The Ramayana Summarized

Once, the austere Narada Muni, the most learned scholar of the Vedas, was questioned by the ascetic Valmeeki. 20 "Who", Valmeeki inquired, "presently possesses merit and courage in this world? Who knows the religious principles and how they are to be enacted? Who is truthful and firm in his resolution? 3) Whose activities are irreproachable? Who is the friend of every living being, and who is possessed of real knowledge and power? Who has a singularly beautiful appearance? 4) Who is self-possessed and has conquered anger? Who has a lustrous appearance and is envious of no one? Whose rage in battle is feared even by the demigods? 5) Out of great curiosity I desire to hear of such a man. O great sage, as you are so powerful, he surely must be known to you."

6) Sri narada, the knower of the three worlds, having heard the entreaty of Valmeeki said: "Please listen!" Having thus addressed him, filled with ecstasy, he spoke the following: 7) "The many qualities enumerated by you are certainly difficult to find, O muni. I have, however, reflected upon your inquiry, so kindly hear about a man endowed with such characteristics. 7)

8) "In the dynasty of Ikshvaku the most pre-eminent is known by the people as Rama. His mind is controlled, He is greatly powerful, determined, dazzling and alluring. 9) 9) He is intelligent, and possessed of political and philosophical wisdom. He is eloquent, wealthy, and is the annihilator of His foes. His limbs are thick, His arms powerful. His neck is marked with three lines, and His jaw is firm. 10) His chest is large; He is a great archer, His collar bone is inconspicuous and He is the subduer of His enemies. His arms extend to his knees and His head is beautiful, as are His brow and His gait. 10) He is of medium height, His limbs of good proportion; He has a gorgeous complexion and great majesty. His chest is muscular, His eyes large, and there are auspicious fortune marks upon His body. 11) Knowing the principles of religiousness, He is true to His word and delights in the welfare of His subjects. He is famous, pure and dutiful. He has full knowledge and is of profoundly concentrated mind. 13) 12) Knowing the principles of religiousness, He is true to his word and delights in the welfare of his subjects. He is famous, pure and dutiful. He has full knowledge and is of concentrated mind. 13) He is opulent, the slayer of His adversaries, and maintains the living beings like Prajapati. He is the protector of all creatures and is defender of the faith. 14) He is the protector of His kin and of the ritualistic traditions of His dynasty.

"He knows the meaning of the Vedas and the supplementary Vedic literature and is a past master in the Dhanurveda (military arts). 15) He knows the true meaning of the scriptures, is possessed of perfect memory and endowed with presence of mind. Dear to all beings, He is honorable, noble-minded and discerning. 16) He is always sought by the sages just as the ocean is sought by streams. He is refined, equally disposed to all and is always delightful to behold. 17) The depth of His voice and character resembles the ocean; His firmness - the Himalayas. Being endowed with all the virtues, He increases the bliss of His Mother, Kausalya. 18) Resembling Vishnu in splendor, He is as soothing to look upon as the moon. He is as forbearing as the earth, but angered, He is like fire at the time of the cosmic dissolution. Liberal as Kuvera (the celestial treasurer) in truth and piety none surpass Him.

"As Rama had all the prerequisite qualities, and as He was the eldest and dearest son of King Dasaratha, the sovereign desired to invest Him with the office of Heir Apparent. At that time, Kaikeyi, a wife of Dasaratha, beheld the preparations for Rama's inauguration. 19) Formerly, the lady had been awarded a boon (which was to be redeemed when she wished), and on that account she asked for the banishment of Rama and the consecration of her son, Bharata, in His stead. 20) Due to his practice of speaking truthfully, and bound as he was by his promise, Dasaratha duly banished his beloved son, Rama.

