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The Valmiki Ramayana (Penguin edition) #3
The Valmiki Ramayana Vol. 3
The Valmiki Ramayana remains a living force in the lives of the Indian people. A celebration of the victory of good over evil, this timeless epic recounts the legend of Rama, the exiled prince of Ayodhya, and his battle to vanquish the demon king Ravana.
Exiled on the eve of his coronation, Rama enters the forests of Dandaka with his beautiful wife Sita and devoted brother Lakshmana. When Sita is abducted by Ravana, who takes her to his isolated kingdom on the far side of the southern ocean, the two brothers set out to rescue her. What follows is a heroic tale filled with intrigue and adventure, gods and demons, colossal battles and ancient wisdom.
But the Ramayana is also an intensely personal story of love and loss, duty and honour, petty jealousies and destructive ambitions.
Exiled on the eve of his coronation, Rama enters the forests of Dandaka with his beautiful wife Sita and devoted brother Lakshmana. When Sita is abducted by Ravana, who takes her to his isolated kingdom on the far side of the southern ocean, the two brothers set out to rescue her. What follows is a heroic tale filled with intrigue and adventure, gods and demons, colossal battles and ancient wisdom.
But the Ramayana is also an intensely personal story of love and loss, duty and honour, petty jealousies and destructive ambitions.
520 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2017
25 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
Vālmīki
470 books132 followersValmiki is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself.He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e. first verse, which set the base and defined the form to Sanskrit poetry. The Yoga Vasistha is attributed to him. A religious movement called Valmikism is based on Valmiki's teachings as presented in the Ramayana and the Yoga Vasistha.
At least by the 1st century AD, Valmiki's reputation as the father of Sanskrit classical poetry seems to have been legendary. Ashvagosha writes in the Buddhacarita,
"The voice of Valmiki uttered poetry which the great seer Chyavana could not compose."
This particular verse has been speculated to indicate a familial relationship between Valmiki and Chyavana, as implied by the previous and subsequent verses.
At least by the 1st century AD, Valmiki's reputation as the father of Sanskrit classical poetry seems to have been legendary. Ashvagosha writes in the Buddhacarita,
"The voice of Valmiki uttered poetry which the great seer Chyavana could not compose."
This particular verse has been speculated to indicate a familial relationship between Valmiki and Chyavana, as implied by the previous and subsequent verses.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 11, 2025
In Valmiki Ramayana, after conquering Lanka and vanquishing Ravana, Rama sternly calls for Sita. The first words he spoke to her was filled with rage and detachment, he bellowed that he will not have her back, she may as well marry any of his brother, or the king of apes, or Vibhishan, or even vanish inside the earth but he the 'Maryada-Purushottam' will not have her back. Hearing such anger in Rama's voice dejected Sita was filled with tears. Rama continued to thunder that his sole purpose of defeating Ravana was to cleanse the blot on his ideal lineage of Ikshavaku for losing his wife. He says that he cannot even stand her presence for a mere second let alone for the rest of his life: as she has spent substantial time in enemies residence. The raging words filled innocent Sita with insurmountable sorrow and she jumped into the Pyre. Altough she came unscathed and Ram accepted her but again she had to leave Ayodhya due to gossip from the people and this time she finally decided to be swallowed by earth.
It is heartbreaking for any devout reader to see Rama the supreme among men react in such a perverse manner, it is not far fetched for readers to feel downright angry with a man equated with gods for treating his wife in such a pitiful fashion. Given a choice between being a faithful husband or a fair king shatters the 'all-do-good' image surrounding Rama for the first time for the readers. The surprising thing was not that Rama's rage came out of the blue but the story of great deeds of Lord Rama acted as a great decoy which kept reader consciously wishing for the dream instead of discerning the fact staring right at their faces, and when the rug was finally pulled under the innocent readers feet they were in for a terrible shock. In truth, Valmiki Ramayana is a sorrowful tale filled with the immense beauty which will mercilessly break your heart but a very powerful literary work indeed.
