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The Ramayana Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Ramayana novel. A total of 202 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Ramayana.INVOCATION.(1) Praise to Valmiki,(2)bird of charming song,(3) Who mounts on
The Ramayana.INVOCATION.(1) Praise to Valmiki,(2)bird of charming song,(3) Who mounts on Poesy's sublimest spray, And sweetly sings with accent clear and strong Rama, aye Rama, in his deathless lay.Where breathes the man can listen to the strain That
- 202 At Venus aethereos inter dea candida nimbos Dona fereus aderat;...Arma sub adversa posuit radiantia querc.u.m.Ille, deae donis et tanto laetus honore, Expleri nequit, atque oculus per singula volvit, Miraturque, interque ma.n.u.s et brachia versat Terribi
- 201 Page 431._"Art thou not he who slew of old_ _The Serpent-G.o.ds, and stormed their hold."_ All these exploits of Rava? are detailed in the _Uttaraka??a_, and epitomized in the Appendix.Page 434._Within the consecrated hall_.The Brahman householder ought
- 200 Page 326._No change of hue, no pose of limb_ _Gave sign that aught was false in him._ _Concise, unfaltering, sweet and clear,_ _Without a word to pain the ear,_ _From chest to throat, nor high nor low,_ _His accents came in measured flow._ Somewhat simila
- 199 Page 249._And King Himalaya's Child._ Uma or Parvati, was the daughter of Himalaya and Mena. She is the heroine of Kalidasa's _k.u.mara-Sambhava_ or _Birth of the War-G.o.d_.Page 250._Strong k.u.mbhakar?a slumbering deep_ _In chains of never-end
- 198 Page 174. The Praise Of Kings "Compare this magnificent eulogium of kings and kingly government with what Samuel says of the king and his authority: And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.And he said, This
- 197 _There by the gate the Saras screamed._ The Saras or Indian Crane is a magnificent bird easily domesticated and speedily const.i.tuting himself the watchman of his master's house and garden. Unfortunately he soon becomes a troublesome and even danger
- 196 Yama, Page 68.Son of Vivasvat=Jima son of Vivanghvat, the Jams.h.i.+d of the later Persians.Fate, Page 68."The idea of fate was different in India from that which prevailed in Greece. In Greece fate was a mysterious, inexorable power which governed m
- 195 Kusa and Lava.As the story of the banishment of Sita and the subsequent birth in Valmiki's hermitage of Kusa and Lava the rhapsodists of the Ramayan, is intimately connected with the account in the introductory cantos of Valmiki's composition of
- 194 Signor Gorresio has published an excellent translation of the Uttaraka??a, in Italian prose, from the recension current in Bengal;(1030) and Mr. Muir has epitomized a portion of the book in the Appendix to the Fourth Part of his Sanskrit Texts (1862). Fro
- 193 Then on Hanuman's bosom hung The chain which Sita's hand had flung: So may a cloud, when winds are still With moon-lit silver gird a hill.To every Vanar Rama gave Rich treasures from the mine and wave.And with their honours well content Homeward
- 192 Go forth, go forth to meet your king, Let tabours sound and minstrels sing, Let bards swell high the note of praise Skilled in the lore of ancient days, Call forth the royal matrons: call Each n.o.ble from the council hall.Send all we love and honour most
- 191 Now mark that glade amid the trees Where once we lived as devotees.See, see our leafy cot between Those waving boughs of densest green, Where Rava? seized his prize and stole My love the darling of my soul.O, look again: beneath thee gleams G.o.davari the
- 190 Then Indra, he whose fiery stroke Slew furious Paka, turned and spoke: "A glorious day, O chief, is this, Rich with the fruit of lasting bliss.Well pleased are we: we love thee well Now speak, thy secret wishes tell."Thus spake the sovereign of the sky,
- 189 Canto CXIX. Glory To Vishnu.The shrill cry pierced through Rama's ears And his sad eyes o'erflowed with tears, When lo, transported through the sky A glorious band of G.o.ds was nigh.Ancestral shades,(1016) by men revered, In venerable state appeared, A
- 188 To mine own sins the blame impute, For as we sow we reap the fruit.The tyrant's will these dames obeyed When their fierce threats my soul dismayed."She ceased: with admiration moved The Vanar chief her words approved: "Thy speech," he cried, "is wort
- 187 Canto CXIII. Mandodari's Lament.While thus they wept, supreme in place, The loveliest for form and face, Mandodari drew near alone, Looked on her lord and made her moan: "Ah Monarch, Indra feared to stand In fight before thy conquering hand.From thy dre
- 186 The Rakshas host and Vanar bands Stood with their weapons in their hands, And watched in terror and dismay The fortune of the awful fray.The giant chief with rage inflamed His darts at Rama's pennon aimed; But when they touched the chariot made By heaven
- 185 But Rama, pride of Raghu's race, Gazed tenderly on Lakshma?'s face, And, as the sight his spirit broke, Turned to Sushe? and sadly spoke: "Where is my power and valour? how Shall I have heart for battle now, When dead before my weeping eyes My brother,
