Valmiki which people consider very barren as a sage was formerly known as Valyakoli. He was born as Ratnakara to sage Prachetasa. At a very young age, Ratnakara got lost in a forest and a hunter took him under his own care. Under the love and care of his foster parents, Ratnakara forgot his original parents. He turned into excellent hunter. As his family grew larger, Ratnakara found it next to impossible to feed them. As a result, he took to robbery and began looting people passing from one village to another.
Not only did he make a living by killing animals but he also killed humans and took away their valuables.
One day, while walking on the road, the merciful saint Narad Muni, who was always striving to guide the sinners to the right path, observed all around with a keen eye. Valyakoli pointing an arrow at him said, "Hand over all your belonging to me without any resistance. Otherwise take my words that it's your last day". Then Narad said,
'Son! I am a poor man walking in the name of God. Khartal and Veena are my wealth. What will you get by killing me like that? The sin that you have committed by killing many till today, but how will you get rid of it? It will take you thousands of years to get away with sins that you committed through kidnapping and violence. The scriptures say that you have to go through many rebirths. Be careful now. You might say, you committed all these sins for the sake of my parents, wife, and family, and the share will go little by little to all of them, your share will be less. But no one will be willing to share your sin. So what are you going to do? Relatives are gathered at the time of happiness, but in times of crisis, no one is useful except the Lord. But now beware!'
He was stunned for a moment. Narada started playing his Veena. Narada's company happened for a moment but only then did Valakolya's attitude change. He said, 'Munivarya, if that happens then I will accept your discipleship, otherwise you will have to give me harps and Khartals.
Narad said,
'Not only I will hand over Veena and Khartals, but I will also obey you and do all that you say.'
On that Walya went home. He called all the people in the family and said, 'I have committed many sins for your protection. So tell me whether you are willing to share in my sins or not. Then the parents said,
'As parents we expect you to take care of us when you grow up. You have not done us any favors, but you have done your duty. '
He looked at his wife. She said,
"You have done what it is your duty to take care of me in the sense that you have married me."
Turning to the children,
'Tell me what you feel.'
The children said,
'You have to take care of us by doing whatever you want till we start earning of ourselves. This is your duty. '
As soon as he got the answers from everyone, Valya let out a long sigh. At once he came to Narada and prostrated himself at their feet. Putting his neck down, he joined his hands and stood up and said,
'Maharaj! I am ready to do as you say."
To this Narad said,
'If you do as I say, your sins will be gone and the sorrows you will have to endure will be eradicated and you will be blessed in the world.'
Narada then recited the 'Ram' mantra to him and showed him a resting place for penance. Demonstrating the method of sitting and chanting on it, he said,
'You do not want to get up from here till I come to this place again.'
While meditating on Rama, the mind of Valyakolya became more and more colorful day by day. Sixty years later, Narad returned to that place. Then the skeleton of Valya, whose sins had been annihilated, fell into their sight. Narada removed all the anthills from his body. Then, he told Valya that his Tapasya (meditation) paid off and the God was pleased with him. Valya was bestowed with the honor of a Brahmarshi and given the name of Valmiki since he was reborn from the Valmiki (the ant-hill).
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