Kulapati's
Preface |
Preface |
The Publisher's Preface On the
book "Ramayana" summarised by one of the greatest living
Indians, C.Raja
Gopala Chari. [More.....] |
Preface on the Great Indian
Epic " Ramayana" including prefaces to the first, second ,third editions. [More....] |
The
Conception |
Sage
Viswamitra |
King Dasaratha ruled the
kingdom of Kosala, made fertile by the river Sarayu. Its Capital was Ayodhya. King
Dasaratha ruled the kingdom from the capital city of Ayodhya. [More.....] |
Viswaamitra's arrival at
Ayodhya was unexpected; and King Dasaratha stepped down from his throne and advanced a few
paces respectfully to receive the sage. [More.....] |
Trisanku |
Raama
Leaves Home |
The famous king of the Solar
dynasty, Trisanku, was reigning, who was so much in love with the beauty of his body that
he could not bear the thought of parting with it at death. [More.....] |
The two princes were then
brought to the presence of the sage. The King, the Queen - Mothers and Vasishtha
blessed them and sent them with Viswamitra. [More....] |
Raama
Slays The Monsters |
Seetha |
The chapter is about the night
on the bank of the river Sarayu. Before retiring Viswamitra initiated the princes in
two secret mantras Bala and Atibala. [More....] |
When Seeta reached the age of
marriage Janaka was sad that he would have to part with her. Though he tried hard,
he was for long unable to choose a prince worthy of Seeta. [More.....] |
Bhageeratha And The Story Of Ganga |
Ahalya |
Ganga followed Bhageeratha's
triumphal chariot; the waters danced and shone like lightning flashes as the river
made its course and the Devas and Gandharvas assembled above to withness the grand sight. [More....] |
A shower of flowers descended
from the heavens as Ahalya, cleansed of sin, shone like a goddess; simultaneously
the sage Gautama returned to the aashrama. [More....] |
Raama
Wins Seeta's Hand |
Parasuraama's
Discomfiture |
The King sai: "The Prince
is welcome to see the bow. If he can string it, he will win the hand of my daughter.
Then Rama Wins and then Janaka said to Rama take her hand in yours. Blessed and
devoted. [More....] |
Having thus safely handed back
to Dasaratha at Mithila the princes entrusted to him in Ayodhya, and after attending the
wedding celebrations, Viswaamitra took leaves of the two kings and went to Himalaya. [More....] |
Festive
Preparations |
Manthara's
Evil Counsel |
Rama and Seeta spent twelve
happy years in Ayodhya. But now the Lord and his consort in human form had to
experience the hardships, sorrows and conflicts of life on earth. [More....] |
Queen Kaikeyi had a woman
companion and confidential servant. She was a hunch-back named Manthara. Being
a distant relation of the Queen. [More....] |
Kaikeyi
Succumbs |
Wife Or
Demon? |
The chapter about Kaikeyi, who
had looked upon Raama as her own son, was enmeshed in Manthara's arguments and became
helpless. [More....] |
The chapter is about with this
firm declaration, Kaikeyi stopped. Dasaratha stood speechless, staring at his
pitiless wife. Was this lovely creation really Kaikeyi or a demon? [More.....] |
Behold
A Wonder! |
Storm
And Calm |
The Chapter about Poor
Dasaratha was in extreme agony, pulled by natural affection on one side and by the moral
obligtation to fulfil a pledge on the other. [More.....] |
The Chapter is about Many
visitors were assembled there, eagerely awaiting the coronation. In the innermost
apartment, the Queen, clad in white silk, was before the sacrificial fire invoking
blessings on her son. [More.....] |
Seeta's
Resolve |
To The
Forest |
The Chapter is about What took
place in the inner apartments of the palace was not yet known to the town-people.But Raama
for his part lost no time in preparing for forest life. [More....] |
The chapter about in the
forest, regard Raama as your father and look upon Jaanaki as myself and the forest will be
to you as Ayodhya. [More....] |
Alone
By Themselves |
Chitrakoota |
The citizens who had slept on
the bank of the Tamasa oke up in the morning and looked round. They were surprised
