaram, and her involvement in a love story where she abducts Arjuna to avoid marrying Duryodhana, as orchestrated by Balaram. Krishna's cunning plan to have Subhadra seen driving the chariot with Arjuna ensures that the kingdom believes she has abducted him. The script concludes with a teaser for the next episode, which will focus on King Dasharatha, Rama's father, and hints at a historical queen who defied stereotypes. The host invites feedback and acknowledges the support of family and friends, signing off with gratitude for the listeners' engagement.

Keywords

💡Narad Monei

Narad Monei is the host of the podcast 'Stories from India,' who introduces himself as a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and omniscience. His role is central to the podcast's theme, as he narrates various myths and legends from Indian folklore. In the script, he sets the stage for the listeners by explaining his character and purpose, thereby connecting the audience with the ancient narratives.

💡Ramayana

The Ramayana is one of the two major Indian epics mentioned in the script, known for its extensive narrative and cultural significance in India. It is a story that has been passed down through generations and is deeply ingrained in Indian society. The script discusses the beginning of the Ramayana, indicating that it will be a recurring topic in the podcast, highlighting its importance in the series.

💡Valmiki

Valmiki is portrayed as a central character in the script, initially a highwayman who later becomes a devotee of Lord Rama and the composer of the Ramayana. His transformation is a significant narrative in the podcast, illustrating the power of stories to change lives. The script describes how Valmiki invents a new form of poetry and is divinely inspired to recount the life of Rama, making him a key figure in the传播 of Indian mythology.

💡Rishi

In the script, the term 'Rishi' refers to the two wise men that Valmiki encounters. Rishis are typically sages or seers in Hindu tradition, often associated with spiritual wisdom and the composition of sacred texts. Their interaction with Valmiki in the script serves to illustrate the spiritual journey and the transformative power of divine knowledge.

💡Avatar

The term 'Avatar' in the script refers to the incarnations of the Hindu deity Vishnu. Specifically, Rama is mentioned as the seventh Avatar. The concept of Avatars is integral to understanding the divine intervention in human affairs as depicted in Hindu mythology, and the script uses this concept to frame the epic narrative of Rama.

💡Wien

The 'Wien' mentioned in the script is likely a misspelling or a colloquial term for 'Veena,' a traditional Indian musical instrument. It is significant in the context as the two young boys, Lava and Kusha, use the Veena to perform the Ramayana, showcasing the integration of music and storytelling in Indian culture.

💡Subhadra

Subhadra is introduced in the script as Krishna and Balarama's sister and an incarnation of the goddess Yogamaya. Her story is used to illustrate the complexities of divine lineage and the strategic actions taken by Krishna to ensure her union with Arjuna, reflecting the themes of love, duty, and divine will in the narrative.

💡Puranas

The Puranas are a vast collection of ancient Hindu texts that contain stories about the universe, gods, goddesses, and legendary heroes. In the script, the Puranas are cited as a source of the alternate version of Valmiki's profession, highlighting the rich tapestry of narratives within Indian mythology.

💡Dharma

Dharma, while not explicitly mentioned in the script, is implicitly present in discussions of moral codes and behaviors. It is a key concept in Hindu philosophy, often translated as 'duty' or 'righteousness.' The script alludes to the moral fabric of society and the actions of characters like the Rishis, which can be understood in the context of Dharma.

💡Brahman

Brahman is a term used in Hinduism to refer to the supreme spirit or the ultimate reality. In the script, Brahma, who is part of the Holy Trinity and the Creator, interacts with Valmiki, imparting divine knowledge and inspiring the composition of the Ramayana. This interaction underscores the divine origin of sacred texts and the role of Brahman in the creation and dissemination of knowledge.

Highlights

Introduction to the podcast 'Stories from India' which discusses Indian mythology, legends, and folk tales.

Host Narad Mone introduces himself as a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge of past, present, and future.

The podcast begins with the story of the Ramayana, one of the most famous epics from India.