It is heartbreaking for any devout reader to see Rama the supreme among men react in such a perverse manner, it is not far fetched for readers to feel downright angry with a man equated with gods for treating his wife in such a pitiful fashion. Given a choice between being a faithful husband or a fair king shatters the 'all-do-good' image surrounding Rama for the first time for the readers. The surprising thing was not that Rama's rage came out of the blue but the story of great deeds of Lord Rama acted as a great decoy which kept reader consciously wishing for the dream instead of discerning the fact staring right at their faces, and when the rug was finally pulled under the innocent readers feet they were in for a terrible shock. In truth, Valmiki Ramayana is a sorrowful tale filled with the immense beauty which will mercilessly break your heart but a very powerful literary work indeed.
January 23, 2022
If you need to read Ramayana in depth, this work by Bibek Roy is what you're looking for. The Valmiki Ramayana is an evergreen masterpiece.
January 23, 2025
The most tedious of the three books.
Endless descriptions of the war with Ravana, covered more than half the book.
Some interesting clarifiers to popular knowledge aspects that always tend to be debated.
This multi-year project finally comes to an end - I have read possibly the most comprehensive and closest translation of the Valmiki Ramayana. Fin.
Endless descriptions of the war with Ravana, covered more than half the book.
Some interesting clarifiers to popular knowledge aspects that always tend to be debated.
This multi-year project finally comes to an end - I have read possibly the most comprehensive and closest translation of the Valmiki Ramayana. Fin.
September 18, 2018
Perhaps the best-unabridged translation of the Ramayana I have come across. Bibek Debroy has done a wonderful translation of the epic. Very well annotated and referenced.
October 6, 2018
JAI SHREE RAM JAI BAJARANGBALI 🙏🙏🙏🌺🌺🌼🌼🌹🌹🌹
BIBEK DEBROY HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH ALL THREE VOLUMES OF THE VALMIKI RAMAYANA CRITICAL EDITION....DEFINITELY A RECOMMENDATION FOR NEW WORLD ORDER READERS....
BIBEK DEBROY HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH ALL THREE VOLUMES OF THE VALMIKI RAMAYANA CRITICAL EDITION....DEFINITELY A RECOMMENDATION FOR NEW WORLD ORDER READERS....
March 3, 2018
One of the Greatest epics ever told.
This translation by Bibek Debroy is true to its origins source, extremely well written and a pleasure to read.
This translation by Bibek Debroy is true to its origins source, extremely well written and a pleasure to read.
December 11, 2019
Bibek has a fitting conclusion, capturing the emotion of Valmiki very well. This volume also contains the Uttara Kanda, which is supposed to be an addition to the Ramayana. However, Bibek does justice to the heart-wrenching section, which is just sorrow for all of the charachters.
Great translation!
Great translation!
Read
July 25, 2020Valmiki was a sage who had hindsight, who could see the past and also future (foresight). He gave shelter to Sita after her abandonment to forest by Rama (the whole of Uttarkand is, perhaps added later; not to be found in original Ramayan by Valmiki)
But personally, I am of the opinion that, he knew the basic story,which could have been a folktale at that time (seeming similarities between Illiad and Ramayan!) , which could have been a past historical story, which did happen somewhere on this globe to which our ancestors remembered well as they had beena part of it. Sage Valmiki just re-narrated but waved that story is such a beautiful poem which made the characters immortal and brought godhood!
The poetic weaving was so wonderful and contemporary that people started to feel the characters lively and the places nearby!
But personally, I am of the opinion that, he knew the basic story,which could have been a folktale at that time (seeming similarities between Illiad and Ramayan!) , which could have been a past historical story, which did happen somewhere on this globe to which our ancestors remembered well as they had beena part of it. Sage Valmiki just re-narrated but waved that story is such a beautiful poem which made the characters immortal and brought godhood!
The poetic weaving was so wonderful and contemporary that people started to feel the characters lively and the places nearby!
October 16, 2020
This book covers last 2 kandas (Yuddha & Uttara Kanda).
The journey of reading “Valmiki Ramayana” has finished at last. The book is so good and so many new things to read. Especially “Uttara Kanda” is full of stories of different linage of ancient kings and their dominion.
