The story of Rāma — exile, the abduction of Sītā by Rāvaṇa, the war, and Rāma’s return. 24,000 ślokas in seven books. The other great Hindu epic; a foundational text of dharmic ideal kingship.
1 chapter
Tradition
Smṛti. Itihāsa, c. 500 BCE – 200 CE. Traditionally ascribed to Vālmīki, regarded as the ādikavi ("first poet") of Sanskrit literature.
Translation
Ralph T. H. Griffith, *The Rámáyan of Válmíki* (London: Trübner & Co.; Benares: E. J. Lazarus & Co., 1870–1874). Public domain. Selected cantos — the opening cantos of each kāṇḍa, presented as a structural overview of the epic. The OCR is from Griffith's verse rendering and may contain occasional artefacts. See source for full text.
License
Public domain (pre-1929 English translation). Reproduced for educational and religious commentary.