Ramayana: Ancient Indian Epic

[Bhadra]

Read ancient texts with pinch of salt.
During compilation and recompilation over the millennium lots of stuff has got edited re-edited, included excluded and even lost from the original texts.


We had first major compilation in Gupta age and then we had 900 years of non Hindu rule ..... Who knows what else got changed back then.

So tell us the solution.
To read or not to read?
To believe or just throw it off ?

 

[Indo-Aryan]

So tell us the solution.
To read or not to read?
To believe or just throw it off ?

Languages are ambiguous. Every interpretation will differ from the other. We will never know for sure what the author really meant.

If it's from spirituality point of view then read it but if it's from a point of view of academics, then it will be a waste of time.

 

[Bhadra]

Languages are ambiguous. Every interpretation will differ from the other. We will never know for sure what the author really meant.

If it's from spirituality point of view then read it but if it's from a point of view of academics, then it will be a waste of time.

Totally confused. Is the interpretation ambiguous or the language? So far interpretation is concerned, it is always subjective
जाकी रही भावना जैसी, प्रभु मूरत देखी तिन तैसी

Your idea of differences between spirituality and academics being different suggests that you think spirituality is without an urge to seek truthfulness. It is rather the academic jugglery that many times obscures the truth.

We need to study Sanskrit, promote it, and popularise it so that correct understanding and interpretations of the available text could be made.

 

[Bhadra]

The introducer states that Ramayana is an Epic! Is that so?

The moment one calls it an epic one gets the impression that it is work of imagination composed in poetic form that has no relation to actuals - an argument advanced by the invaders and left-liberals in India and abroad.

Indian Shastras are books of Dharma which are categorized into Shruties and Smirities, Ramayana is not "Abhinatya Shakuntalam" created to cater for the purpose of pleasure. It broadly is book of Dharma,

" As with the Mahabharata, the Valmiki Ramayana is a text about dharma. Dharma means several different things – the dharma of the four varnas and the four ashramas; the governance template of raja dharma, the duty of kings; principles of good conduct (sadachara); and the pursuit of objectives of human existence (purushartha) – dharma, artha and kama. As with the Mahabharata, the Valmiki Ramayana is a smriti text. It has a human origin and composer, it is not a shruti text. Smriti texts are society and context specific. We should not try to judge and evaluate individuals and actions on the basis of today’s value judgements. In addition, if the span of composition was one thousand years, from 500 BCE to 500 ACE, those value judgements also change. Transcending all those collective templates of dharma, there is one that is individual in nature. Regardless of those collective templates, an individual has to decide what the right course of action is and there is no universal answer as to what is right and what is wrong. There are always contrary pulls of dharma, with two notions of dharma pulling in different directions. It is not immediately obvious which is superior. Given the trade-offs, an individual makes a choice and suffers the consequences. Why is there an impression that these individual conflicts of dharma are more manifest in the Mahabharata than in the Ramayana? "

(taken from an introduction to Bibek Debroys Ramayana)

 

[indiatester]

 

[Bhadra]

Historical Places associated With Shri Rama

 

[Bhadra]

Historical Placed associated With Shri Ram

Ayodhya (Kosal)
Nandi Gram
Sravasti
Mithila / Videha
Chitrakoota
Tripuri / Sarabhanga
Vindya Mountains
Tapti River
Panchwati
Dankaka Aaranya
Kishkinda
Mahishak
Madura
Rameswaram
Anuradhapura
Lankapuri

 

[Bhadra]

IN SEARCH OF A PURUSHOTAMA
DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU ?
​

Valmiki Ramayana is a search for the "Purushottama" - the best person living on earth.

The narration begins with deciding on the qualities a man should have in him to be called as Purushottama.

So lets us start:

तपस्स्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम् ।

नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।।1.1.1।।

Ascetic Valmiki enquired of Narada, preeminent among the sages ever engaged in the practice of religious austerities or study of the Vedas and best among the eloquent.

आत्मवान्को जितक्रोधो द्युतिमान्कोऽनसूयक: ।

कस्य बिभ्यति देवाश्च जातरोषस्य संयुगे ।।1.1.4।।



Who (among men) is selfrestrained? Who has conquered anger? Who is endowed with brilliance and free from envy? Who is that when excited to wrath even the devatas, are afraid of (let alone foes)?

Let us list the qualities :

आत्मवान् selfrestrained,
जितक्रोध: one who has conquered anger,
द्युतिमान् one who is endowed with splendour,
अनसूयक: one who is free from envy (envy depicting one's merits as weak points), जातरोषस्य excited to wrath,
संयुगे in the battle, देवा: च celestial beings, devatas, बिभ्यति are afraid of.

 

[Bhadra]

iN SEARCH OF A PURUSHOTAMA
DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU ?
​

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ।

महर्षे त्वं समर्थोऽसि ज्ञातुमेवंविधं नरम् ।।1.1.5।।


O Maharshi, I intend to hear about such a man whom you are able to place? Indeed great is my curiosity".

इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो रामो नाम जनैश्श्रुत: ।

नियतात्मा महावीर्यो द्युतिमान्धृतिमान् वशी ।।1.1.8।।

People have heard his name as Rama, who was born in the race of king Ikshvaku,
having steady nature, possessing incomprehensible prowess, selfeffulgent, selfcommanding and subjecting senses under his control.

इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभव: born in the race of king Ikshvaku,
राम: नाम known as Rama (one who delights others),
नियतात्मा steady natured (meaning thereby immutable form),
महावीर्य: incomprehensible prowess,
द्युतिमान् selfeffulgent,
धृतिमान् selfcommanding,
वशी subjecting the senses (subjecting the entire world under his control).

 

[Bhadra]

बुद्धिमान्नीतिमान्वाग्मी श्रीमान् शत्रुनिबर्हण: ।

विपुलांसो महाबाहु: कम्बुग्रीवो महाहनु: ।।1.1.9।।

He (Sri Rama) is a great intellectual, adherent to rules, eloquent, handsome, destroyer of foes (sins), broadshouldered, strongarmed, having conchshaped neck and prominent cheeks.

बुद्धिमान् great intellectual
नीतिमान् learned in ethical (statecraft) philosophy
वाग्मी proficient in speeches
श्रीमान् possessing vast auspiciousness
शत्रुनिबर्हण: destroyer of foes (sins)

महोरस्को महेष्वासो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः ।

आजानुबाहुस्सुशिरास्सुललाटस्सुविक्रमः ।।1.1.10।।

Possessing a broad chest, armed with a great bow, with fleshy collar bones, knee-long arms, a noble head, a graceful forehead and great prowess, he is the destroyer of foes (sins).

 

[Bhadra]

iN SEARCH OF A PURUSHOTAMA
DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU ?​

महोरस्को महेष्वासो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः ।

आजानुबाहुस्सुशिरास्सुललाटस्सुविक्रमः ।।1.1.10।।

Possessing a broad chest, armed with a great bow, with fleshy collar bones, knee-long arms, a noble head, a graceful forehead and great prowess, he is the destroyer of foes (sins).

समस्समविभक्ताङ्गस्स्निग्धवर्ण: प्रतापवान् ।

पीनवक्षा विशालाक्षो लक्ष्मीवान् शुभलक्षणः ।। 1.1.11।।

Mighty and powerful, he has a wellproportioned body, neither tall nor short, shining complexion, welldeveloped chest, large eyes, lustrous body and good qualities

समः neither too tall nor too short,
समविभक्ताङ्ग: has wellproportioned limbs,
स्निग्धवर्णः has shining complexion
प्रतापवान् is mighty and powerful
पीनवक्षा: strong welldeveloped chest
विशालाक्षः has expansive eyes
लक्ष्मीवान् lustrous body
शुभलक्षणः has auspicious qualities (according to science of palmistry).

 

[Bhadra]

iN SEARCH OF A PURUSHOTAMA
DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU ?​

धर्मज्ञस्सत्यसन्धश्च प्रजानां च हिते रतः ।

यशस्वी ज्ञानसम्पन्नश्शुचिर्वश्यस्समाधिमान् ।।1.1.12।।


Pious, firm in his vows, he is ever intent on doing good to his subjects. He is, illustrious, wise, and pure at heart. He is obedient to elders (or accessible to those who are dependent on him) and ever meditating (on the means of protecting those who take refuge in him).

धर्मज्ञ: knower of duties (of protecting those who take refuge in him) of life सत्यसन्ध: firm in his vows
प्रजानाम् for his subjects
हिते doing good, रतः intent on,
यशस्वी renowned
ज्ञानसम्पन्नः omniscient
शुचिः pure and devout
वश्यः obedient to elders (or accessible to those who are dependent on him), समाधिमान् meditating on the means of protecting those who took refuge in him

प्रजापतिसमश्श्रीमान् धाता रिपुनिषूदनः ।

रक्षिता जीवलोकस्य धर्मस्य परिरक्षिता ।।1.1.13।।

Auspicious like Brahma, Sri Rama is the sustainer of this world, destroyer of enemies and protector of all living beings and of the moral code.

प्रजापतिसमः equal to Brahma
श्रीमान् surpassed the entire world in auspiciousness
धाता sustainer of this entire world
रिपुनिषूदनः destroyer of enemies
रक्षिता protector
जीवलोकस्य of all living beings
धर्मस्य of code of morals
परिरक्षिता protector.

 

[Bhadra]

iN SEARCH OF A PURUSHOTAMA
DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU ?​

रक्षिता स्वस्य धर्मस्य स्वजनस्य च रक्षिता ।

वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो धनुर्वेदे च निष्ठितः ।।1.1.14।।
He has performed the duties of a king and protected his subjects. knowledgeable in the true nature of the Vedas he is accomplished in military science (he is a great archer).

