The Magician’s Trick There was a magician in Lanka named Vidyujjihva who had extraordinary abilities in creating illusions. Thanks to his powers, he created a head exactly like Rama’s and they took it to Sita. When … Read More
Visvamitra’s Arrival It was at that time when the great Visvamitra, the sage of immortal fame who had reached the highest peaks of ascetic perfection, arrived in Ayodhya. His austerities were so severe that the Devas … Read More
I had always dreamed of recounting the Ramayana in a simple book, within everyone’s reach, sure, as I still am, that the beauty of the story would have fascinated anyone. I heard the Ramayana – and … Read More
Messenger Shuka Ravana then summoned Shuka, one of his trusted ambassadors, and gave him a mission. “The Vanaras are getting closer. I didn’t think they were so reckless, yet they are coming. Let’s try to avoid … Read More
Ravana Sees the Enemy’s Army Ravana decided to go and check for himself. Along with others, he nervously climbed the stairs of his highest tower and as soon as he looked out he saw a breathtaking … Read More
Rama’s Army Arrives in Lanka Lanka was sighted. Rama ordered that Shuka be released and told him to run to his king to convey the message and their determination to free Sita at any cost. Shuka … Read More
Joyfully, the Vanaras forts began to take huge boulders, mountain peaks, trees, and anything else that could add volume to the construction of the bridge, and after writing the sacred name of Rama on them, … Read More
Can We Learn Something Practical? Rama was an ideal person. How can we not learn something from him? We can learn to love everyone, but also to vigorously defend those principles that lift the human soul. … Read More
Rama Forces Varuna to Let Them Pass A few days later they arrived on the shores of the ocean. Rama observed the vast body of water, a huge and insurmountable sea that separated him from Lanka. … Read More
Vibhisana Abandons Ravana and Joins Rama Even though those he would fight against were his own relatives and friends, Vibhisana thought that truth was more important than temporary family ties. Outraged, he left the city. Soon … Read More
The Narration Of the Ramayana Begins On the banks of the Sarayu stood the city of Ayodhya, capital of the kingdom of Koshala. The opulences of this kingdom were unspeakable, especially those of its capital. Ayodhya … Read More
The Structure Of This Edition The literal translation and full prose version of ancient epic poems is always hard work. We did not want to do one thing or the other. This is not to say … Read More
Ravana Determined to Fight The next day, when Ravana reappeared in the council chamber, to general disapproval Vibhisana tried again to bring Ravana to reason, but Ravana felt too attracted to Sita and could not accept … Read More
Yuddha Kanda Preparations For War Rama seemed to have come back to life. When he heard the whole story from Hanuman’s lips again, he felt that something was reborn in his heart, as happens when one … Read More
The Good News A few days later, walking quickly, they arrived in their territory. Not far away, there was a privately owned forest that belonged to Sugriva where no one had ever been able to enter. … Read More