- 184 He ceased: the prudent counsel pleased The monarch, and his wrath appeased; Then to his council hall in haste The giant lord his steps retraced.[I omit two Cantos in the first of which Rama with an enchanted Gandharva weapon deals destruction among the Ra
- 183 The trembling bears and Vanars cheer, Calm their sad hearts, dispel their fear.Save Raghu's n.o.ble sons, and heal The deep wounds of the winged steel.High o'er the waters of the sea To far Himalaya's summits flee.Kailasa there wilt thou behold, And Ri
- 182 Cast down, rash boy, that useless bow: Preserve thy life, uninjured go."He ceased: and stirred by wrath & pride Sumitra's n.o.ble son replied: "By warlike deed, not words alone, The valour of the brave is shown.Cease with vain boasts my sco
- 181 Pierced to the soul by sorrow's sting Thus wailed the evil-hearted king.Then Trisiras stood forth and cried: "Yea, father, he has fought and died, Our bravest: and the loss is sore: But rouse thee, and lament no more.Hast thou not still thy coat
- 180 When Bali's warrior son(979) beheld Their flight, his heart with fury swelled.He rushed, with his terrific shout, To meet the foe and stay the rout.He came, he hurled a mountain peak, And smote the giant on the cheek.His ponderous spear the giant thr
- 179 The remnant of those legions, they Who saw his power that fatal day, Now in this leaguered city dread The mighty chief from whom they fled.And wouldst thou meet the lord of men, Beard the great lion in his den, And, when thine eyes are open, break The slu
- 178 He ceased: the giants ventured near And bent their lowly heads in fear.Then k.u.mbhakar[n.]a glared with eyes Still heavy in their first surprise, Still drowsy from his troubled rest, And thus the giant band addressed."How have ye dared my sleep to b
- 177 The giant, raging in his heart, Laid on his bow a fiery dart; The Vanar on his flagstaff eyed, And thus in tones of fury cried: "Well skilled in magic lore art thou: But will thine art avail thee now?See if thy magic will defend Thy life against the
- 176 In pomp and pride of warlike state They sallied from the southern gate, But saw, as on their way they sped, Dread signs around and overhead.For there were meteors falling fast, Though not a cloud its shadow cast; And each ill-omened bird and beast, Forbod
- 175 V?ihaspati,(959) with herb and spell, Cured the sore wounds of those who fell.And, skilled in arts that heal and save, New life and sense and vigour gave.Far, on the Milky Ocean's sh.o.r.e, Still grow those herbs in boundless store; Let swiftest Vana
- 174 "False are they all, proved false to-day, The prophets of my fortune, they Who in the tranquil time of old A blessed life for me foretold, Predicting I should never know A childless dame's, a widow's woe, False are they all, their words are
- 173 Six times he shot: six heads were cleft; Six giants dead on earth were left.Nor ceased he yet: his bow he strained, And from the sounding weapon rained A storm of shafts whose fiery glare Filled all the region of the air; And chieftains dropped before his
- 172 Down from the peak he came, and viewed The Vanars' ordered mult.i.tude.Each captain there for battle burned, Each fiery eye to Lanka turned.On, where the royal brothers led To Lanka's walls the legions sped.The northern gate, where giant foes Sw
- 171 With anxious looks the walls they eyed: And sage Vibhisha? thus replied: "These lords of mine(946) can answer: they Within the walls have found their way, The foeman's plan and order learned, And hither to my side returned.Now, Rama, let my tong
- 170 Hark, lady, to the ringing steel, Hark to the rolling chariot wheel: Hark to the mettled courser's neigh And drums' loud thunder far away.The Queen of Fortune holds thee dear, For Lanka's troops are struck with fear, And Rama with the lotus
- 169 This head, long shafts and mighty bow, To Janak's daughter will we show."He ceased: Vidyujjihva obeyed, And wondrous magic skill displayed; And Rava? for the art he showed An ornament of price bestowed.Then to the grove where Sita lay The lord o
- 168 See, glorious, golden-coated, one Who glisters like the morning sun, Whom thousands of his race surround, 'Tis Hara for his strength renowned.Next comes a mighty chieftain, he Whose legions, armed with rock and tree, Press on, in numbers pa.s.sing ta
- 167 He ceased: the spy his fear controlled, And to the king his story told: "I reached the ocean's distant sh.o.r.e, Thy message to the king I bore.In sudden wrath the Vanars rose, They struck me down with furious blows; They seized me helpless on t
- 166 While Raghu's son undaunted gazed, The waters of the deep were raised, And, still uplifted more and more, Leapt in wild flood upon the sh.o.r.e.Still Rama looked upon the tide And kept his post unterrified.Then from the seething flood upreared Majest
- 165 Canto XX. The Spies.Sardula, Rava?'s spy, surveyed The legions on the strand arrayed.And bore, his bosom racked with fear, These tidings to the monarch's ear: "They come, they come. A rus.h.i.+ng tide, Ten leagues they spread from side to s
- 164 Then Mainda, wisest chief, who knew The wrong, the right, the false, the true, Pondered a while, then silence broke, And thus his sober counsel spoke: "Let one with gracious speech draw near And gently charm Vibhisha?'s ear, Till he the soothing
