The Adi Kavya · Valmiki’s epic of Rama
Ramayana
The Ramayana on one page: what it is, its key facts, all 7 kandas in a line each, and 13 famous shlokas from Valmiki in Sanskrit with plain English and Hindi meanings.
- Composed by
- Valmiki
- the adi kavi, the first poet
- Verses
- About 24,000
- shlokas, by the traditional count
- Books
- 7 kandas
- 645 sargas in the common text
- Language
- Sanskrit
- mostly in the shloka metre
7 kandas · 645 sargas · each bar as tall as its kanda
What the Ramayana is
The Ramayana, “Rama’s journey”, is the epic of Rama, prince of Ayodhya: his exile to the forest with Sita and Lakshmana, Sita’s capture by Ravana, the search led by Hanuman, the war in Lanka and Rama’s return to rule. The sage Valmiki’s Sanskrit poem is the oldest telling, and every later Ramayana grows from it.
Its story begins with a sound of grief. Valmiki saw a hunter kill one of a pair of birds, and his sorrow came out as a verse in a new, measured form. That verse is remembered as the first shloka, and the Ramayana as the adi kavya, the first poem.
It matters because it shows dharma as people living it: a son keeping his father’s word, a brother giving up a throne, a wife’s courage, a friend’s loyalty and a devotee’s service. It is read in homes and temples, sung and acted every year at Ram Lila, and retold in almost every language of India and South-East Asia.
Key facts
- Who wrote it?
- Tradition credits the sage Valmiki, who also appears in the story: Sita takes refuge in his hermitage, and her sons Lava and Kusha learn the poem from him and sing it before Rama.
- When was it composed?
- Scholars do not agree. Most place the core of the poem, books 2 to 6, somewhere between about the 7th and 4th centuries BCE, with the first and last books added later, perhaps by the early centuries CE. Tradition holds that Valmiki lived in Rama’s own time, in the Treta Yuga.
- How many verses does it have?
- About 24,000 shlokas by the traditional count, which a verse of the common text gives itself, in 7 kandas and 645 sargas. The Critical Edition keeps a shorter text of 606 sargas and about 18,760 verses.
- What is the Critical Edition?
- An edition prepared at the Oriental Institute, Baroda, and published in seven volumes from 1958 to 1975, after comparing some 2,000 manuscripts from across India. It prints only what most manuscripts share, so some well-known verses, such as the Aditya Hridayam, are not in its main text.
- Why is it called the adi kavya?
- Adi kavya means “the first poem”, and Valmiki is called the adi kavi, the first poet. Tradition says poetry began with his verse Ma nishada (1.2.15), and the closing line of each sarga in the common text names the Ramayana as the adi kavya.
- What are the best-known retellings?
- Kamban’s Ramavataram in Tamil, around the 12th century; the Krittivasi Ramayan in Bengali by Krittibas Ojha, in the 15th century; and Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi, in the 16th century, the Ramayana most North Indian homes read today.
- Is the Uttara Kanda by Valmiki?
- This is debated. Tradition counts the Uttara Kanda as part of Valmiki’s poem, and its last sarga names him. Many scholars see it, and much of the Bala Kanda, as later additions, because the language and style differ from books 2 to 6.
- Why is the Sundara Kanda read on its own?
- It tells of Hanuman’s leap to Lanka and his finding of Sita, the moment hope returns to the story. Many families read it in times of trouble, believing it brings courage and removes obstacles.
The 7 kandas
Sargas as in the common text; the Critical Edition has 606
- 177 sargas
Bala Kanda The book of youth
Valmiki hears Rama’s story and finds the shloka; Rama is born, learns from Vishvamitra, breaks Shiva’s bow and marries Sita.
- 2119 sargas
Ayodhya Kanda The book of Ayodhya
On the eve of his crowning, Kaikeyi’s two boons send Rama into exile; Dasharatha dies of grief and Bharata rules with Rama’s sandals on the throne.
- 375 sargas
Aranya Kanda The book of the forest
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana live among the forest sages until Ravana lures Rama away with a golden deer and carries Sita off to Lanka.
- 467 sargas
Kishkindha Kanda The book of Kishkindha
Rama meets Hanuman, makes a pact with Sugriva and kills Vali, and the monkey armies set out in every direction to find Sita.