There are so many beautiful stories are included in this epic that, I can’t describe all. The writer Valmiki himself is a mysterious character. In his childhood he lost in forest and become a bandit. Meeting with Narada changes his life. He starts “sadhana” and becomes a sage. He becomes the first poet of Sanskrit literature and called “Adi Kavi”
And another thing is missing in Valmiki’s Ramayana. It is the origin or pre life history of Ram and Ravana. I read details of that in Siva Purana. It is also worthy of reading. And that is a little suggestion for someone who read this unabridged version.
The journey of reading “Valmiki Ramayana” has finished at last. The book is so good and so many new things to read. Especially “Uttara Kanda” is full of stories of different linage of ancient kings and their dominion.
There are so many beautiful stories are included in this epic that, I can’t describe all. The writer Valmiki himself is a mysterious character. In his childhood he lost in forest and become a bandit. Meeting with Narada changes his life. He starts “sadhana” and becomes a sage. He becomes the first poet of Sanskrit literature and called “Adi Kavi”
And another thing is missing in Valmiki’s Ramayana. It is the origin or pre life history of Ram and Ravana. I read details of that in Siva Purana. It is also worthy of reading. And that is a little suggestion for someone who read this unabridged version.
March 18, 2021
Really good translation of the original Valmiki Ramayan by Dr. Bibek Debroy. He has also provided meaning of certain events and terminology with the reference from various other Hindu Scriptures and given as extra note. Really must read collection of all 3 volumes.
November 21, 2020
A must read for anyone wanting to read a translation of Ramayana. Dr. Debroy’s notes give so many perspectives and his objective view is a refreshing change when we read such classics.
July 24, 2024
First of all, this is a great accessible translation for the general reader. One improvement I'd suggest would be to possibly label the verse number for each sentence, but this is tricky given that highly terse Sanskrit shlokas are being translated into general English prose.
Now as for the content itself, the Yuddha Kanda is a very engaging chapter that shows Rama at his greatest and the Vanaras at their most devout. I found the discussion of proportionality in war particularly illuminating. This makes Rama's chastising treatment of Sita when he finally defeats Ravana all the more unexpected.
The Uttara Kanda contains more of these out-of-place characterizations and incidents, particularly Rama's exiling of his beloved Sita.
Nonetheless, this is one of the most important texts in Indian and Hindu literature and wealth worth a read.
Now as for the content itself, the Yuddha Kanda is a very engaging chapter that shows Rama at his greatest and the Vanaras at their most devout. I found the discussion of proportionality in war particularly illuminating. This makes Rama's chastising treatment of Sita when he finally defeats Ravana all the more unexpected.
The Uttara Kanda contains more of these out-of-place characterizations and incidents, particularly Rama's exiling of his beloved Sita.
Nonetheless, this is one of the most important texts in Indian and Hindu literature and wealth worth a read.
July 28, 2020
I don't want to rate Valmiki's Ramayana. So I'll not concentrate on content but other things
*One of the things I missed was detailed chapter list. It had chapters and Kand but that makes searching something very difficult. So If I want to read just about fight between Lakshaman and Meghnad it's not easy. Even more so because text has so many name for different people you cannot even easily search on kindle.
*This book includes Uttara Kand which per some sources is a later addition.
*Overall I am good having read it, but I might have got same from ValmikiRamayan.net
*One of the things I missed was detailed chapter list. It had chapters and Kand but that makes searching something very difficult. So If I want to read just about fight between Lakshaman and Meghnad it's not easy. Even more so because text has so many name for different people you cannot even easily search on kindle.
*This book includes Uttara Kand which per some sources is a later addition.
*Overall I am good having read it, but I might have got same from ValmikiRamayan.net
September 3, 2022
This was my first hit at the so called indian mythology. While reading the bala kand only, i realized this definitely isn't mythology( it is itihaas). Can't possibly judge valmiki's writing, but the anolgies used were extremely refreshing and so much so is the imagination. Bibek debroy has done a marvelous job translating it, to the point that it feels debroy's ramayan at times. A must read for everyone irrespective of their relegious belief.
September 23, 2023
What an end to the story. Some unexpected twists that I had never seen on the TV rendition. But wow.
July 15, 2024
Most epic end I've ever read/seen. 3.5/5.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews