The first poem of Bharat

Ramayana

The journey of Shri Rama: a prince who gave up a throne for his father’s word, crossed the ocean for Sita and showed the world what dharma looks like. Start from the beginning and read it like a storybook.

Start reading: Bala KandaMeet the characters

7

Kandas (books) of the epic

32

Character stories

5

Families in the family tree

24,000

Verses (shlokas) in Valmiki’s poem

Sage Valmiki stands on the bank of the river Tamasa, one hand raised in sorrow, as a female krauncha bird cries beside her fallen mate and his disciple Bharadvaja watches.

What is the Ramayana?

The Ramayana, “the journey of Rama”, was composed by Sage Valmiki, who is called the Adi Kavi, the first poet. It is honoured as the adi-kavya, the first poem, and has about 24,000 verses arranged in seven books called kandas, from the Bala Kanda to the Uttara Kanda.

It tells the story of Shri Rama, the eldest son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. On the day he is to be crowned, he is sent to the forest for fourteen years. With Sita and Lakshmana he lives among sages, until Ravana, the king of Lanka, carries Sita away. With the help of Hanuman, Sugriva and the vanara army, Rama builds a bridge across the ocean, defeats Ravana and returns home to Ayodhya.

Our retelling follows Valmiki’s Ramayana only. Later Ramayanas, such as Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, are also loved, and they tell some events a little differently.

Where does the story start?

Five simple steps to understand the whole Ramayana. Each step opens the kanda where it happens.

  1. 1King Dasharatha and his four sonsChildless King Dasharatha of Ayodhya performs a great yajna. His three queens give birth to Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.Bala Kanda
  2. 2Kaikeyi’s two boonsJust before Rama’s coronation, Queen Kaikeyi asks for two old boons: Bharata as king, and Rama in the forest for fourteen years.Ayodhya Kanda
  3. 3Sita is carried awayIn the forest a golden deer draws Rama and Lakshmana away, and Ravana carries Sita off to Lanka. The old vulture Jatayu fights to save her.Aranya Kanda
  4. 4Hanuman’s great leapRama makes friends with Sugriva, and the vanaras search the land. Reminded of his strength, Hanuman leaps across the ocean to Lanka.Sundara Kanda
  5. 5The war of LankaA bridge is built over the sea and a great war follows. Rama defeats Ravana, Vibhishana is crowned, and dharma wins.Yuddha Kanda

The main people to know first

Remember these names and the whole story becomes easy to follow.

Illustration of King Dasharatha, an old king with a white beard, a golden crown and royal robes, seated on his throne in Ayodhya

Dasharatha

The truthful king of Ayodhya

Did not fight
Illustration of Queen Kaikeyi, a proud young queen in rich pink and gold robes, seated in a palace chamber with her jewels laid aside

Kaikeyi

The queen of the two boons

Did not fight
Illustration of Rama, a dark-complexioned young prince with long arms, a calm smile and a golden crown, holding a great bow against a green forest background

Rama

The prince who lived by dharma

Rama’s side
Illustration of Sita, a graceful young woman in a pink and gold sari with flowers in her hair, holding a lotus beside a furrow in a green field

Sita

Daughter of the Earth, Rama’s faithful queen

Rama’s side
Illustration of Lakshmana, a fair young warrior prince with a bow and a quiver of arrows, standing alert on guard before a leaf hut in the forest

Lakshmana

Rama’s ever-faithful younger brother

Rama’s side
Bharata in bark clothes and matted hair, seated humbly beside a throne on which Rama’s golden sandals rest under a royal umbrella.