21) "In obedience to His father's command, given for the appeasement of Kaikeyi, our Hero went to the forest. 22) His dear brother, noble Lakshmana, the bliss of Mother Sumitra, out of love for Rama, dutifully followed Him into exile. 23) Thus They exhibited perfect fraternal affection. Lord Rama was also accompanied by His darling wife, Sita, who was always companionable and dear to Him as His own life. Born in the family of Janaka, she possessed a form as wonderful as the Lord's divine potency, and endowed with all the marks of fortune. Among women she was the most excellent wife, and she followed Rama just as Rohini (wife of the moon-god) follows the moon. Even the citizens and His father Dasaratha followed Him as far as they were able. 24) At Sringaverapura, on the bank of the Ganges, Rama, the personification of duty, met His dear servant, Guha, king of the Nishadas, and dismissed His charioteer (who had thus far accompanied Him). 25) Together with Guha, - Rama, Lakshmana and Sita journeyed from forest to forest, fording many deep streams. 26) Having got directions from the sage Bharadvaja they reached Chitrakoota. There they built a delightful cottage, and the three of Them lived very happily together, sporting like the celestial Gandharvas. Upon Rama's getting to Chitrakoota, King Dasaratha, wailing in great anguish for his son, went to his heavenly abode. On the king's departure from this world, Vasishta, together with other prominent brahmanas, urged the greatly powerful Bharata to accept the crown. Bharata did not desire the realm however, and the hero went to the forest to obtain the mercy of Rama. 27) Having met the great-souled Rama, noble Bharata bowed before Him and begged Rama as follows: 28) 'Will You and You alone be King, O Knower of religious principles?' Beautiful Rama of great fame and magnanimity did not wish to disobey His father's command. He therefore gave His slippers as a token to Bharata, together with the charge of the kingdom, and after conversation with Him for some time persuaded Him to return home. Thus Bharata did not have His desire fulfilled, and having touched His brother's lotus feet He went to Nandigrama, from whence He ruled, ever longing for the return of Rama.

29) "After the departure of Bharata, the truthful Rama, anticipating the return of the townsfolk to that place, entered the Dandaka forest with controlled senses. 30) Having penetrated the great forest, the lotus-eyed Rama killed the Rakshasa known as Viradha. He then encountered the sages Sarabhanga and Suteekshna, and Agastya and his brother. Agastya presented the delighted Rama with a bow called Sarasana, a sword and two inexhaustible quivers. While He lived in that forest, Rama was approached by the forest dwellers, together with certain sages, who begged that demons who were harassing them should be killed. Having heard their entreaty, Rama promised that they would have His protection. 31) Rama assured the inhabitants of Dandakaranya and the rishis, who were as brilliant as fire, that the Rakshasas would be slain in combat.

32) "While He was dwelling there, Rama disfigured the demoness known as Soorpanakha, who could assume any form at will. 33) Because of Soorpanakha's bitter complaint, all the Rakshasas, headed by the generals Khara, Trishira and Dushana, were killed by Rama. Altogether, fourteen thousand of them were slain there in the forest. Hearing the slaughter of his kinsmen, Ravana, filled with rage, sought the aid of his follower, Mareecha, who repeatedly tried to retrain him. 34) 'It is better not to tempt one so powerful, O Ravana', he said. But Ravana, due to the influence of time, disregarded his counsel. 35) He went with Mareecha to the hermitage where Rama dwelt, and by a sorcerer's trick he lured the two princes far away. 36) Ravana abducted Lord Rama's wife and killed the vulture Jatayu (who attempted to rescue Sita). Rama was grief stricken to see the dead bird and to hear of the kidnapping of Sita, and with great remorse He burned Jatayu's corpse.

37) Following Sita's path through the forest, Rama encountered the monstrous Rakshasa known as Kabandha, who was dreadful to look upon. 38) Having slain him, the mighty-armed Ramachandra cremated his body and Kabandha ascended to the heavenly planets. He told Rama: 'You should seek the righteous ascetic, Sabiree. She is well versed in the principles of religion, O Raghava. Rama therefore approached her and was duly worshipped by her.

