Srimad Ramayanam by Maharishi Valmiki

This is what Brahma prophesied as he departed after blessing Maharshi Valmiki. How true it is! The Ramayana Katha remains as fresh today as when it was first composed by Maharshi Valmiki many millennia ago.

Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is an Itihasa (epic) integral to Indian civilization. The central theme of this Mahakavya is the practice of Dharma and Satya, epitomized by Sri Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya, who is portrayed as the Maryada Purushottama.

Born into the Suryavanshi Clan in Ayodhya, Rama was about to be coronated as the Raja by his aged father, Dasaratha, when powerful destiny intervened. Due to a boon granted by Dasaratha to his third wife, Kaikeyi, Sri Rama was exiled to the forest for fourteen years. When informed of his exile by Kaikeyi, Rama accepted it without hesitation and left for the forest with his wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshmana, to uphold the sanctity of his father's promise-an act that secured his eternal fame.

In the forest, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana endured many hardships, culminating in the abduction of Sita by Ravana, the Raja of Lanka. The epic narrates how Rama rescued Sita after slaying Ravana. However, the story takes a tragic turn when Rama, despite being convinced of Sita's chastity, discards her to protect his reputation from public calumny. This decision underscores the importance of personal integrity and public accountability for a king, a value upheld by Rama throughout his life.

Throughout his journey, Sri Rama demonstrates equanimity, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to Dharma and Satya. He remains steadfast in honoring his father's promise to Kaikeyi, serving as a model of ideal human conduct. Valmiki Ramayana portrays Sri Rama as the ideal human being, and reading it provides profound insights into Indian culture at its finest. My effort is to present an undiluted English version of the original Sanskrit Ramayana, making it accessible to readers unfamiliar with Sanskrit.

About the Author:

SHRI T.V.S. KRISHNAN (born 8th May 1935) hails from the southern village of Tattamangalam near Palakkad, Kerala. His father, the late T.S. Vaidyanatha lyer. Β.Α., Β.Τ. (1903-1964), was a teacher and Headmaster at the local Government SMHS School.
After completing his schooling at SMHS, Shri Krishnan pursued higher education at the Government College, Chittur, earning dual degrees in Mathematics and Commerce. He began his professional career at the Rourkela Steel Plant and later served as the Commercial Manager for a construction company in Calcutta. Subsequently, Shri Krishnan co-founded a manufacturing company in the packaging industry in Bangalore, alongside two partners.
Since retiring in 2007, Shri Krishnan has devoted his time to spiritual pursuits and the litera Translation of Itihasas and Puranas into English, aiming to make these ancient texts accessible to eaders unfamiliar with Sanskrit.