Illustration depicting scenes from the Ramayana epic

श्रीमद्वाल्मीकीयरामायणम्

Srimad Valmiki Ramayana

The timeless Sanskrit epic narrating the journey of virtue — 24,000 verses across six books, with word-by-word meaning and English translation.

“aapadaam apahartaaram daataaram sarvasaMpadaam —
I bow again and again to Sri Rama who removes all obstacles and grants all wealth.”

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The Six Kaandas

Explore the six books of the Ramayana, each unfolding a unique phase of Sri Rama's journey.

Book 1

Bala Kanda

बालकाण्डBook of Youth

The origins of Rama, his childhood, and the story of his youth. Narrates the birth of Rama, his education, and his marriage to Sita.

77 chapters (sargas)

Book 2

Ayodhya Kanda

अयोध्याकाण्डBook of Ayodhya

The preparations for Rama's coronation and his exile. Covers the palace intrigues, Rama's banishment to the forest for fourteen years, and the death of King Dasharatha.

119 chapters (sargas)

Book 3

Aranya Kanda

अरण्यकाण्डBook of the Forest

Rama's life in the Dandaka forest. Describes encounters with sages and demons, and culminates in the abduction of Sita by Ravana.

75 chapters (sargas)

Book 4

Kishkindha Kanda

किष्किन्धाकाण्डThe Empire of Holy Monkeys

Rama's alliance with the Vanara kingdom. Describes the friendship with Hanuman and Sugriva, the defeat of Vali, and the search for Sita.

67 chapters (sargas)

Book 5

Sundara Kanda

सुन्दरकाण्डBook of Beauty

Hanuman's journey to Lanka. Details Hanuman's leap across the ocean, his search for Sita in Lanka, and his meeting with her in Ashoka Vatika.

68 chapters (sargas)

Book 6

Yuddha Kanda

युद्धकाण्डBook of War

The great war between Rama and Ravana. Covers the building of the bridge to Lanka, the epic battles, the defeat of Ravana, and the coronation of Rama.

128 chapters (sargas)

About This Project

This site presents the complete Srimad Valmiki Ramayana with original Sanskrit verses in Devanagari, word-by-word meanings, and English translations. The content is based on the monumental work of Sri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao and Sri K. M. K. Murthy, originally published at valmikiramayan.net since 1998.

Ramayana contains 24,000 verses arranged into numerous chapters (sargas) contained in 6 books (kaandas). Each verse is rendered in Devanagari Unicode alongside its word-by-word meaning and English gist.