Narada briefs Valmiki: the Ramayana in a nutshell

Classical

The epic exists in two sizes: Narada's capsule and Valmiki's full telling.

The Ramayana opens with a question. Valmiki, the ascetic poet, asks the divine sage Narada, who knows the three worlds: who, in this world, has the best qualities? He wants a hero with sixteen attributes, including virtue, valor, righteousness, gratitude, truthfulness, firm resolve, good conduct, concern for all beings, learning, ability, pleasing appearance, self-control, mastery of anger, radiance, freedom from jealousy, and such force that even gods fear him in battle. The translator notes that these sixteen correspond to the sixteen phases of the full moon.

Narada agrees to tell. The man is Rama of the Ikshvaku dynasty, self-controlled, mighty, radiant and steadfast. He has broad shoulders, long arms, a neck like a conch and a chest like a lion's. He is wise, eloquent, devoted to the welfare of his people, learned in the Vedas and skilled in archery. Narada compares him to the ocean in depth, the Himalayas in steadiness, Vishnu in courage, the moon in beauty and Kubera in generosity.

Then comes the life, told fast. Rama is Dasharatha's eldest son. As the king prepares to crown him, Queen Kaikeyi calls in two old boons: exile for Rama for fourteen years, and the crown for her son Bharata. Bound by his word and by dharma, Dasharatha lets Rama go. Rama goes willingly, with Lakshmana and Sita. At Shringaberapura, Guha, chief of the Nishadas, welcomes them on the bank of the Ganga. They send the charioteer Sumantra home, meet the sage Bharadvaja, and settle at Chitrakuta. Dasharatha dies grieving. Bharata refuses the throne and goes to Chitrakuta to beg Rama to return, but Rama refuses, citing his father's command, and gives Bharata his sandals as a token of his authority. Bharata rules from Nandigrama, waiting.

Rama enters the Dandaka forest, kills the demon Viradha, and meets the sages Sharabhanga, Sutikshna and Agastya. Agastya gives him Indra's bow, a sword and two inexhaustible quivers. The sages ask for protection and Rama promises it. Shurpanakha, Ravana's sister, tries to win him and is disfigured by Lakshmana. The demons Khara, Trishira and Dushana attack, and Rama destroys them, fourteen thousand demons of Janasthana in all.

Ravana hears of it and goes to Maricha, who warns him off. Ravana ignores him and uses Maricha's illusion to lure the brothers away and carry off Sita. The vulture Jatayu tries to save her and is killed. Rama finds him dying and performs his rites. Rama kills Kabandha, is directed to the ascetic Shabari, and reaches Lake Pampa, where he meets Hanuman, who brings him to Sugriva. They make an alliance before the fire.

Sugriva tells how Vali took his kingdom and his wife. Rama proves his strength by kicking the skeleton of Dundubhi ten yojanas and sending one arrow through seven sala trees. He kills Vali, and Sugriva is crowned. Hanuman, guided by Sampati, leaps the ocean to Lanka, finds Sita in the Ashoka grove, gives her Rama's ring, wrecks the grove, is captured, has his tail set alight and burns much of the city before returning with news.

Rama builds a bridge with Nala, crosses, and kills Ravana. Before the assembly he speaks harshly to Sita and makes her prove her purity; she enters the fire, and the fire god vouches for her. Rama crowns Vibhishana, revives the fallen monkeys, flies home in the Pushpaka and is reunited with his brothers at Nandigrama.

Narada closes with a promise: a golden age in which no father will see a son die, no wife be widowed, and there will be no fear of fire, flood, disease, hunger or theft. Rama will rule eleven thousand years. The page breaks off in that verse.

Everything in the later epic, from the boons to the bridge, is already here in outline, which is why the poem can then slow down and tell each part at its own pace.

Who: Narada, Valmiki

Bound to

The krauncha birds and the first shloka causes

Where this comes from

valmiki · valmikiramayan.net Bala Kanda contents page sarga 1 (title only)
read for this telling · valmikiramayan.net Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda sarga 1

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