The Valmiki Ramayana originally had 24,000 verses, and the podcast will cover it in several episodes.

Introduction of the character Valmiki, who was initially a highwayman and later became a devotee of Lord Rama.

Valmiki's transformation from a robber to a devotee after meeting two Rishis and hearing about gods.

Valmiki's invention of poetry and the story behind it involving a hunter and a pair of birds.

Valmiki's composition of the Ramayana after receiving a vision of Lord Rama's life.

The story of how Valmiki heard the synopsis of Rama's story from Narad and was asked by Brahma to spread the message.

Valmiki's decision to teach the Ramayana to the two young boys Lava and Kush, who were Lord Rama's sons.

Lava and Kush's performance of the Ramayana at King Rama's court, leading to their recognition and gifts.

Introduction of the character Subhadra, sister of Krishna and Balaram, and her role in the Mahabharat.

The love triangle involving Subhadra, Arjun, and Duryodhan, and Krishna's clever plan to help Subhadra and Arjun elope.

The upcoming episode's focus on the story of the Ramayana starting from King Dasharath, father of Lord Rama.

Invitation for feedback and suggestions from listeners, and acknowledgment of support from family and friends.

Credits for the music used in the podcast, sourced from Purple Planet.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

hello and welcome to stories from India

a podcast where we talk about myths

Legends and folk tales from India I'm

your host narad monei and I'm a

mythological character myself I I was

given the gift of eternal life and

knowledge of the past the present and

the

future by profession I'm a traveling

musician and a

Storyteller so the way I'm doing my job

is by

podcast during each episode we'll be

talking about a story from Indian

mythology followed by a character of the

week segment this week we'll learn the

strange story of how poetry was

invented and about how a God can upload

load memories directly into

people this episode is the beginning of

the

ramayan the ramayan is one of the two

most famous epics from

India I would not be exaggerating in

saying that the Raman and the other epic

the Mahabharat are known by almost every

single person in

India thanks to a combination of school

curriculum books TV series and

movies The Saga itself is pretty big the

original version of the poem called the

waliki ramayan had 24,000 verses in it

we are going to begin today and it will

take several episodes to go through

these because theama and is just one of

several wonderful stories from India

I'll spread these episodes out a bit so

that there's a bit of variety but I'll

go through all of them in

order the character this week is a girl

who abducts a prince to avoid marrying

his

cousin W Miki was a fisherman Highwayman

you might wonder how does that work

exactly did he specialize in robbing

only fishermen or did he only Rob

fish the answer is that he was just a

robber but his business card said

fisherman kind of like how the Godfather

was an olive oil

importer even back in those days you

needed a front for any illegal business

so if the authorities found you you

could explain your way out of a

pickle so we'll leave the fisherman part

aside and simply think of him as a

Highwayman but seeing as it was around

800 BC there wasn't much of a

highway regardless W Miki would valay

Travelers and steal their

valuables one fine morning as valmiki

was out looking for his next victims he

saw two wise

men hm almost not worth the effort he

thought but then nothing ventured

nothing

gained he jumped in front of them

suddenly your money or your lives he

said it was fashionable for Ries to

swear off all worldly possessions and

these two Ries were no

exceptions we have no money they said

take our lives if you

must that's not exactly how this works

said waliki I meant I'd take your lives

if you refuse to hand over your money

but if you don't have any money I

actually feel sorry for you how are you

managing in this Rough

Country the Rishi said it's not as bad

as it seems we sing and walk along the

streets and people give us

food and you don't have to pay for that

said valmiki quite

incredulously not a penny said the

Ries people are doing this to be closer

to God and they don't mind sharing their

food with uninvited guests like us it's

practically built into their moral

code wmi was a keen Observer and could

read between the lines

so are they just paying you to stop

singing he said or maybe they are

actually interested in your

words definitely the latter the Rishi

said so what do you actually sing about

W Miki

asked we mostly sing about

Gods those are our real valuables our

real

possessions tell me about these Gods you

