A bird bereaved: The Identity and Significance of Valmiki's Krauñca

@article{Leslie1998ABB,
  title={A bird bereaved: The Identity and Significance of Valmiki's Krau{\~n}ca},
  author={Julia Leslie},
  journal={Journal of Indian Philosophy},
  year={1998},
  volume={26},
  pages={455-487}
}
  • Julia Leslie
  • Published 1 October 1998
  • Mathematics
  • Journal of Indian Philosophy
The key event at the start of the Sanskrit Ramayana attributed to Valmiki is the death of a bird at the hands of a hunter. In Sanskrit, that bird is termed krauñca. Various identifications have been offered in the past but uncertainty persists. Focusing on the text of the critical edition and drawing on ornithological data regarding the birds commonly suggested, this article establishes beyond doubt that Valmiki's ‘krauñca bird’ is the Indian Sarus Crane. It then considers a key verse in the… 
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