Epic7 KandasAbout 24,000 verses7 KandasSanskrit, by ValmikiHundreds of retellings16 versions to read

Ramayana

रामायण

The journey of Rama: a prince exiled for fourteen years, a wife carried across the sea, a monkey who leapt the ocean, and a war fought to bring her home.

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The Ramayana is one of India's two great Sanskrit epics. In about 24,000 verses, the sage Valmiki tells the life of Rama of Ayodhya, the seventh avatar of Vishnu: his exile, Sita's abduction by Ravana, the alliance with Hanuman and the vanaras, the war of Lanka and Rama's reign. It has been retold in hundreds of versions across Asia.

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1Bala Kandaबालकाण्डThe book of childhood, about 77 sargas. Valmiki and the krauncha birds; Dasharatha's sacrifice and the birth of the four princes; the journey with Vishwamitra and the slaying of Tataka; Ahalya freed; Rama breaks Shiva's bow and marries Sita; Parashurama humbled.Coming soon

2Ayodhya Kandaअयोध्याकाण्डThe book of Ayodhya, about 119 sargas. The coronation plan; Manthara and Kaikeyi's two boons; Rama, Sita and Lakshmana go into exile; Guha ferries them across the Ganga; Dasharatha dies of grief; Bharata refuses the throne and meets Rama at Chitrakoot, taking back his sandals.Coming soon

3Aranya Kandaअरण्यकाण्डThe book of the forest, about 75 sargas. Years in the Dandaka forest among the sages; Agastya's gift of weapons; life at Panchavati; Shurpanakha; the golden deer; Ravana abducts Sita; Jatayu's fight and death; Kabandha and Shabari.Coming soon

4Kishkindha Kandaकिष्किन्धाकाण्डThe book of the vanara kingdom, about 67 sargas. Rama meets Hanuman and Sugriva; Vali is killed and Sugriva crowned; the monsoon at Mount Prasravana; the vanaras search the four directions; Sampati points to Lanka; Jambavan reminds Hanuman of his power.Coming soon

5Sundara Kandaसुन्दरकाण्डThe beautiful book, about 68 sargas. Hanuman leaps the ocean, finds Sita in the Ashoka grove and gives her Rama's ring; he wrecks the grove, is bound by Indrajit, burns Lanka and returns with Sita's jewel. Often recited on its own.Coming soon

6Yuddha Kandaयुद्धकाण्डThe book of war, about 128 sargas. Vibhishana's refuge; the Ocean and the building of Rama Setu; the battles with Kumbhakarna and Indrajit; Hanuman brings the herb mountain; Agastya teaches the Aditya Hridayam; Ravana falls; Sita's fire ordeal; the return to Ayodhya and Rama's coronation.Coming soon

7Uttara Kandaउत्तरकाण्डThe last book, about 111 sargas. The history of Ravana and of Hanuman; Rama Rajya; Sita banished to Valmiki's hermitage; the birth of Lava and Kusha; the horse sacrifice; Sita returns to the Earth; Rama enters the Sarayu and returns to his divine form.Coming soon

Now readingValmiki Ramayanaवाल्मीकि रामायण

Author: Maharishi Valmiki
Language: Sanskrit
Period: c. 5th century BCE to 3rd century CE (in stages); the Adi Kavya
Structure: 7 Kandas, about 24,000 shlokas in about 500 sargas

The oldest telling and the source of the others. Survives in northern and southern recensions; the Baroda Critical Edition reconstructs the oldest text.

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The Ramayana, in full

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The Ramayana (रामायण, “the journey of Rama”) is one of the two great Sanskrit epics of India, together with the Mahabharata. It tells the life of Rama, prince of Ayodhya and the seventh avatar of Vishnu: his youth and marriage to Sita, his fourteen years of exile in the forest, Sita’s abduction by Ravana, king of Lanka, the alliance with Hanuman and the vanaras, the war to win her back,…

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