Śrīmad Vālmīki Rāmāyana (English Translation)

Sage Bharadwāja tells Śrī Rāma and Laksmana, even as they set out on their journey to Citrakūta, the route by which they should proceed. Accompanied by Sītā, Śrī Rāma and Laksmana cross the Yamunā on…

Set out on his journey for the Dandaka forest with Sītā and Laksmana, Śrī Rāma reaches at dusk the hermitage of Sage Bharadwāja in the vicinity of the confluence of the holy Gangā and Yamunā rivers. …

Apprehending trouble for Kausalyå and others at the hands of Kaikeyī, Śrī Rāma, who was seated at the foot of a banyan tree and was a past master in the art of persuasion, persuades Laksmana to the b…

While about to step into the boat brought by Guha’s men and asked by Guha if he could be of any further use to the prince, Śrī Rāma enjoins him to obey the Emperor. Importuned by Sumantra to take him…

Expressing his readiness to guard the Crown prince and his consort, keeping awake the whole night, Guha importunes Laksmana to repose. Reminding Guha of Śrī Rāma’s greatness, Laksmana, however, tells…

Standing with his face turned towards Ayodhyā, Śrī Rāma bids farewell to his birth-place and, sending back the people hailing from the countryside, who had come to see him, and crossing the frontiers…

Having covered a long distance in the meantime, Śrī Rāma finishes his morning bath and devotions and, having crossed the Vedaśruti, Gomatī and Syandikā rivers, presses forward talking with Sumantra.

Told of Śrī Rāma’s departure for the forest by the citizens, who had gone out with Śrī Rāma and returned, unable as they were to find out the tracks of his chariot, their wives reproach Kaikeyī and b…

The citizens that had followed Śrī Rāma in his journey to the forest woke to find Śrī Rāma and his party gone and begin to reproach themselves. Overcome with grief they hunt up the tracks of his char…

Having reached the bank of the Tamasā and thinking of the plight of the people of Ayodhyā, Śrī Rāma lays himself down on a bed of leaves bewailing the lot of his parents and feeling reassured by the …

When the citizens that followed Śrī Rāma in his journey to the forest refuse to return even when pleaded by Śrī Rāma in many ways, unable as they were to bear separation from him, Śrī Rāma, with Sītā…

Establishing the greatness of Śrī Rāma, Sumitrā, who is a pastmaster in eloquence, assuages Kausalyā’s grief.

The Lament of Kausalyā.

Śrī Rāma having departed for the forest in an exceptionally swift-going chariot, Daśaratha vainly seeks to cover the intervening distance on foot. The very dust raised by the chariot having disappear…

The ladies of the royal gynaeceum bewail the exile of Śrī Rāma and others and the citizens of Ayodhyā too are reduced to a miserable plight.

Going clockwise round Daśaratha (as a token of respect), Sītā, Rāma and Laksmana greet him. Accompanied by Sītā, Śrī Rāma salutes Kausalyā. Laksmana too hails Kausalyā first and then his own mother, …

Sent away by Daśaratha, Sumantra gets a chariot ready to take Śrī Rāma and his party to the forest and Sītā adorns herself with jewels brought by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Kausalyā tenders opp…

Incensed to hear the loud wailing of those present at the scene, on Sītā being dressed as a hermitess, Daśaratha reproaches Kaikeyī. While departing, Śrī Rāma entreats his father to take care of his …

Śrī Rāma urges his servants to fetch the bark of trees for being used as his wearing apparel. At this Kaikeyī herself brings them the desired dress, which both Śrī Rāma and Laksmana cover themselves …