Valmiki heard that Hanuman had written a Ramayana. So he travelled north to the plantain grove where Hanuman resided. There, etched on the rocks, he found Hanuman’s Ramayana. It was the most brilliant piece of literature that Valmiki had ever read. Tears rolled down Valmiki’s cheeks. ‘Why do you cry?’ asked Hanuman. ‘Because your work is so beautiful,’ said Valmiki, ‘and because after reading your work no one will read mine.’ Hanuman felt sorry for Valmiki and without any qualms, with a flick of his tail, smashed all the rocks that had Ram’s tale etched on them. ‘Stop! What are you doing?’
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