Ramayana: illustrated cover of the Vedapath edition
Ramayana: illustrated cover of the Vedapath edition
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EpicWritten by Valmiki5th century BCE (traditional)

Ramayana in German

रामायण

Adikavya: The First Poem

A timeless journey of dharma, devotion, exile, and return.

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About This Book

The Ramayana is one of India's most revered epics, narrating the life and journey of Lord Rama, the ideal human being and embodiment of dharma. Through exile, trials, devotion, and unwavering values, the Ramayana explores what it means to live rightly in the world.

How This Book Is Organised

The Ramayana is structured to guide the reader step by step through its narrative.

Kandas

Major sections of the story

→

Sargas

Chapters within each Kanda

→

Shloka

Verses read one by one

Available Reading Features

This edition of the Ramayana on Vedapath includes:

Sanskrit

Original Sanskrit verses (Devanāgarī)

Transliteration

Transliteration for guided reading

Meanings

Word-by-word meanings

Translations

Clear, faithful translations

Contextual Explanations

Contextual explanations for deeper understanding

Kandas of the Ramayana

The Ramayana is traditionally divided into six Kandas.
Each Kanda represents a distinct phase in Rama's journey.

Ramayana - Bāla Kāṇḍa — Book of Youth, Beginnings, and Origins

Bāla Kāṇḍa — Book of Youth, Beginnings, and Origins

The Book of Childhood - describes the birth and early life of Rama

Die Bāla Kāṇḍa bildet das architektonische Fundament der Rāmāyaṇa: Sie rahmt die Entstehung des Gedichts (kāvya-janma), etabliert Rāmas dharmisches Profil und erzählt die dynastischen, rituellen und kosmologischen Voraussetzungen, aus denen der zentrale Konflikt des Epos…

Divine purposeDestinyDharma in youth

77 Sargas

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Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda — Book of Ayodhya (the royal capital and its crisis)

Ayodhya Kanda — Book of Ayodhya (the royal capital and its crisis)

The Book of Ayodhya - describes events in Ayodhya leading to Rama's exile

Das Ayodhyākāṇḍa bildet den entscheidenden ethischen und politischen Wendepunkt der Rāmāyaṇa: Das öffentliche Versprechen, Rāma als yauvarājya zu weihen, zerbricht und schlägt in vanavāsa um—durch das Aufeinanderprallen von königlichem dharma, privatem Begehren und der bindenden…

DutyRenunciationObedience to truth

119 Sargas

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Ramayana - Araṇya Kāṇḍa - Book of the Forest (The Wilderness/Exile in the Woods)

Araṇya Kāṇḍa - Book of the Forest (The Wilderness/Exile in the Woods)

The Book of the Forest - describes Rama's life in the forest

Das Araṇya Kāṇḍa bildet die entscheidende Mittelbewegung der Rāmāyaṇa: Die Erzählung des Exils weitet sich von einer ethischen Bewährung zur epischen Katastrophe.

Ascetic lifeTemptationRising conflict

75 Sargas

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Ramayana - Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa — Book of Kiṣkindhā (the Vanara capital; alliance and mobilization)

Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa — Book of Kiṣkindhā (the Vanara capital; alliance and mobilization)

The Book of Kishkindha - describes the kingdom of the Vanaras

Das Kiṣkindhākāṇḍa markiert die entscheidende Wende der Ramayana: vom einsamen Wandern im Wald hin zu Bündnispolitik und geordnetem Handeln.

FriendshipDevotionHope

67 Sargas

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Ramayana - Sundara Kanda — Book of Beauty/Excellence (the ‘beautiful’ book, celebrated for its literary and spiritual brilliance)

Sundara Kanda — Book of Beauty/Excellence (the ‘beautiful’ book, celebrated for its literary and spiritual brilliance)

The Beautiful Book - describes Hanuman's journey to Lanka

Das Sundarakāṇḍa bildet das erzählerische und emotionale Scharnier der Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Die nach außen gerichtete Suche des Epos verdichtet sich hier auf einen einzigen Handelnden—Hanumān.

BhaktiCourageDivine grace

68 Sargas

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Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - (Book of War/Battle)

Yuddha Kanda - (Book of War/Battle)

The Book of War - describes the battle between Rama and Ravana

Das Yuddhakāṇḍa bildet den kriegerischen und zugleich theologischen Höhepunkt von Vālmīkis Ādikāvya: Es erzählt den Feldzug nach Laṅkā, der in Sītās Wiedergewinnung und Rāvaṇas Sturz mündet.

