Vyasa and Valmiki underwent a long process of asceticism and study as well as experience of spiritual bliss, and thus lifted themselves up to the heights of rishihood before they composed the epics. The urge that prompted them to do so was that they were overcome with compassion for the fellow-pilgrims struggling along the path they had traversed. They were full of agony at the plight of fellow-beings who were sweltering in the heat of worldly entanglements. Their attention was ever on the Vedic message, ‘svayam tirnah, paran tarayati’ - ‘Themselves having crossed (the sea of Samsara, or change), they helped others to do likewise’, themselves having risen to the Divine they helped others to rise. (SSS Vol.8, p. 123)