speak of said valmiki

and the Ries did in great

detail so much so that waliki decided to

give up his life of crime and he became

a devotee of

ram ram is the seventh Avatar of Vishnu

we previously covered the first avatar

the unicorn fish in the very first

episode you may want to check it out if

you haven't already but the avatars are

fairly independent of each other

waliki spent a long time meditating and

praying and was finally rewarded with a

vision of the life of

ram he composed it into what we know as

the

ramayan waliki himself is an important

character in The

Raman in the very first chapter waliki

writes how he heard the synopsis of ram

story

from wait for it

me yes he heard it from me waliki asked

me to name a person who does basically

everything great cares about following

all rules is fair to everyone and rules

his kingdom well obviously without any

hesitation I said that person is

Ram at this point I gave waliki a very

concise summary of Ram's life but we can

skip that synopsis because spoilers

chapter 2 begins with me biding waliki

goodbye don't ask me how I know what

happens next because I knew it would

happen before it happened and I saw it

happen again when it did sounds

confusing right remember my superpower

is that I know the past the present and

the

future anyway so wmi wandered about the

forest definitely not looking for people

to hold

up he saw a couple of

birds cranes or Crouch as they were

called the birds were just being

friendly with each other when out of the

blue a hunter shot one of them with an

arrow valmiki flew into a terrible rage

and said to the

hunter you shall never be

prosperous don't enter the forest for

many

years only he said it in Sanskrit and

made it sound a lot better than I

did so much better that the significance

wasn't lost on

balmiki he immediately followed

up what is this phrase I've just

uttered I think I have invented a new

form of

poetry and the length of my mini poem

exactly fits

aa aa is an ancient Indian guitar I

carry one all the time remember I'm a

traveling music

position the

hunter noticing wmi's surprise said your

mood suddenly seems to have

changed so does that mean I can come

back to the forest all I want you know

fults on both sides water under the

bridge nope said waliki it's too late

I've already cursed you and curses don't

have an undo feature yet that's in a

future upgrade if you want to stick

around for I don't know a few centuries

or

so waliki proclaimed that it would bring

him great Fame and no one will think

worse of him for inventing

this I'm pretty sure he's right about

the former but I defer to millions and

millions of Indian school children on

the

latter wmi then went back home and

prayed not long after Brahma who was in

the habit of making house calls showed

up Brahma if you haven't heard earlier

episodes is part of the Holy Trinity

he's the Creator whereas Vishnu is the

preserver and Shiva is the

destroyer and Brahma is also my

dad waliki promptly told Brahma about

the incident with the Crouch from

earlier in the day being sure to

elaborate on his

poem Brahma who seemed to have a good

eye for literary Talent encouraged

him let's start calling that poetry from

now on Deal wmi

said Brahma continued on a completely

unrelated note I want you to tell the

story of ram that you heard from my son

narad earlier today I'll send you a copy

of the entire story direct to your

mind and that's exactly what waliki got

as he prayed he got to know SRI Ram's

entire life

story now I don't know why it took so

long for him to get the hint from Brahma

but it then occurred to him hey I

invented poetry and on the very same day

I was asked by Brahma to spread the

message of

Rah I could just as easily write rah's

story in the same form as the one I

invented that would be killing two birds

with one

stone oops bad choice of a metaphor

there in what is probably the earliest

reference of breaking the fourth wall

wmi is described as composing his

classic including chapter

4 which describes waliki composing his

Classics including chapter 4 which

includes forget it this is just infinite

recursion so anyway after he finished

composing the ramayan he wondered to

whom whom should I teach this

classic He's already calling it a

classic the obvious answer is to the

whole world the second most obvious

answer was the two young boys love and

Kush who lived in his

Hermitage you're in for a double plot to

now Ram upon whom the entire RAM and is

based was still currently the king of

aodha and the two young young boys love

and Kush they were Ram's sons who didn't

know they were King Ram

Sons way to bury the lead here

waliki we'll later get into why they

were living with