JusticeResponsibilityConsequence of actions

131 Sargas

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Main characters of the Ramayana

  • Rama

    Central Hero

    Named in 11,602 verses

  • Lakshmana

    Loyal Brother

    Named in 4,812 verses

  • Ravana

    King of Lanka

    Named in 4,360 verses

  • Sita

    Divine Consort

    Named in 4,016 verses

  • Hanuman

    Supreme Devotee

    Named in 3,152 verses

  • Dasharatha

    King of Ayodhya

    Named in 2,581 verses

  • Sugriva

    Vanara King

    Named in 2,089 verses

  • Vali

    Mighty Vanara

    Named in 1,548 verses

  • Bharata

    Righteous Prince

    Named in 1,403 verses

  • Kausalya

    Chief Queen

    Named in 1,289 verses

  • Kaikeyi

    Queen Consort

    Named in 1,004 verses

  • Vishwamitra

    Royal Sage

    Named in 950 verses

  • Vibhishana

    Righteous Rakshasa

    Named in 943 verses

  • Indra

    King of Devas

    Named in 788 verses

  • IndrajitMeghanada

    Crown Prince of Lanka

    Named in 638 verses

  • Angada

    Crown Prince

    Named in 617 verses

  • Kumbhakarna

    Giant Warrior

    Named in 498 verses

  • Janaka

    Philosopher King

    Named in 413 verses

  • Sumantra

    Chief Minister

    Named in 409 verses

  • Vashishtha

    Royal Guru

    Named in 343 verses

  • Tara

    Queen of Kishkindha

    Named in 336 verses

  • Khara

    Rakshasa Warlord

    Named in 276 verses

  • Jatayu

    Noble Vulture King

    Named in 247 verses

  • Maricha

    Demon Sorcerer

    Named in 238 verses

  • Shatrughna

    Youngest Prince

    Named in 224 verses

  • Vayu

    Wind God

    Named in 208 verses

  • Manthara

    Wicked Maid

    Named in 204 verses

  • Jambavan

    Ancient Bear King

    Named in 186 verses

  • Sampati

    Vulture King

    Named in 182 verses

  • Vishnu

    Preserver

    Named in 173 verses

  • Surpanakha

    Catalyst

    Named in 164 verses

  • Agastya

    Forest Sage

    Named in 157 verses

  • Guha

    Nishada King

    Named in 150 verses

  • Nila

    Vanara Commander

    Named in 148 verses

  • Kabandha

    Cursed Rakshasa

    Named in 143 verses

  • Sumitra

    Wise Queen

    Named in 140 verses

  • Shiva

    Supreme Deity

    Named in 139 verses

  • Surya

    Sun God

    Named in 122 verses

  • Mandodari

    Queen of Lanka

    Named in 108 verses

  • SagaraOcean

    Lord of Waters

    Named in 104 verses

  • Prahasta

    Chief Commander

    Named in 102 verses

  • Sushena

    Vanara Physician

    Named in 88 verses

  • Garuda

    Divine Eagle

    Named in 72 verses

  • Mainda

    Vanara Warrior

    Named in 71 verses

  • Dvivida

    Vanara Warrior

    Named in 63 verses

  • Dushana

    Rakshasa General

    Named in 59 verses

  • Nala

    Divine Architect

    Named in 55 verses

  • Trijata

    Compassionate Rakshasi

    Named in 53 verses

  • Shabari

    Devoted Ascetic

    Named in 52 verses

  • Gautama

    Ascetic Sage

    Named in 41 verses

  • Ahalya

    Redeemed Sage's Wife

    Named in 35 verses

  • Subahu

    Demon Disturber

    Named in 19 verses

  • Urmila

    Silent Sacrificer

    Named in 13 verses

  • Mandavi

    Princess of Ayodhya

    Named in 5 verses

  • Shrutakirti

    Princess of Ayodhya

    Named in 5 verses

  • Bharadvaja

    Hospitality Sage

  • Valmiki

    First Poet

Key episodes

  1. Valmiki and the Krauncha Birds: The First Shloka

    Bala Kanda, sarga 2

    With Valmiki, Bharadvaja, the hunter, the krauncha pair, Brahma and Narada

  2. The Descent of the Ganga: Sagara's Sons and Bhagiratha

    Bala Kanda, sargas 38-44

    With Vishvamitra, Rama, Sagara, Keshini, Sumati, Asamanja, Amshuman, Kapila, Dilipa, Bhagiratha, Ganga, Shiva and Brahma