to see that Raama and the chariot had disappeared. [More....] |
The chapter is about the
Raama spent the night in Bharadwaaja's aashrama. Getting up in the morning, paid
their respects to the Maharishi and, taking leave of him, set out for the Chitrakoota
hill. [More.....] |
A
Mother's Grief |
Idle Sport And Terrible Result |
Sumantra and Guha stood
watching the three figures as long as they could. When they disappeared from sight,
they were plunged in sorrow and went to Guha's town. [More....] |
Dasaratha had been driven
ruthlessly by circumstances to an action which not only broke his heart but made him hate
himself and deprived him even of self-pity. [More.....] |
Last
Moments |
Bharata
Arrives |
"I reached his cottage
and there I saw the old couple waiting for the return of their son. They sat there
like two birds with broken wings shrivelled in body and unable to move. [More....] |
Raama and Lakshmana had gone
to the forest and Bharata and Satrughna were far away in their uncle's place. It was
decided to send for Bharata and to keep the body immersed in oil till his arrival. [More....] |
Intrigue
wasted |
Bharata
Suspected |
Now Bharata understood
everything and realised the enormity of the harm wrought by his mother. [More....] |
Gazing across the river Ganga,
Guha, the hunter-king, noticed unusual commotion on the bank opposite. [More....] |
The
Brothers Meet |
Bharata
Becomes Raama's Deputy |
The gradeur of the mountain
scenery and the forest and the sweet songs and play of the birds pleased his heart. [More....] |
The Chapted is about the four
princes and the three queens were re-united and could be seen together in one place. [More....] |
Viraadha's
End |
Ten
Years Pass |
The chapter is Nor far from
Chitrakoota was an outpost of the Raakshasas, called Janasthaana. [More....] |
Now begins the Aaranya Kaanda.
The poet begins with an episode that prepares us for the misfortunes of Seeta. [More....] |
The
Soorpanakha Episode |
Kamban's
Soorpanakha |
On the way they met a huge
figure perched on a big tree. They took it to be Raakshasa. [More....] |
Rama and Lakshmana drove out
Soorpanakha, as one takes a stick and drives out a donkey straying into a garden. [More....] |
Khara
And His Army Liquidated |
The
Path Of Ruin |
Accompanied by the fourteen
generals of Khara, Soorpanakha came back to Raama's aashrama. [More....] |
Akampana, one of the few
Raakshasas who survived the great slaughter at Panchavati. [More.....] |
The
Golden Stag |
The
Good Bird Jataayu |
Maareecha told Raavana,
"I have listened, my king, to all that you have said and I am filled with boundless
sorrow. [More....] |
"Alas, alas! Ah Seeta! Ah
Lakshmana!" So cried Maareecha simulating Raama's voice. [More....] |
Closely
Guarded |
Raama
Disconsolate |
Seeta opened her eyes red with
anger and grief, and facing Raavana cried: "Base fellow! You boasted of
your fame and your great origin and your warlike qualities. [More.....] |
Raama now realised how the
Raakshasa had beguiled them and how he had been drawn away a long distance by the crafty
Maareecha. [More....] |
A
Second Father Dies |
Left
Eyelids Throb |
The two brothers searched
every mountain, forest and river-bank calling Seeta's name aloud. [More....] |
In face of the unexpected
difficulties that overtook them one after another, Raama and Lakshmana often lost heart. [More....] |
He
Sees Her Jewels |
Sugreeva's
Doubts Cleared |
Then Sugreeva heard the story
of the calamity that had befallen the Raghu princes at Panchavati and how Raama's heart
was breaking with the ache of separation from Seeta. [More....] |
Sugreeva was keen on regaining
his kingdom and family, but he could not see how this was to be. [More....] |
The
Slaying Of Vaali |
Taara's
Grief |
Vaali who was then resting
happily was startled and for a moment paled with puzzled concern. [More....] |
There was panic in Kishkindha
when the news came that Vaali had been slain by an archer, and the Vaanaras fled hither
and thither in hopeless confustion [More..... |
Anger
And Reconciliation |
The
Search Begins |
The rainy season began.
