Ramayana in brief by Narada

Sloka 1: Once Valmiki spoke to (questioned as to the following) Narada thus. Valmiki
was one who did great penance. Narada was a supreme sage, always immersed in
penance and other holy austerities and was very great among the learned.

Sloka 2: O great sage! Is there anyone in this world (among the mortals) who is highly
virtuous, who is most learned, very wise, most powerful, most truthful, most perfectly
unwavering in the practice of duty, who is of sterling behavior.

Sloka 3: Extremely grateful towards his benefactor, who is a high souled one, who loves
dearly each and every being on earth, a supremely capable being and the most beloved
personality?

Sloka 4: Have conquered passion and absolutely free from envy and malice and one with
an air of splendor about him and (lastly) one whose dreadful fury in battle strikes terror
into the hearts of even the immortals (Devas).

Sloka 5: Great sage! I am very much curious to hear about this. You are most competent
to know whether such a person really existed in this world.

Sloka 6: Hearing these words from Valmiki, Narada became overjoyed. He was fully
aware of the three worlds. Hence he said ‘May you listen’ and invited Valmiki to hear
him attentively and spoke thus.

Sloka 7: Narada narrates, "O sage Valmeeki! All the praiseworthy qualities described by
you, are of countless aspects and all of them are very rarely found among men. But after
deep thought, I know one person who possessed all of them, for I have known from
Brahma of such a man. So please pay heed to what I say".

Sloka 8: That person is called Rama, famed among all people. He was born in the line of
the great Ikshwaku kings. He is a man of great prowess and whose self is under his full
control. He is a lofty soul with great fortitude. There is splendor about his personality.

Sloka 9: He is very wise, virtuous, an excellent speaker and highly auspicious and has
prowess to destroy his enemies. His limbs are well-proportioned, like his broad, strong
shoulders, mighty and long arms, beautiful (graceful) conch-like neck, chubby cheeks.

Sloka 10: He possesses strong and broad chest, thick-shouldered, long arms, fine head
and forehead, large beautiful eyes and with the fairest complexion, all indicating an
auspicious and splendorous personality. He holds a mighty bow and is terrible to his foes,
for his supreme valor.

Sloka 11: He is always prosperous and possessed of all auspicious features. But his
power is very benign, he having subdued his internal foes, like Kama, Krodha, etc.
Sloka 12: He knows all Dharmas, is fully dedicated to truth, greatly delights in the
welfare of humanity, of great reputation, very wise, very pure, highly introspective and
accessible to one and all.

Sloka 13: He is on par with Prajapati Brahma, very charming, a supreme dispenser of
justice, slayer of enemies, a great savior of the people and protector of Dharma. He very
zealously guards his own Dharma and that of his own subjects.

Sloka 14: He is thoroughly conversant with the Vedas and the Vedangas (the branches of
the Vedas) and also every Sastra and is even more an expert in Dhanurveda, the Art of
Archery. He has remarkable memory and is highly talented.

Sloka 15: Everyone loves him and respects him. He is gentle, magnanimous and a man
of great discretion. Good people gather round him, like rivers flowing into the sea.

Sloka 16: He treats all equally. He has a very attractive aspect. Each and every fine trait,
he possesses. He is the son of the queen Kausalya and is the apple of her eye.

Sloka 17: He is as profound as the ocean and in bravery and determination as unshakable
as the Himalaya Mountain. He compares with the Lord Vishnu in might, with the Moon-
god in pleasing appearance.

Sloka 18: Whenever he is furious, he is fury itself and resembles the great elemental fire
of the universe. In patience he is like the mother-earth. He never lags behind Kubera, the
Lord of Wealth in charities and as regards truth, he is prototype of that dharma itself.

Sloka 19: His is ideal strength, having force and might of truth itself. He is not only
virtuous, but also virtuous par-excellence.

Sloka 20 Keeping the welfare of his people in view, Rama's father, king Dasaratha
wanted to install him as crown-prince also being happy to do so, since Rama was his
eldest son, as also very dear to him.

Sloka 21: Seeing the preparation for the crowning ceremony, queen Kaikeyee, the third
consort of Dasaratha, with a desire to frustrate the design of her husband, claimed the two
boons that were promised to her by Dasharatha long ago.

Sloka 22: Kaikeyee demanded the exile of Rama and installation of Bharata, her son, as
the crown-prince instead of Rama.

Sloka 23: Fettered by Dharma on account of his promise to her, Dasaratha sent away to
forests even his most beloved son, Rama.

