Seeing the sage Narada, ever devoted to austerity and the study of the Vedas, approaching him, Valmiki went forward with humility to receive him.
тАФ Gita Press
рддрдк рдФрд░ рд╕реНрд╡рд╛рдзреНрдпрд╛рдп рдореЗрдВ рд▓рдЧреЗ рд░рд╣рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рдореБрдирд┐ рдирд╛рд░рдж рдХреЛ рдЖрддреЗ рджреЗрдЦ рд╡рд╛рд▓реНрдореАрдХрд┐ рдиреЗ рд╡рд┐рдирдпрдкреВрд░реНрд╡рдХ рдЙрдирдХрд╛ рд╕реНрд╡рд╛рдЧрдд рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ред
This opening verse of the Valmiki Ramayana establishes the setting for the entire epic. The poet Valmiki sees the sage Narada approaching and goes forward to receive him. The verse immediately signals the spiritual foundation of the work тАФ Narada is described as devoted to tapas (austerity) and svadhyaya (self-study), two pillars of spiritual practice in the Hindu tradition.