Sugreeva and his comanions spent the time in Kishkindha in enjoyment but Raama and
Lakshmana spent the weary days waiting in a cave nearby. [More....] |
"Look, Raama at this
Vaanara army," said Sugreeva. "All these myrids, of wondrous
strength, are yours to command. [More....] |
Son Of
Vaayu |
The
Search In Lanka |
From Sampaati the Vaanaras
learnt the place where Seeta was kept a prisoner in the land of the Raakshasa, a hundred
yojanas across the ocean. [More....] |
Full of hope, Hanuman alighted
and set foot in Lanka. But soon the flush of triumph at the accomplishment of the
journey gave plae to sober thinking. [More.....] |
Seeta
In The Asoka Park |
Raavana's
Solicitation |
As Hanuman stood on the high
wall, he did not know why, a thrill of joy passed through his frame. [More....] |
To Seeta, plunged in a sea of
sorrow and clinging to dharma and to the thought of her lord, Raavana spoke these words: [More....] |
First
Among The Astute |
Seeta
Comforted |
The boldest and most
strong-minded woman may, if kept in captivity for a long period, lose heart and become
depressed. [More.....] |
Hidden by the branches,
Hanumaan sang in a sweet and gentle voice the story of Raama so that it fell on Seeta's
ears: [More....] |
Seeta
And Hanumaan |
Inviting
Battle |
"Dear, dear Vaanara
freiend," said Seeta, "I do not know whether to rejoice or grieve at the news
you have brought. [More....] |
After taking leave of Seeta,
Hanumaan sat for a while on the too of the garden wall and began to think: [More....] |
The
Terrible Envoy |
Hanumaan
Bound |
The Raakshasa warriors saw
with amazement a mighty Vaanara seated on the garden gate, who at their approach grew to
still bigger size and formidable menace. [More....] |
Vaalmeeki describes in
beautiful verses how the youthful warrior Aksha, the equeal of the gods, rode to battle in
a chariot drawn by eight horses. [More....] |
Lanka
In Flames |
A Carnival |
His captors took him to the
court of Raavana and placed him infront of the King. [More....] |
Hanuman tendered mental
salutations to Seeta and began his story. [More....] |
The
Tidings Conveyed |
The
Army Moves Forward |
Sugreeva's conjecture was like
nectar to Raaama's ears. They eagerly awaited the arrival of the Vaanaras. [More....] |
Raama heard Hanuman with heart
and eyes overflowing and, when he had come to the end of his narrative, said: [More.....] |
Anxiety
In Lanka |
Raavana
Calls A Council Again |
Now let us leave Raama and his
host here and go back to Raavana. [More....] |
As soon as day dawned,
Vibheeshana went to the king. He had thought deeply over the matter and had come to
a decision. [More....] |
Vibheeshana |
The
Vaanara's Doubt |
Kumbhakarna, the younger
brother of Raavana, spoke in the assembly: "Great King! Ignoring the princciples off
state-craft, you have run into a great danger. [More....] |
Having committed a sin and run
into danger, Raavana did not see how to extricate himself. Like other kings in a
quandary, he called a council for consultation. [More....] |
The Doctrine Of Surrender And Grace |
The
Great Causeway |
In response to Raama's
invitation, Hanumaan expressed his opinion in clear, sweet and pregnant words: [More....] |
"Raavana, the king of
Lanka, has sent me becuase of his affection and regard for you. He sends you his
fraternal greetings. [More....] |
The
Battle Begins |
Seeta's
Joy |
The Vaanara army descended
from mount Suvela and entered the forest adjoining the city of Lanka. [More....] |
Suka, the Raakshasa scout,
went and reported to Raavana: "I did my job according to your instructions. [More....] |
Serpent
Darts |
Raavana's
Defeat |
Raavana waa duly informed that
Raama's Vaanara host surrounded Lanka like a tumultuous sea. [More....] |
Raavana from within his palace
was surprised to hear, borne on the wind, the jubilant acclamations of the Vaanaras. [More....] |
The
Giant Is Roused |
Is
This Naaraayana Himself? |
When Raavana returned humbled
and defected, the gods rejoiced foreseeing the speedy end of their troubles. [More....] |
Rallied by Angada, the
Vaanaras recovered courage, re-formed in battle order and prepared to receive Kumbhakarna. [More...] |
The
Death Of Indrajit |
End Of
Raavana |
Indrajit comforted his father.
"Why should you worry when I am here alive?" he said and gathered
an army, and with it made another sortie. [More....] |
There was wailing in every
house in Lanka. In Raavana's breast grief, shame and anger seethed like a raging
sea. [More....] |
The End |
Epilogue |
Vibheeshana was crowned King
of Lanka in a magnificent ceremony. The new Lord of Lanka came out to the Vaanara
camp and bowed low before Raama. [More....] |
On one occasion Gandhiji and I
were talking about a girl very dear to both of us. [More....] |
Glossary |
Author -C.RajaGopalachari |
The Glossary Of the Book
" Ramayana" [More.....] |
Introduction to the Author of
the Book "C.Rajagopalachari" [More...] |