Sloka 24: To the great delight of his step-mother Kaikeyee, courageous Rama started for
the forests, readily complying with his father's grief-stricken, hence unspoken, order of
exile, to honour his father's pledge to Kaikeyee.
Sloka 25: His beloved brother, Lakshmana, the highly virtuous son of Sumitra, another
queen of Dasaratha, also followed his most beloved brother to the forests. Though he was
very dear to his mother, the all-humble Lakshmana doted upon his elder brother Rama.
He is a perfect example of fraternal love and affection and so even at the cost of his
mother's distress went to forests.

Sloka 26: Rama's most beloved wife and even his very soul, Sita by name, born in
the family of Janaka, possessing every virtue and of celestial beauty, a jewel among
woman.

Sloka 27: Sita accompanied Rama, like the constellation, Rohini, following the Moon.

Sloka 28: Disappointed and grief-stricken, all the citizens and his father, Dasaratha,
accompanied Rama for a long distance.

Slokas 29: At Sringibherapura, Rama met a tribal settlement on the banks of the Ganga.
Rama sent back his charioteer Sumantra and his chariot. There he met the Tribal-chief,
Guha, and an excellent person, who became his favourite.

Slokas 30: In the company of Guha, he acting as the guide, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana,
traversed forest after forest and crossed great rivers, some in floods and reached the
hermitage of the great sage, Bharadwaja, and by the directions of the sage reached
Chitrakoota.

Slokas 31: With the consent of the sage, they built for themselves a pleasant cottage.
The royal trio, who can be compared with Devas and Gandharvas, lived in that forest
comfortably.

Slokas 32: About the time Rama had reached Chitrakoota, King Dasaratha aggrieved by
the grief for his son, Rama died in great agony for him and entered the heavenly abode.

Slokas 33: On the death of Dasaratha though, chosen as king by Vasishta and other
elders, the mighty Bharata declined the kingship.

Slokas 34: He went to the forest, seeking the grace and mercy at the feet Rama.

Sloka 35: Bharata met his brother, the magnanimous and mighty as truth, Rama and
begged the great humility of a noble soul, and the avowed words of Bharata is this,

Sloka 36: "Oh! Knower of Right Conduct! You alone shall be the King".

Sloka 37: But Rama declined the throne. He was mighty, magnanimous and famous in
the highest degree. But Rama did not desire the kingdom, to keep up his own pledge and
also owing to his father's directives.
Sloka 38: All the persuasion of Bharata failed. So he begged Rama for his sandals. Rama
gave him his sandals, symbolic of his being on the throne and of his rule in person and
goading his dear Bharata again and again, at last, with great difficulty, succeeded in
sending him back. On touching Rama's feet and taking sandals, Bharata returned from
Chitrakoota. Being frustrated in his desire, the noble Bharata set up his abode at
Nandigrama, a petty village not far from the capital and from there ruled the kingdom,
thirsting for the return of Rama from exile.

Sloka 39: After the departure of Bharata, Rama, fearing for the interruption of exile, by
the possible visits of the citizens of Ayodhya left Chitrakoota and entered the terrible
Dandaka forest.

Sloka 40: Being one, greatly devoted to truth, he would strictly finish the period of his
exile. He could not be tempted by any entreaties of his subjects to return to his kingdom.
Glorious Rama, fearlessly and with single-minded devotion to duty, entered the great
Dandakaranya.

Sloka 41: Entering the dense forest of Dandaka, Rama the lotus-eyed, killed the great
giant Viradha. He met great sages like Sarabhanga, Suteeskhna, Agastya and Agastya’s
brother, also a great sage.

Sloka 42: On the advice of sage Agastya, Rama received with great joy celestial weapons
from sage Agastya, like a mighty bow, a sword and an inexhaustible sheath of arrows,
which Indra had given to Agastya.

Sloka 43: While Rama was living in the forest of sage Sharabhanga among the hermits,
all the sages of the neighbourhood came to implore his protection from the menace of
giants and demons.

Sloka 44: They were great sages and equalled fire in splendour and sanctity. Their
abodes were in Dandakaranya, the hot-bed for Rakshasas and evil-doers.

Sloka 45: Rama agreed to protect them and also vowed to destroy the Rakshasas in
battle.

Sloka 46: While Rama was living there in Dandaka forest at Panchavati a Rakshasa
woman, by name Soorpanakha, who could assume at will any form and was from the
neighbouring Janasthana came against him and hence was disfigured.