स्वस्य of his own, धर्मस्य duties of a king
रक्षिता protector
स्वजनस्य च of his own subjects रक्षिता protector
वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञ: knowledgeable in the true nature of vedas and vedangas
धनुर्वेदे च in military science, one of the upavedas (a great archer)


सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञस्स्मृतिमान्प्रतिभानवान् ।

सर्वलोकप्रियस्साधुरदीनात्मा विचक्षणः ।।1.1.15।।

sri Rama knows the true meaning of all scriptures and has a retentive memory. He is talented (possessing brightness of conception). He is beloved and welldisposed towards all people (and courteous even towards those who have done him harm). He has an unperturbed mind (even in times of extreme grief) and is circumspect (in doing right things at the right time).

सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञ: knower of the true meaning of all scriptures
स्मृतिमान् has infalliable retentive memory
प्रतिभानवान् is talented (possessing brightness of conception)
सर्वलोकप्रियः is beloved of all people
साधु: welldisposed and courteous (even towards those who have done harm), अदीनात्मा unperturbed mind (even in times of extreme grief)
विचक्षणः has dicrimination (is circumspect in doing right things in right time).

 

[Bhadra]

iN SEARCH OF A PURUSHOTAMA
DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU ?​

सर्वदाभिगतस्सद्भिस्समुद्र इव सिन्धुभिः ।

आर्यस्सर्वसमश्चैव सदैकप्रियदर्शनः ।।1.1.16।।
Sri Rama, like sea to rivers, is accessible to men of virtue and has equal disposition towards all. He always has a pleasing appearance.

समुद्रः sea, सिन्धुभिः the rivers, इव like,
सद्भिः good persons
सर्वदा ever, अभिगतः is approachable
आर्यः man of virtue
सर्वसमः च एव having equitable dispostition towards all
सदैकप्रियदर्शनः always has delightful countenance.


स च सर्वगुणोपेत: कौसल्यानन्दवर्धन: ।

समुद्र इव गाम्भीर्ये धैर्येण हिमवानिव ।।1.1.17।।
Sri Rama, bestowed with all virtues, enhanced the joys of Kausalya, He is like the sea in deportment and like Himavant in fortitude.

सर्वगुणोपेत: endowed with all virtues
गाम्भीर्ये in depth of his thoughts
समुद्र: इव like a sea धैर्येण in fortitude
हिमवान् इव like Himavat mountain.

 

[Bhadra]

iN SEARCH OF A PURUSHOTAMA
DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU ?​

विष्णुना सदृशो वीर्ये सोमवत्प्रियदर्शन: ।

कालाग्निसदृश: क्रोधे क्षमया पृथिवीसम: ।।1.1.18।।

धनदेन समस्त्यागे सत्ये धर्म इवापर: ।

Sri Rama is like Visnu in prowess, the Moon in pleasing appearance, the allconsuming fire in anger, the earth in patience, Kubera in chartiy and the Sun in steadfastness.

वीर्ये In prowess, विष्णुना सदृश: similar to visnu
सोमवत् in appearance as is full Moon
प्रियदर्शन: pleasing to the sight
क्रोधे in anger, कालाग्निसदृश: like destructive fire at the end of the world
क्षमया in patience
पृथिवीसम: equal to earth
त्यागे in charity
धनदेन सम: like Kubera
सत्ये in truth
अपर: धर्म: इव like another god of justice.

 

[Bhadra]

Valmiki Ramayan : Be with Sanskrit Chanel
​

Let us begin with this easy to follow yet very educative series: One can give a reference and be done with it. However, nothing wrong in enjoying it on DFI. Another reason is the authenticity of the text that the narrator is reciting. Translated into English will cater for the taste of maximum and all.

 

[Bhadra]

Try and read the Sanskrita and then recite it with narrator, Then listen to Anuvak and read the sloka once again with recitation
All the very best
1.1.1- Valmiki's question to Narada- Valmiki Ramayan in Sanskrit-

 

[Bhadra]

Ramayana Gayatri

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[Bhadra]

Sundar Kand : You Might Have Known Many Things

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[Bhadra]

Benefits of Sundara Kanda: Sarga Number Attributed Benefits

Chapter 1 Liberation from the cycles of Birth and Death
Chapter 3 Getting rid of Negative Energies and Influences
Chapter 7-11 Overcoming Cheating and Deceit
Chapter 13 Rejuvenating the Mind
Chapter 15 Gaining Happiness and Wealth
Chapter 19 Attaining powerful speech
Chapter 20-21 Inculcating Virtues
Chapter 27 Getting rid of Bad Dreams
Chapter 33-40 Strengthening relations and friendships
Chapter 36 Overcoming impending danger
Chapter 38 Getting over Insults and Derision
Chapter 41 Fulfillment of ones wishes
Chapter 42-47 Winning over ones enemies
Chapter 51 Becoming Charitable
54 Improvement of Property and Wealth
Chapter 61 Attining Peace and Happiness
Chapter 67 Realization of the Divine