Sages
Viśvāmitra
King who became a brahmarṣi. Bāla Kāṇḍa tells his own long story of becoming a brahmarṣi.
Bāla KāṇḍaVālmīki (primary text)In the text
Viśvāmitra takes the two boys into the forest, trains them against rākṣasas and leads them on to Mithilā and its bow. Rāma's career begins in his care. He is no serene teacher: the story Śatānanda tells the princes of his life, including his rivalry with Vasiṣṭha, is full of pride, anger and setbacks.
Primary text: Śrīmad Vālmīkīya Rāmāyaṇa, Gita Press, Gorakhpur. Later traditions and living-tradition associations are labelled as such. Return to the Rāmāyaṇa World.