Sloka 47: Upon the words of Soorpanakha, in revenge, the great Rakshasa-chief Khara,
Dooshana and Trishira, with all their armies, attacked Rama, who, single-handed,
effortlessly, slew them all in the great battle that ensued.

Sloka 48: In his stay in Dandakaranya thus, Rama destroyed fourteen thousand mighty
giants, infesting Janasthana.
Sloka 49: Madly furious at the loss of his relatives, Ravana, the Rakshasa-king, sought
the help of a demon named Mareecha.

Sloka 50: Mareecha repeatedly requested Ravana to stop, saying that it would be
disastrous for him and his kingdom, to make an enemy of such a powerful personage as
Rama.

Sloka 51: Impelled by fate, Ravana did not heed that advice. Ravana proceeded to
Rama’s hermitage along with Mareecha.

Sloka 52: Employing deceit Mareecha drew the princes far away from the hermitage and
Ranava abducted Rama’s wife Sita after killing the vulture Jatayu, who flew to her
rescue.

Sloka 53: On seeing the vulture Jatayu almost dead and on hearing from the same vulture
about the abduction of Sita, Rama was seethed with anguish.

Sloka 54: In the state of agony Rama cremated the great Jatayu and performed funeral
rites for him.

Sloka 55: While searching for Sita Rama saw a great Rakshasa, Kabandha by name. He
was hideous and terrible to look at.

Sloka 56: Rama, with mighty arms, killed him and cremated him and Kabandha thereby
ascended to heaven. Kabandha while going heavenwards told Rama to proceed to
Shabari, an ascetic woman who knows righteousness fully, and vanished.

Sloka 57: Rama, of great splendor, son of Dasharatha went to Shabri. She recognized
him and with intense devotion worshipped him.

Sloka 58: On the banks of Lake Pampa, a lake of eternal beauty, Rama met Hanuman, a
vanara and upon the word of Hanuman, became friendly with Sugreeva.

Sloka 59: The mighty Rama narrated very truthfully to Sugreeva, all his history from the
beginning till that moment, with emphasis on the abduction of Sita.

Sloka 60: Hearing that truthful account of Rama, Sugreeva vowed friendship with him,
with sacred fire as witness, rejoicing at this meeting.

Sloka 61: Then the monkey-chief, woefully told Rama, about everything that lead to
enmity with his brother Vali.

Sloka 62: On hearing which, Rama vowed to kill Vali. Then Sugreeva told him about the
supreme might of Vali.
Sloka 63: Ever since he set his eyes on Rama, Sugreeva was troubled by a doubt as to
Rama’s power to subdue Vali.

Sloka 64: Therefore, to test Rama's strength, he pointed to the mountain-like skeleton of
demon Dundubhi.

Sloka 65: The most powerful Rama, seeing the skeleton, smiled, and using only the big
toe, tossed the huge skeleton to the full length of ten yojanas.

Sloka 66: To convince him further about his invincibility, Rama, with a single arrow,
split seven Sala trees.

Sloka 67: Further, Rama pierced through huge mountains upto nether world, in order to
inculcate certainty in Sugreeva.

Sloka 68: Happy and convinced, Sugreeva took Rama to the cave like Kishkindha. At the
entrance of Kishkindha, the monkey-god Sugreeva let out bellows and due to that great
sound, Vali the king of the monkeys, came out.

Sloka 69: At this thunderous challenge, Vali, the king of the monkeys got enraged, but
his wife, Tara, became nervous at this unusual daring of Sugreeva and suspected that
some mighty person was backing Sugreeva. But Vali, allayed her fears and came out and
met Sugreeva in a mortal combat and was struck down by Rama with a single arrow.

Sloka 70: Having killed Vali in the battle, upon the word of Sugreeva, Rama established
Sugreeva on the throne.

Sloka 71: The newly-made king, Sugreeva, summoned all of the monkeys and sent them
in all directions in search of Sita, the daughter of the Janaka.

Sloka 72: Then the mighty Hanuman, upon the words of the vulture Sampati, flew across
the ocean, the entire length of one hundred yojanas.

Sloka 73: On reaching the city of Lanka, ruled by Ravana he found Sita in Asoka vana,
meditating upon her Lord Rama.

Sloka 74: Hanuman presented Sita the ring given by Rama. He told her all that happened
to Rama after her separation. Before returning he destroyed the splendid arched gate-way
of that Asoka vana.

Sloka 75: Then he slew the five mighty army chiefs, seven sons of ministers and crushed
to pieces the mighty demon Aksha, but submitted to the weapon darted by Indrajit, the
eldest son of Ravana.