39) He then met the monkey Hanuman on the bank of Lake Pampa. 40) Thereafter, Rama was introduced by Hanuman to Sugreeva. The mighty Rama related all that had occured from the very beginning, especially with regard to Mother Sita. Having thus heard from Him, Surgreeva, with great happiness, made a pledge of friendship before the sacred fire. The unhappy king of the monkeys then lovingly informed Rama of his enmity with Vali, and Rama promised that Vali would be killed. 41) Sugreeva, however, fearing for the safety of the heroic Raghava, was greatly apprehensive and described Vali's great strength unto Him. 42) In order to convince Rama, Sugreeva showed Him the colossal corpse of the demon Dundubhi, which resembled a mountain, and had been killed by Vali. 43) Seeing the enormous skeleton, the mighty Rama merely smiled, and with His big toe flung it away a full eighty miles. 44) In order to further allay Sugreeva's fears, He pierced seven palm-trees, a mountain and the Rasatala planet with one tremendous arrow. 45) Then, with a happy mind, the great monkey went fearlessly with Rama to Kishkindha and Vali's hiding place. 46) Upon their arrival, Surgreeva, the best of the monkeys, whose body was of a golden hue, let out a fearful roar which brought out the great monkey king. Having reassured his wife, Tara, Vali engaged in combat with Sugreeva. But Raghava slew him with a single arrow. 47) Having thus dispatched Vali as requested by Sugreeva, Lord Raghava personally inaugurated him as king. The bull-like monkey then summoned all his subjects, and being eager to see Mother Sita, sent them in all directions to seek her out. 48) Upon the advice of the vulture Sampati, the powerful Hanuman leapt a full eight hundred miles across the salt ocean to Sri Lanka. 49) There, in Ravana's capital, he found Sita in a grove of asoka trees, rapt in meditation. 50) Hanuman gave her a token sent by Rama, and having given her consolation and a full report of all that had occured, he demolished an ornamental gate. 51) He next killed five of Ravana's lieutenants and seven of his minister's sons, and after crushing the hero Aksha, he allowed himself to be seized. 52) Although he knew himself to be good as released because of a particular weapon given to him as a boon by Brahma, the hero voluntarily endured the torments of the man-eating demons. 53) Shortly after, he burned the city of Lanka, sparing Sita, the Princess of Mithila, and returning to Lord Rama, gave Him the delightful news. 54) Approaching Rama, the great-souled Hanuman circumambulated Him in a clockwise fashion and assured Him that he had truly seen Sita.

55) "Rama then jouneyed to the shore of the great ocean in the company of Sugreeva, and agitated its waters with arrows as brilliant as the sun. 56) Out of fear, the ocean, lord of rivers, revealed himself, and on his insistence Nala constructed a bridge. 57) Upon reaching the city of Lanka, Rama slew Ravana in battle and got back Sita, but He became somewhat ashamed (of her residence in another man's house) and publicly criticized her. Not being able to tolerate such treatment the chaste Sita entered fire. 58) By the words of Agni (the fire-god) however, it could be understood that she was free from impurity, Lord Rama's extraordinary feat satisfied all the living beings within the universe, both moving and non-moving, and the blissful Raghava was duly adored by the assembled host of demigods. 59) Therafter, the Lord installed Vibheeshana upon the throne of Lanka, and considering that He had accomplished something worthwhile, He felt great ectasy. 60) Having received a benediction from the Devas, all the monkeys were revived, and Rama flew to Ayodhya in a flower airplane with His relatives and friends. 61) Our Hero first visited the hermitage of Bharadvaja, and sent Hanuman from thence to Bharata. After relating to the sage all that had occured, He remounted His aircraft and flew to Nandigrama with Sugreeva. At Nandigrama He and His brothers untangled their matted hair, and the sinless Rama thus got back Mother Sita and regained his kingdom. During His reign all His subjects were blissful and prosperous. They were all pious, free from lamentation and disease, famine and fear. Never did men see the death of their sons, nor will chaste ladies, being ever devoted to their spouses, see their demise. Never did any man have need to fear fire, wind or fever, nor will any person ever drown in water. No one knew hunger, nor feared thieves, and both village and city were replete with riches and grain. 62) Everyone was as happy as they were in Sata-yuga Hundreds of Asvamedha sacrifices sacrifices were performed, with abundant paraphernalia made of gold. Millions upon millions of cows were donated to the learned according to the injuction of the scriptures, and untold wealth was given to the glorious brahmanas. 63) Lord Raghava established a royal dynasty hundreds of times more glorious than ever before, and He engaged everyone in the world in the respective duties of his caste. Having governed His kingdom for eleven-thousand years, Rama will ascend to the spiritual sky.