  3. Rama Breaks Shiva's Bow at Mithila

    Bala Kanda, sargas 66-67

    With Rama, Lakshmana, Vishvamitra and Janaka

  4. Manthara, Kaikeyi and the Two Boons

    Ayodhya Kanda, sargas 7-19

    With Manthara, Kaikeyi, Dasharatha, Rama, Kausalya and Sumantra

  5. Dasharatha's Curse: The Blind Ascetic's Son

    Ayodhya Kanda, sargas 63-64

    With Dasharatha, Kausalya, the young ascetic and his blind parents

  6. Bharata Takes Rama's Sandals

    Ayodhya Kanda, sargas 112-115

    With Bharata, Rama, Shatrughna, Vasishtha and Kaikeyi

  7. Shurpanakha at Panchavati

    Aranya Kanda, sargas 17-18

    With Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Shurpanakha

  8. The Golden Deer

    Aranya Kanda, sargas 42-44

    With Ravana, Maricha, Sita, Rama and Lakshmana

  9. Ravana Carries Off Sita

    Aranya Kanda, sargas 45-49, 52-56

    With Sita, Lakshmana, Ravana and Jatayu

  10. Jatayu Fights Ravana

    Aranya Kanda, sargas 50-51, 67-68

    With Jatayu, Ravana, Sita, Rama and Lakshmana

  11. Rama Visits Shabari

    Aranya Kanda, sarga 74

    With Rama, Lakshmana and Shabari

  12. Hanuman Meets Rama

    Kishkindha Kanda, sargas 2-4

    With Hanuman, Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva

  13. The Slaying of Vali

    Kishkindha Kanda, sargas 14-18

    With Rama, Sugriva, Vali, Tara and Lakshmana

  14. Hanuman Leaps the Ocean

    Sundara Kanda, sarga 1

    With Hanuman, Mainaka, Surasa and Simhika

  15. Hanuman Finds Sita in the Ashoka Grove

    Sundara Kanda, sargas 14-40

    With Hanuman, Sita, Ravana, Trijata and the rakshasis

  16. Hanuman Burns Lanka

    Sundara Kanda, sargas 53-55

    With Hanuman, Ravana, Vibhishana, Sita and the rakshasas

  17. Building the Bridge to Lanka (Rama Setu)

    Yuddha Kanda, sargas 21-22

    With Rama, Samudra, Nala, Sugriva, Lakshmana and the vanaras

  18. Hanuman Brings the Mountain of Herbs (Sanjeevani)

    Yuddha Kanda, sargas 74, 101-102

    With Hanuman, Jambavan, Vibhishana, Rama, Lakshmana and Sushena

  19. The Final Battle and the Slaying of Ravana

    Yuddha Kanda, sargas 108-111

    With Rama, Ravana, Matali, Vibhishana and Lakshmana

  20. Sita's Ordeal by Fire (Agni Pariksha)

    Yuddha Kanda, sargas 118-121

    With Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Agni and Brahma

  21. Rama's Return to Ayodhya

    Yuddha Kanda, sargas 124-128

    With Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Vibhishana, Sugriva, Hanuman, Bharadvaja, Guha and Bharata

Places in the Ramayana

  • Lanka

    In 12,198 verses

  • Ayodhya

    In 4,707 verses

  • Dandaka Forest

    In 1,924 verses

  • Ocean / Coast

    In 947 verses

  • Mithila

    In 677 verses

  • Ashrama

    In 665 verses

  • Ganga River

    In 391 verses

  • Janasthana

    In 310 verses

  • Pampa Lake

    In 283 verses

  • Heaven

    In 243 verses

  • Mahendra Mountain

    In 239 verses

  • Chitrakuta

    In 233 verses

  • Bharadvaja Ashrama

    In 168 verses

  • Vashistha Ashrama

    In 126 verses

  • Madhuvana

    In 114 verses

  • Prasravana Mountain

    In 106 verses

  • Agastya Ashrama

    In 95 verses

  • Vindhya Mountains

    In 92 verses

  • Kishkindha

    In 80 verses

  • Panchavati

    In 80 verses

  • Siddhashrama

    In 66 verses

  • Rshyamuka

    In 60 verses

  • Kekaya

    In 59 verses

  • Gautama Ashrama

    In 54 verses

  • Matanga Ashrama

    In 53 verses

  • Yamuna River

    In 53 verses

  • Himalayas

    In 52 verses

  • Kailasha Mountain

    In 52 verses

  • Sarayu River

    In 50 verses

  • Vishvamitra Ashrama

    In 50 verses

  • Godavari River

    In 45 verses

  • Malyavat Mountain

    In 43 verses

  • Kosala

    In 41 verses

  • Netherworld

    In 38 verses

  • Suvela Mountain

    In 35 verses

  • Nandigrama

    In 32 verses

  • Atri Ashrama

    In 29 verses

  • Valmiki Ashrama

    In 26 verses

  • Sutikshna Ashrama

    In 24 verses

  • Setu Bandha

    In 20 verses

  • Shabari Ashrama

    In 12 verses

  • Trikuta Mountain

    In 9 verses

  • Ashoka Vatika

    In 1 verse

  • Oushadhi Mountain
  • Sarabhanga Ashrama
  • Sringaverapura

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