Valmiki Ramayana · Bala Kanda · Sarga 2
न्यस्यतां कलशस्तात दीयतां वल्कलं मम । इदमेवावगाहिष्ये तमसातीर्थमुत्तमम्
nyasyatāṃ kalaśastāta dīyatāṃ valkalaṃ mama | idamevāvagāhiṣye tamasātīrthamuttamam
O dear one Put down the pitcher on the ground. Give me my garment. I shall take a dip in Tamasa, the holiest of places".
— M.N. Dutt (1891)
Commentary
Valmiki prepares to bathe, asking Bharadwaja to hold his garments. An ordinary action charged with meaning — the poet purifies himself before the inspiration that is about to come. The banks of the Tamasa will become the birthplace of the Ramayana.
वल्कलस्नान