The Ramayana Quotes

“You cannot count on the physical proximity of someone you love, all the time. A seed that sprouts at the foot of its parent tree remains stunted until it is transplanted. Rama will be in my care, and he will be quite well. But ultimately, he will leave me too. Every human being, when the time comes, has to depart to seek his fulfillment in his own way.”
― Valmiki, The Ramayana

“I came in several times and spoke, but perhaps you were asleep when I thought you were awake.'
'You are very considerate to explain it this way,' Sugreeva said, 'but I was drunk”
― R.K. Narayan, The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

“Valmiki the Poet held all the moving world inside a water drop in his hand.
The gods and saints from heaven looked down on Lanka,
And Valmiki looked down at the gods in the morning of Time.”
― Valmiki, The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic

“He lit the night he brought with the fire that puts out the planets when time ends.”
― Ramesh Menon, The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic

“In a world where we are accustomed to rivalries over possession, authority, and borders, and people clashing over the issue, “Ours,” or “Mine, not yours,” it is rather strange to find two people debating whose the kingdom is not, and asserting: “Yours, not mine.”
― R.K. Narayan, The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

“Even when you realize that the one before you is an enemy and must be treated sternly, do not hurt with words.”
― R.K. Narayan, The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

“Little baby Hanuman was hungry.”
― William Buck, Ramayana: [King Rama's way]

“She had lost her heart the moment she set eyes on him: it was this prince she had always dreamed of and waited for. She knew him from long ago, from countless lives before. They had belonged together since time began.”
― Ramesh Menon, The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic

“In all this world, I pray thee, who Is virtuous, heroic, true?”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“What is whole, this is whole; what has come out of the whole is also whole. When the whole is taken out of the whole, the whole still remains whole.”
― C. Rajagopalachari, Ramayana

“The sun set beyond the sea, so says the poet—and when a poet mentions a sea, we have to accept it. No harm in letting a poet describe his vision, no need to question his geography.”
― R.K. Narayan, The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

“Ah! Warriors' strength is poor and slight; A Bráhman's power is truly might. This Bráhman staff the hermit held The fury of my darts has quelled.”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“Be gracious, Master, and allow The worlds to rest from trouble now;”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“Veda means originally knowing or knowledge, and this name is given”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“At this moment, let us not forget that my authority has been challenged not by a warrior but by a monkey!”
― R.K. Narayan, The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

“Whatever a man does, good or evil, comes back to him someday. And he pays for everything.”
― Ramesh Menon, The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic

“Don’t grieve too much. This hour of parting is the hardest; the years will pass before you know they have come and gone. They will pass as night does in sleep, and I will return to you.”
― Ramesh Menon, The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic

“To sainted Nárad, prince of those Whose lore in words of wisdom flows. Whose constant care and chief delight Were Scripture and ascetic rite, The good Válmíki, first and best [pg 002] Of hermit saints, these words addressed:9 “In all this world, I pray thee, who Is virtuous, heroic, true? Firm in his vows, of grateful mind, To every creature good and kind? Bounteous, and holy, just, and wise, Alone most fair to all men's eyes? Devoid of envy, firm, and sage, Whose tranquil soul ne'er yields to rage? Whom, when his warrior wrath is high, Do Gods embattled fear and fly? Whose noble might and gentle skill The triple world can guard from ill?”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“Gainst him, a mighty warrior too. Strong, as a soldier born and bred,— Great, as a king whom regions dread. See! what a host the conqueror leads, With elephants, and cars, and steeds. O'er countless bands his pennons fly; So is he mightier far than I.”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“RAMCHARITMANAS”
― Rishi Valmiki, Ramayana: The Sacred Epic of the Gods and Demons

“choicest”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“desert place! Here let us all for death prepare, Or on the last great journey fare;320 Of Ráma our dear lord bereft, What profit in our lives is left? Huge trunks of trees around us lie, With roots and branches sere and dry, Come let us set these logs on fire And throw our bodies on the pyre.”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“See, birds of every varied voice Around us in the woods rejoice, On creeper, shrub, and plant alight, Or wing from tree to tree their flight. Each bird his kindly mate has found, And loud their notes of triumph sound, Blending in sweetest music like The distant warblings of the shrike. See how the river banks are lined With birds of every hue and kind. Here in his joy the Koïl sings, There the glad wild-cock flaps his wings. The blooms of bright Aśokas526where The song of wild bees fills the air, And the soft whisper of the boughs Increase my longing for my spouse. The vernal flush of flower and spray Will burn my very soul away. What use, what care have I for life If I no more may see my wife Soft speaker with the glorious hair, And eyes with silken lashes fair? Now is the time when all day long The Koïls fill the woods with song. And gardens bloom at spring's sweet touch Which my beloved loved so much. Ah me, Sumitrá's son, the fire Of sorrow, sprung from soft desire, Fanned by the charms the spring time shows, Will burn my heart and end my woes, Whose sad eyes look on each fair tree,”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“trained in arts and versed in law; High-souled”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“fair proportion set: The manliest form”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“came, Known to the world by Ráma's name: With soul subdued, a chief of might, In Scripture versed, in glory bright,”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki

“Válmíki,(2)bird of charming song,(3)   Who mounts on Poesy’s sublimest spray, And sweetly sings with accent clear and strong   Ráma, aye Ráma, in his deathless lay. Where breathes the man can listen to the strain   That flows in music from Válmíki’s tongue, Nor feel his feet the path of bliss attain   When Ráma’s glory by the saint is sung!”
― Vālmīki, Ramayana. English

“Rama glanced at her whenever a beautiful object caught his eye. Every tint of the sky, every shape of a flower or bud, every elegant form of a creeper reminded him of some aspect or other of Sita’s person.”
― R.K. Narayan, The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

“Is there anyone who has conquered the gods and lived continuously in that victory? Sooner or later retribution has always come. Do not be contemptuous of men or monkeys.”
― R.K. Narayan, The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

“borne”
― Vālmīki, The Rámáyan of Válmíki