Ramcharitmanas
श्रीरामचरितमानस
The Holy Lake of the Acts of Rama
Tulsidas's immortal devotional retelling of the Ramayana in Awadhi, a masterpiece of bhakti literature.
Start ReadingAbout This Book
The Ramcharitmanas, composed by Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century, is one of the most beloved devotional texts in all of Indian literature. Written in Awadhi (a dialect of Hindi), it retells the story of Lord Rama with profound emphasis on bhakti (devotion), dharma, and the grace of the divine name. Across 7 Kandas and 2,247 verses of various meters — Doha, Chaupai, Chhand, Sloka, and Soratha — Tulsidas weaves a spiritual tapestry that has shaped the devotional heart of India for centuries.
How This Book Is Organised
The Ramcharitmanas unfolds through a three-level structure.
Kandas
Seven major sections of the epic
Prakaranas
Thematic divisions within each Kanda
Verses
Individual verses (Doha, Chaupai, etc.)
Available Reading Features
This edition of the Ramcharitmanas on Vedapath includes:
Original Awadhi text (Devanagari)
Transliteration for guided reading
Word-by-word meanings
Clear, faithful translations
Bhakti rasa, commentary, and philosophical enrichments
Kandas of the Ramcharitmanas
The Ramcharitmanas is divided into seven Kandas.
Each Kanda represents a distinct phase in Rama's sacred story as told by Tulsidas.
Bala Kanda
बालकाण्ड
The Book of Childhood — describes the divine descent, childhood, and early life of Lord Rama, including his marriage to Sita. The longest kanda of the Ramcharitmanas.
Ayodhya Kanda
अयोध्या काण्ड
The Book of Ayodhya — narrates the preparations for Rama's coronation, Kaikeyi's boons, Rama's exile, and the profound grief of Dasharatha and the citizens.
Aranya Kanda
अरण्य काण्ड
The Book of the Forest — Rama's forest sojourn, encounters with sages and demons, the golden deer, and the abduction of Sita by Ravana.
Kishkindha Kanda
किष्किन्धा काण्ड
The Book of Kishkindha — Rama's alliance with Sugriva, the devotion of Hanuman, and preparations for the search of Sita.
Sundara Kanda
सुंदर काण्ड
The Beautiful Book — Hanuman's leap across the ocean, his discovery of Sita in Lanka, and the burning of Lanka. The most recited kanda for devotional practice.
Lanka Kanda
लंका काण्ड
The Book of Lanka — the great battle between Rama's army and Ravana, the defeat of the demon king, and the rescue of Sita.
Uttara Kanda
उत्तर काण्ड
The Book of the Aftermath — Rama's return to Ayodhya, coronation, Rama Rajya, and Tulsidas's concluding devotional teachings on the nature of bhakti.