Sloka 76: On account of the boon from Brahma, even that fierce missile, could not
destroy Hanuman, but could only stun and fetter him for a short duration. After that
ordained period, this Brahmastra from Indrajit, also left Hanuman free and he was aware
of it. Yet he kept quite and submitted to all the rough treatment of the Rakshasas in
dragging him to the court of Ravana, whom he wanted to see and rebuke.

Sloka 77: Hanuman using his burning tail as a convenient torch reduced to ashes the
whole city of Lanka, leaving only the place of Sita, the princess of Mithila. Then the
great monkey, Hanuman flew back to inform Rama.

Sloka 78: Of massive intellect Hanuman, on approaching the great souled Rama, and
making a Pradakshina in reverence told him truly that he had actually seen and spoken to
Sita.

Sloka 79: Then Rama, along with Sugreeva and all his mighty hordes of monkey-
warriors, set forth and reached the great ocean. Seeing that the ocean-god is unyielding to
give way, Rama discharged upon the vast ocean terrific arrows, each arrow being equal in
radiance to the Sun.

Sloka 80: The ocean-god, the Lord of Rivers, revealed himself, before Rama. According
to his instructions, Rama got a mighty and marvelous bridge to be built across the ocean,
by Nala.

Sloka 81: Crossing over the bridge and on eliminating Ravana in battle, felt great
compunction of conscience.

Sloka 82: Rama spoke harsh words to Sita in the presence of the public. The innocent
Sita unable to put up with this treatment entered the fire.

Sloka 83: The Fire-God declared her holiness. Knowing that Sita got freed from all her
blemishes Rama became overjoyed. All gods assembled there and worshiped Rama.

Sloka 84: All the three worlds, the celestials and their great sages became happy and
joyful, because of the task accomplished by the great souled Rama.

Sloka 85: Then Rama installed Vibheeshana as the king of the demons, on the throne of
Lanka. Being freed from all worry that tormented him previously very much and having
fulfilled every promise he had made, Rama's joy knew no bounds.

Sloka 86: By the virtue of the boons Rama obtained from the gods, he brought back to
life all the monkeys slain in the battle. Along with his great friends, Rama started for
Ayodhya in the aerial vehicle Pushpaka.

Sloka 87: Rama of immense valor reached at the hermitage of sage, Bharadwaja and sent
before him Hanuman to Bharata.

Sloka 88: Then getting into the Pushpaka, with Sugreeva and others and narrating to
them all that befell him prior to meeting them, Rama reached Nandigrama.
Sloka 89: There he and his brothers, Bharata and Lakshmana discarded their matted
locks and other ascetic attire. Sita also gave up her forest dress. Thus Rama got back his
Sita and his throne.

Sloka 90: The whole world rejoiced at this. All the people were contended. They
prospered and were righteous. The country was free from diseases, famines and any
worry or fear.

Sloka 91: There were no unnatural deaths, like a father surviving his son, there were no
widows. All women were chaste.

Sloka 92: In the kingdom of Rama there were no fear from due to fire and no living
being met with a watery grave. There was no apprehension from damage through winds
or diseases.

Sloka 93: While Rama is on the throne there was neither starvation nor fear from
criminals.

Sloka 94: There was plenty and prosperity everywhere, in the towns and in the country as
in the Kruta yuga.

Sloka 95: Rama was poised to attain the world of Brahma through performance hundreds
of Aswamedha sacrifices involving donation of huge amounts of gold. Likewise,
donating millions of cows and gifting uncountable wealth to Brahmins and scholars.

Sloka 96: In this world Rama will establish in manifold kingly dynasties and will
maintain the four castes and see to it that each one performs his own Dharma.

Sloka 97: Having ruled the kingdom for eleven thousand years Rama will leave for the
adobe of Brahma.

Sloka 98: Whoever will devote him and read this Legand of Rama, which is holy,
purifying, auspicious, destroyer of sins and on par with the teachings of all Vedas, will be
cleansed of all his sins.

Sloka 99: He, who devotes himself to this Ramayana, will enjoy worldly pleasures with
his children and grandchildren and with people around him and on demise will be adored
in heaven.

Sloka 100: The devotee, if he is a Brahmin, will attain power of speech; if a Kshatriya,
will obtain land-lordship; if a Vaisya, he will acquire monetary gains and if a Shudra, will
attain personal excellence. Thus sage Narada gave a gist of Ramayana to sage Valmiki.

Thus Ends Sarga 1 of the Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana