Valmiki Ramayana · Bala Kanda · Sarga 1
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ।
महर्षे त्वं हि धर्मज्ञो ब्रूहि मे त्वं महामते ॥
I wish to hear this, for my curiosity is great. O great sage, you are a knower of dharma — please tell me, O wise one.
— Gita Press
मैं यह सुनना चाहता हूँ, मुझे बड़ी उत्सुकता है। हे महर्षि, आप धर्मज्ञ हैं — मुझे बताइए।
Valmiki concludes his question with a direct appeal to Narada, acknowledging him as the foremost among those who know dharma. This verse establishes the guru-śiṣya (teacher-disciple) relationship that frames the epic. It also expresses the sense of spiritual urgency (kautūhala — deep curiosity) that drives the inquiry.
कौतूहल — deep curiosity, spiritual eagernessधर्मविद् — knower of dharma