The Book of Ram Quotes

“The Ramayana has never been a tale of Ram’s life. It is a tale of how Ram lived for others. By retelling his tale, storytellers hope to inspire themselves and others to live as Ram did.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Destiny and desire, karma and kama, are the two forces that propel the world. Destiny is a reaction, an obligation that follows an action. Desire is an aspiration that forces the world to transform in a particular way. Destiny creates fate. Desire is based on free will. We have the freedom to accept life as it is or to make it the way we want it to be. That is what makes us Manavas or humans.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Hanuman has no issues being Angad’s follower. This is Hanuman’s personality—always a team player, ever willing to serve, with absolutely no desire to dominate.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Through her, the Ramayan reminds us that even a victim can be a winner if he or she refuses to surrender to the circumstance.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“The world may be ever-changing and full of uncertainties, but walking away is not the answer. World-rejection, according to the epic, is dangerous and destructive.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“the true meaning of kingship—to do what animals cannot do: overpower the law of the jungle, and give the weak an opportunity to thrive.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“journey from knowing to becoming is the journey of transformation from Ravana to Ram.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Remember, it is the nature of the ignorant mind to be drawn towards things that will cause harm and to avoid things that are good. We must remember that what tempts us will in all probability be the cause of our downfall. What we shy away from, what we procrastinate about, probably is what will help us evolve.’ So”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Ramayana reminds us that even a victim can be a winner if he or she refuses to surrender to the circumstance. People”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Ram and Ravana represent two ends of the human spectrum.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Ram is her husband, not her master. As his wife, she has duties towards him but he has no rights over her.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Duty formed the cornerstone of Vedic civilization. All”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“At a symbolic level, the forest and field are metaphors for the mind. The forest is the untamed mind. The field is the domesticated mind. The consciousness is the farmer. If one is conscious like Ram, faithful and attentive, the mind will be like Sita. When one is conscious like Gautam, ignoring the mind, the mind will be seduced by temptation. In the absence of awareness, the mind will be wild with no direction.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Sita is domestic and chaste because Ram pays her attention. Ahalya is unfaithful because Gautam neglects her. Tadaka is wild because her husband is dead and she is attached to no single man. Thus the onus of maintaining a field falls squarely on a farmer. In”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Tadaka subscribes to no rules, Ahalya breaks a rule while Sita follows all rules.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“In the Ramayana, Rakshasas represent a way of life where all behaviour is instinctual and self-indulgent, governed by fear and insecurity. Rishis represent the opposite way of life, where all instincts, be they sexual or violent, are regulated for the benefit of the world. Ram”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...

“Destiny and desire, karma and kama, are the two forces that propel the world. Destiny is a reaction, an obligation that follows an action. Desire is an aspiration that forces the world to transform in a particular way. Destiny creates fate. Desire is based on free will. We have the freedom to accept life as it is or to make it the way we want it to be. That is what makes us Manavas or humans. Kaikeyi”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, The Book of Ram (Book Of...