- 568 sargas
Sundara Kanda The beautiful book
Hanuman leaps the ocean, finds Sita in the Ashoka grove, gives her Rama’s ring, sets Lanka on fire and brings back her jewel.
- 6128 sargas
Yuddha Kanda The book of the war
The army bridges the sea, Vibhishana joins Rama, Ravana falls in battle, and Rama returns with Sita to be crowned in Ayodhya.
- 7111 sargas
Uttara Kanda The later book
Ravana’s past, Rama’s reign, Sita’s exile to Valmiki’s hermitage, the birth of Lava and Kusha, and her return to the earth.
13 famous shlokas
Sanskrit, English letters, and the meaning in English and Hindi
- 1.1.1
Tapah svadhyaya niratam Where the poem begins
तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम्।
नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम्॥Tapah svadhyaya niratam tapasvi vagvidam varam,
Naradam paripaprachchha Valmikir munipungavam.Valmiki, the ascetic, put a question to Narada: Narada, always given to austerity and the study of the Vedas, the master of words and the greatest of sages.
तपस्वी वाल्मीकि ने नारद मुनि से प्रश्न किया। नारद सदा तप और वेदों के अध्ययन में लगे रहते थे, वाणी जानने वालों में श्रेष्ठ थे और मुनियों में सबसे बड़े थे।
The first verse of the poem. The question Valmiki goes on to ask, who in this world is truly good, is answered with the story of Rama.
- 1.1.17
Samudra iva gambhirye Deep as the ocean, steady as the Himalaya
स च सर्वगुणोपेतः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः।
समुद्र इव गाम्भीर्ये धैर्येण हिमवानिव॥Sa cha sarva gunopetah Kausalyananda vardhanah,
Samudra iva gambhirye dhairyena Himavan iva.Rich in every good quality, he is the joy of his mother Kausalya. In depth he is like the ocean, and in steadiness like the Himalaya.
वे सब गुणों से भरे हैं और माता कौसल्या का आनन्द बढ़ाते हैं। गम्भीरता में वे समुद्र जैसे हैं और धैर्य में हिमालय जैसे।
Narada’s picture of Rama, given before the story starts, and the source of two of the best-loved comparisons for him.
- 1.2.15
Ma nishada The first shloka
मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।
यत्क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम्॥Ma nishada pratishtham tvam agamah shashvatih samah,
Yat krauncha mithunad ekam avadhih kama mohitam.Hunter, may you find no rest for endless years, for you killed one of this pair of krauncha birds while they were lost in love.
हे शिकारी, तुम्हें अनन्त वर्षों तक कहीं चैन और सम्मान न मिले, क्योंकि तुमने प्रेम में डूबे क्रौंच पक्षियों के जोड़े में से एक को मार डाला।
Seeing the grieving mate of the fallen bird, Valmiki spoke these words in sorrow, and they came out in a new, measured form. Tradition calls it the first shloka, the moment poetry was born; Brahma then asks him to tell Rama’s story in the same metre.
- 2.18.30
Ramo dvir nabhibhashate Rama gives his word once
तद्ब्रूहि वचनं देवि राज्ञो यदभिकाङ्क्षितम्।
करिष्ये प्रतिजाने च रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते॥Tad bruhi vachanam devi rajno yad abhikankshitam,
Karishye pratijane cha Ramo dvir nabhibhashate.Tell me, my queen, what the king wishes. I will do it; I promise you. Rama does not speak twice.
हे देवी, राजा जो चाहते हैं वह मुझे बताइए। मैं वह करूँगा, यह मेरा वचन है। राम दो बार नहीं बोलता।
Rama says this to Kaikeyi before he even knows what she will ask. "Ramo dvir nabhibhashate" became a saying for someone whose word, once given, never changes.
- 2.40.9
Ramam Dasharatham viddhi A mother’s blessing
रामं दशरथं विद्धि मां विद्धि जनकात्मजाम्।
अयोध्यामटवीं विद्धि गच्छ तात यथासुखम्॥Ramam Dasharatham viddhi mam viddhi Janakatmajam,
Ayodhyam atavim viddhi gachchha tata yathasukham.Think of Rama as your father Dasharatha, think of Sita, Janaka’s daughter, as me, and think of the forest as Ayodhya. Go, my son, and go happily.
राम को अपने पिता दशरथ समझना, जनक की बेटी सीता को मुझे समझना और वन को अयोध्या समझना। जाओ बेटा, सुख से जाओ।
Sumitra’s blessing to her son Lakshmana as he leaves for exile with Rama, quoted as the model of a parent’s love that lets a child go to do what is right.
- 3.37.13
Ramo vigrahavan dharmah Dharma in human form
रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः।
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानामिव वासवः॥Ramo vigrahavan dharmah sadhuh satya parakramah,
Raja sarvasya lokasya devanam iva Vasavah.Rama is dharma in human form, good and truly brave. He is king of the whole world, as Indra is king of the gods.
राम साक्षात् धर्म का रूप हैं, सज्जन हैं और सच्चे पराक्रमी हैं। जैसे इन्द्र देवताओं के राजा हैं, वैसे ही राम पूरे संसार के राजा हैं।
Spoken by Maricha, a rakshasa, warning Ravana not to cross Rama. That even an enemy says it has made it the best-known description of Rama.
- 4.6.22
Naham janami keyure Lakshmana knows only her anklets
नाहं जानामि केयूरे नाहं जानामि कुण्डले।
नूपुरे त्वभिजानामि नित्यं पादाभिवन्दनात्॥Naham janami keyure naham janami kundale,
Nupure tv abhijanami nityam padabhivandanat.I do not know these armlets, and I do not know these earrings. But I know the anklets, because every day I bowed at her feet.
मैं इन बाजूबन्दों को नहीं पहचानता, न इन कुण्डलों को। पर इन पायलों को मैं पहचानता हूँ, क्योंकि मैं रोज़ उनके चरणों में प्रणाम करता था।
Lakshmana’s answer when Rama asks him to name the jewellery Sita dropped, loved as a picture of respect for an elder brother’s wife. It runs across 4.6.22 and 23 in the common text, and is not in the Critical Edition.
- 5.1.39
Yatha Raghava nirmuktah Like Rama’s arrow
यथा राघवनिर्मुक्तः शरः श्वसनविक्रमः।
गच्छेत्तद्वद्गमिष्यामि लङ्कां रावणपालिताम्॥Yatha Raghava nirmuktah sharah shvasana vikramah,
Gachchhet tadvad gamishyami Lankam Ravana palitam.As an arrow loosed by Rama flies with the speed of the wind, so will I go to Lanka, the city Ravana guards.
जैसे राम का छोड़ा हुआ बाण वायु के वेग से जाता है, वैसे ही मैं रावण की रक्षा में रहने वाली लंका जाऊँगा।
Hanuman’s words to the monkeys just before his great leap across the ocean. The whole Sundara Kanda follows from them.
- 5.12.10
Anirvedah shriyo mulam Never lose heart
अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलमनिर्वेदः परं सुखम्।
अनिर्वेदो हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु प्रवर्तकः॥Anirvedah shriyo mulam anirvedah param sukham,
Anirvedo hi satatam sarvartheshu pravartakah.Not losing heart is the root of success, and not losing heart is the greatest happiness. It is what keeps us going, always, in every task.
हिम्मत न हारना ही सफलता की जड़ है, और हिम्मत न हारना ही सबसे बड़ा सुख है। यही हमें हर काम में सदा आगे बढ़ाता है।
Hanuman tells himself this when he has searched all of Lanka and still not found Sita. It is quoted as Valmiki’s word on perseverance; some editions set the two lines a verse apart.
- 5.42.34
Dasoham Kosalendrasya Hanuman, servant of Rama
दासोऽहं कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः।
हनुमान् शत्रुसैन्यानां निहन्ता मारुतात्मजः॥Dasoham Kosalendrasya Ramasyaklishta karmanah,
Hanuman shatru sainyanam nihanta Marutatmajah.I am the servant of Rama, lord of Kosala, who does great deeds without tiring. I am Hanuman, son of the Wind, destroyer of enemy armies.
मैं कोसल के स्वामी राम का दास हूँ, जो बड़े-बड़े काम बिना थके कर देते हैं। मैं पवनपुत्र हनुमान हूँ, शत्रु की सेनाओं का नाश करने वाला।
Hanuman’s cry in Lanka after he has wrecked Ravana’s grove, just after "Jayaty atibalo Ramo", victory to mighty Rama. Devotees chant the lines together for courage.
- 5.65.10
Drishta maya Sita I have seen Sita
दक्षिणस्य समुद्रस्य तीरे वसति दक्षिणे।
तत्र दृष्टा मया सीता रावणान्तःपुरे सती॥Dakshinasya samudrasya tire vasati dakshine,
Tatra drishta maya Sita Ravanantahpure sati.Lanka stands on the southern shore of the southern ocean. There, in Ravana’s palace, I saw Sita, ever faithful to you.
लंका दक्षिण समुद्र के दक्षिणी तट पर बसी है। वहीं रावण के अन्तःपुर में मैंने पतिव्रता सीता को देखा।
Hanuman’s report to Rama on his return: I have seen Sita. It is the turning point of the epic, the news that ends Rama’s long grief.
- 6.18.33
Sakrid eva prapannaya Refuge for all who ask
सकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते।
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद्व्रतं मम॥Sakrid eva prapannaya tavasmiti cha yachate,
Abhayam sarva bhutebhyo dadamy etad vratam mama.Whoever comes to me for refuge even once, saying ‘I am yours’, I keep safe from every being. This is my vow.
जो एक बार भी मेरी शरण में आकर कहता है कि ‘मैं तुम्हारा हूँ’, उसे मैं सब प्राणियों से अभय देता हूँ। यह मेरा व्रत है।
Rama says it when Ravana’s brother Vibhishana comes over to his side and the monkeys doubt him. The Sri Vaishnava tradition calls it Rama’s charama shloka, his last word on refuge.
- 6.109.25
Maranantani vairani Enmity ends at death
मरणान्तानि वैराणि निर्वृत्तं नः प्रयोजनम्।
क्रियतामस्य संस्कारो ममाप्येष यथा तव॥Maranantani vairani nirvrittam nah prayojanam,
Kriyatam asya samskaro mamapy esha yatha tava.Enmity ends with death, and our purpose is done. Let his last rites be performed. He is as much mine to honour as he is yours.
मृत्यु के साथ वैर समाप्त हो जाता है, और हमारा काम पूरा हुआ। इसका अन्तिम संस्कार किया जाए। यह जैसे तुम्हारा है, वैसे ही मेरा भी है।
Rama to Vibhishana, who hesitates to cremate his brother Ravana. It is quoted as the Ramayana’s lesson that hatred must not outlive the enemy.
Questions
Who wrote the Ramayana?
The sage Valmiki, by tradition. He is called the adi kavi, the first poet, and he is also a character in his own story, sheltering Sita and teaching the poem to her sons Lava and Kusha.
How many kandas and verses are in the Ramayana?
Seven kandas: Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara. Tradition counts about 24,000 shlokas. The common text has 645 sargas; the Critical Edition, which keeps only what most manuscripts share, has 606.
How is the Ramcharitmanas different from the Valmiki Ramayana?
The Ramcharitmanas is a retelling by Tulsidas in Awadhi, written in the 16th century, about two thousand years after Valmiki. It follows the same story but in a spirit of devotion, with Rama shown as God from the start, and it is the version most Hindi-speaking families chant.
Is “Janani janmabhumishcha svargadapi gariyasi” from the Ramayana?
It is often said to be Rama’s words to Lakshmana, but it is not in the Critical Edition of Valmiki’s Ramayana, and we did not find it in the common text of the Yuddha Kanda either. It appears in some manuscripts and later collections, so it is best quoted as a traditional saying rather than as Valmiki’s verse.
Is the Uttara Kanda part of the original Ramayana?
Tradition says yes and reads it as Valmiki’s. Many scholars think it was added later, because its language and style differ from the middle books. Sita’s exile and the birth of Lava and Kusha are told only there.
Which verse should a beginner start with?
Start with Ma nishada (1.2.15), the verse that began the poem, then Ramo vigrahavan dharmah (3.37.13) for who Rama is. For courage, read Hanuman’s words in the Sundara Kanda, and for Rama’s promise of refuge, Sakrid eva prapannaya (6.18.33).
When is the Ramayana read?
At any time, but above all in the nine days up to Rama Navami, when many families read the whole poem, and at Dussehra, when Ram Lila acts it out. The Sundara Kanda is often read on its own on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days kept for Hanuman.