The Structure Of This Edition

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 that it would not be important to do so, on the contrary, we feel it as a specific duty. But this edition of the Ramayana was born with the aim of presenting it in a short, simple, concise way. We just wanted to tell you the story, introduce you to these fabulous characters and the adventure they were protagonists of. We hope it will be to your liking.

We apologize to scholars of history or Sanskrit language who will find the names of the characters or the general terminology adapted and simplified, but even for this the above principle applies.

We also apologize if we had to lower our desecrating scissors by cutting a good part of the vast poem, but it was not possible for us to present it to you in its full version. At the same time, we can assure you that the central story was written faithfully and without additions or manipulations. The story is the same that Valmiki told. We have tried to give you the Ramayana in a smooth, easy, non-binding version, so that this first approach to the wonderful stories of India take place in a pleasant way.

Like the original, the Ramayana we present to you is divided into seven chapters. In the index, we have given you the titles of the sections in order to guide you through the intricacies of the story. We hope you will find them useful.

 

The seven chapters (or kandas) are as follows:

1 – Bala Kanda

2 – Ayodhya Kanda

3 – Aranya Kanda

4 – Kiskindha Kanda

5 – Sundara Kanda

6 – Yuddha Kanda

7 – Uttara Kanda

 

Bala Kanda (the first chapter) 

It tells about the conception of the poem by its author; then he leads us through all the vicissitudes that lead Rama to know Sita, until their marriage.

 

Ayodhya Kanda (the second chapter) 

It deals with the plot of Manthara and Kaikeyi, the exile of Rama, the death of his father, and the attempt of Rama’s brother to bring him back to the city.

 

Aranya Kanda (the third chapter) 

It deals with the life of Rama, Laksmana, and Sita in the forest, the first friction with the Raksasa, the drama of Sita’s kidnapping, and Rama’s desperate search for her.

 

Kiskindha Kanda (the fourth chapter) 

It deals with the encounter with the Vanaras, the killing of Vali, and the Vanaras’ expedition in search of Sita. They find traces of her: she is on an island, in Lanka.

 

Sundara Kanda (the fifth chapter) 

It deals with Hanuman’s superhuman leap and the finding of Sita. Hanuman returns victorious and brings the good news to Rama.

 

Yuddha Kanda (the sixth chapter) 

It deals with the bloody war in which Rama emerges victorious. He returns to Ayodhya, where he is crowned king.

 

Uttara Kanda (the seventh chapter) 

It deals with the Raksasa dynasty and the exploits of Ravana. He then tells some episodes from the life of Hanuman. Sita’s definitive exile and the birth of her children in the hermitage of Valmiki, the author of the poem, are the most touching moments of the entire work. During the narration of the story, Rama asks Valmiki to bring back Sita who, to give the definitive proof of her purity, definitively returns to Mother Earth. The chapter and the poem end with the return of Rama and his brothers to their original spiritual dimensions.

 

The first edition of this Ramayana was published in 1987 in Italian language.

 

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