Bharata

The brother who ruled for Rama

Did not fight
Illustration of Hanuman, a strong vanara with a golden face and a gentle, devoted expression, kneeling with folded hands and Rama’s ring in his palm

Hanuman

The devoted messenger of Rama

Rama’s side
Illustration of Sugriva, a golden-brown vanara king wearing a crown and a garland, standing beside a sacred fire with folded hands

Sugriva

The vanara king, Rama’s friend

Rama’s side
Illustration of Vibhishana, a calm rakshasa prince in blue and white robes with a gentle face, folding his hands in respect beside the ocean

Vibhishana

The righteous brother of Ravana

Rama’s side
Illustration of Ravana, a powerful king with ten crowned heads and many arms, in dark red and gold royal robes, holding a sword before the golden towers of Lanka

Ravana

The ten-headed king of Lanka

Ravana’s side
Illustration of Kumbhakarna, a gigantic rakshasa warrior with a dark body, broad shoulders and a crown, holding a huge iron spear beside the walls of Lanka

Kumbhakarna

The giant who slept for months

Ravana’s side
The sage Valmiki, white-bearded and dressed in bark clothes, seated by the river Tamasa watching a pair of krauncha birds, with a palm-leaf manuscript beside him.

Valmiki

The first poet, author of the Ramayana

Did not fight
See all 32 characters

The complete story in 7 kandas

Read kanda by kanda, from how Valmiki came to write the Ramayana to Sita’s return to the Earth.

In King Janaka’s crowded hall, young Rama holds the great bow of Shiva as it snaps in the middle, while Vishvamitra, Janaka and Lakshmana watch in wonder and the guests fall back.Kanda 14 partsBala KandaHow Valmiki came to write the Ramayana, the birth and childhood of Rama and his brothers, the journey with Sage Vishvamitra, and Sita’s swayamvara in Mithila.Read this kanda
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in simple forest clothes sit in a small boat on the wide Ganga, while Guha stands on the bank with folded hands and Sumantra waits beside the chariot.Kanda 23 partsAyodhya KandaRama’s coronation is stopped by Kaikeyi’s two boons. He leaves for fourteen years in the forest, King Dasharatha dies of grief, and Bharata rules only as Rama’s servant.Read this kanda
The old vulture Jatayu spreads his great wings in the sky to attack Ravana’s chariot as Ravana carries Sita away over the forest.Kanda 33 partsAranya KandaLife in the forest among the sages, Shurpanakha at Panchavati, the golden deer, and Ravana carrying Sita away to Lanka while Jatayu fights to stop him.Read this kanda
Rama and Sugriva walk around a small sacred fire as friends, while Lakshmana and Hanuman stand beside them with folded hands on a rocky mountain peak.Kanda 43 partsKishkindha KandaRama meets Hanuman and makes friends with Sugriva, Vali falls, and the vanaras search the whole land for Sita until Jambavan reminds Hanuman of his strength.Read this kanda
Hanuman, hidden among the leaves of a tall tree in a moonlit grove, holds out a ring to Sita, who sits below in a simple yellow garment with tears on her face.Kanda 53 partsSundara KandaHanuman’s journey across the ocean to Lanka: he finds Sita in the Ashoka grove, gives her Rama’s ring, sets Lanka on fire and brings back her message.Read this kanda
Rama stands in Indra’s golden chariot with his bow drawn to his ear, sending a blazing arrow towards the ten-headed Ravana, while Matali holds the reins and the gods watch from the sky.Kanda 64 partsYuddha KandaThe bridge across the ocean and the war with Ravana: Kumbhakarna and Indrajit fall, Rama defeats Ravana, and returns to Ayodhya to be crowned.Read this kanda
Young Lava and Kusha sing the Ramayana before King Rama at the Ashvamedha sacrifice, with Sage Valmiki standing beside them and the golden image of Sita next to Rama’s throne.Kanda 71 partsUttara KandaLater events after the coronation: the story of Ravana and of Hanuman, Ramarajya, Sita in Valmiki’s ashram, Lava and Kusha, and the end of Rama’s time on Earth.Read this kanda
Confused about who is whose son?Our simple family tree shows the five families of the Ramayana, from King Dasharatha’s sons to Ravana’s family and the vanaras of Kishkindha, with a picture of every main person.Open the family tree

Retold from the Ramayana of Sage Valmiki. Later Ramayanas and regional traditions tell some details differently. Illustrations are artistic.