waliki anyway wmik decided to teach the

Two Princes all about their parents

without revealing that Ram was their

father the boys were great musicians and

could play the WIA really well and W

Miki told them the measures notes and

exactly how to tune their wieners to

give the best concert

ever and love and Kush did exactly that

they took their wieners went to King

Ram's Palace and sang the story to King

Ram's wise

men now I did a quick back of the

envelope calculation if you estimate 8

to 10 verses a minute which is a rather

Fast Pace it would have taken them 2

days to sing out the whole Raman without

any

breaks everyone at Ram's Court loved

their sweet voices and love the story

they gifted love and Kush with delicious

fruits because who wouldn't be hungry

after a two-day

concert and love and Kush also received

antelop skins and clothes made of tree

bark because those were in back in

the

day the other gift was axes which is

just a weird gift to give to anyone who

is at a lumberjack and on safe

besides now just as the boys were being

praised by the wise men King Ram

happened to be passing by his curiosity

was aroused so he took the two kids to

his Chambers and introduced them to his

three brothers lakshman bat and

shatrugna

as well as his

ministers he then commanded them to sing

the ram

again M someone has to you know offer

these kids a chance to rest or something

they've been playing for 2 days straight

and you want them to go through it

again but the kids did it with a

smile this is the jumping off point

we'll stop here and next week we'll

start on the ramayan as most people know

it which is the story within the ramayan

obviously condensed because we don't

want to be caught in the infinite

recursion I mentioned

earlier

some notes on the story the information

about W miki's profession as a highway

man/ fisherman actually comes from a

different Source called the

puranas in another version it wasn't two

wise men that valmiki tried to

Rob but

me waliki claimed to be doing it to feed

his family but then I challenged him on

that and obviously I won shocked that

his family did not actually want his

tax-free earnings from all the Looting

and killing people wmi decided to

reform so there are two versions one

that valmiki met the two Ries and the

other that he just met me only one of

these two versions is true I'll let you

guess which

one the character this week is subadra

she is Krishna and balam's

sister Krishna was an avar of Vishnu in

some versions balam who was krishna's

elder brother was himself an avatar of

Vishnu in some other versions balam is

an avar of snag the ultimate snake whom

you may remember from the unicorn fish

episode given that both Krishna and

balam had divine origins you might think

subadra was the achiever in the

family but she is herself considered an

incarnation of goddess yogaya whom we

can talk about in another

episode Prince Arjun one of the Pand

Brothers at the heart of the

Mahabharat and duryodhan the Crown

Prince and one of the Kuru Brothers also

at the heart of the Mahabharat both

wanted to marry subadra the difference

was that subadra wanted to be with

Arjun balam had had promised duryodhan

that he could marry

subadra Krishna found out about this and

warned Arjun and

subadra instead of getting an injunction

and challenging balam's promise in a

court of law he did what was practical

he urge the couple to run away

together but when duryodhan and balam

find out won't they just crush me like a

bug asked Arjun I can't face them and

their armies all by

myself

ever the sneaky one Krishna suggested

that the couple be seen together riding

off in a chariot but with subadra

driving this had exactly the effect

Krishna

wanted the couple were observed by

people in the kingdom and the same

people would later swear to balam and

duryodhan that subhadra had abducted

Arjun and not the other way

around that's it for this week next week

we'll continue the story of of the

ramayan starting from King dasharath who

was King rah's father the character next

week is a real historical Queen who

broke all kinds of stereotypes in

defending her

people since I'm several thousands of

years old my memory may not be perfect

at times so if you see any errors in my

podcast I'd appreciate it if you could

Point them out to me if you have any

comments or suggestions you can leave a

on the site it's SFI podcast.com

the site is also linked in the show

notes you can also tweet at SFI

podcast the music is from purple

planet.com that's

purple-planet.com as always I'm grateful

to family and friends for all the

support and help and thank you all for

listening the feedback I have received

has been very useful

I'll see you next

[Music]

week