- 163 A scion of our glorious race Should ne'er conceive a thought so base, But one mid all our kin we find, Vibhisha?, whose degenerate mind No spark of gallant pride retains, Whose coward soul his lineage stains.Against one giant what can two Unhappy son
- 162 My secret counsel have I kept, While senseless k.u.mbhakar?a slept.Six months the warrior's slumbers last And bind his torpid senses fast; But now his deep repose he breaks, The best of all our champions wakes.I captured, Rama's heart to wring,
- 161 Within these walls, O Chiefs, abide, Nor part ye from our monarch's side."Canto IX. Vibhishan's Counsel.A score of warriors(914) forward sprang, And loud the clas.h.i.+ng iron rang Of mace and axe and spear and sword, As thus they spake unt
- 160 Then from the sh.o.r.e the captains gazed On billows which the breezes raised To fury, as they dashed in foam O'er Varu?'s realm, the Asurs' home:(909) The sea that laughed with foam, and danced With waves whereon the sunbeams glanced: Wher
- 159 Canto II. Sugriva's Speech.He ceased: and King Sugriva tried To calm his grief, and thus replied: "'Be to thy n.o.bler nature true, Nor let despair thy soul subdue.This cloud of causeless woe dispel, For all as yet has prospered well, And w
- 158 Now in a sable cloud immersed, Now from its gloomy pall he burst, Like the bright Lord of Stars concealed A moment, and again revealed.Sunabha(889) pa.s.sed, he neared the coast Where waited still the Vanar host.They heard a rus.h.i.+ng in the skies, And
- 157 For spake he well or spake he ill, He spake obedient to their will, And, if he perish, who can bear Thy challenge to the royal pair?Who, cross the ocean and incite Thy death-doomed enemies to fight?"Canto LIII. The Punishment.King Rava?, by his plead
- 156 Thou art my best and bravest: go, Unmatched in power, and slay the foe."He heard the hest: he bent his head; Athirst for battle forth he sped.Four tigers fierce, of tawny hue, With fearful teeth, his chariot drew.Hanuman heard his strong bow clang, A
- 155 None shall be left unslaughtered; none Who braves the wrath of Raghu's son."Canto XLIV. Jamb.u.mali's Death.Then Jamb.u.mali, pride and boast For valour of the Rakshas host, Prahasta's son supremely brave, Obeyed the hest that Rava? ga
- 154 Thy woman's heart would sink with fear Before the ocean sh.o.r.e were near.And for thy dread lest limb of thine Should for a while be touched by mine, The modest fear is worthy one Whose cherished lord is Raghu's son.Yet when I sought to bear th
- 153 For Rama's wrathful hand shall wing His shafts against the giant king.The day, O Maithil Queen, is near When he and Lakshma? will be here, And by their side Sugriva lead His countless hosts of Vanar breed.Sugriva's servant, I, by name Hanuman, b
- 152 And, at my death or capture, dies The hope of Rama's enterprise.For none can leap, save only me, A hundred leagues across the sea.It is a sin in me, I own, To talk with Janak's child alone.Yet greater is the sin if I Be silent, and the lady die.
- 151 Come, Sita, in luxurious bowers Spend with our lord thy happy hours; The mighty lord who makes his own The treasures of the worlds o'erthrown."Then, as a tear bedewed her eye, The hapless lady made reply: "I loathe, with heart and soul dete
- 150 Come, let us love while yet we may, For youth will fly and charms decay, Come cast thy grief and fear aside, And be my love, my chosen bride.The gems and jewels that my hand Has reft from every plundered land,- To thee I give them all this day, And at thy
- 149 "Hence," thought the Vanar, "shall I see The Maithil dame, if here she be, These lovely trees, this cool retreat Will surely tempt her wandering feet.Here the sad queen will roam apart.And dream of Rama in her heart."Canto XV. Sita.Fai
- 148 Apart a dais of crystal rose With couches spread for soft repose, Adorned with gold and gems of price Meet for the halls of Paradise.A canopy was o'er them spread Pale as the light the moon beams shed, And female figures,(816) deftly planned, The fac
- 147 Here moved a priest with tonsured head, And there an eager envoy sped, Mid crowds with hair in matted twine Clothed in the skins of deer and kine,- Whose only arms, which none might blame, Were blades of gra.s.s and holy flame(806) There savage warriors r
- 146 Such boon from ages long ago To Brahma's favouring will I owe."She ceased, and Hanuman replied, By shape and threat unterrified: "Brave Rama with his Maithil spouse Lodged in the shade of Da??ak's boughs, Thence Ravan king of giants st
- 145 Then from the hand of Indra came A red bolt winged with wrath and flame.The child fell smitten on a rock, His cheek was shattered by the shock, Named Hanuman(783) thenceforth by all In memory of the fearful fall.The wandering Wind-G.o.d saw thee lie With
- 144 I might this day the boon bestow And bid again thy pinions grow, But wait until thy saving deed The nations from their fear have freed.Then for this glorious aid of thine The princes of Ikshvaku's line, And G.o.ds above and saints below Eternal grat.
- 143 Now from this spot my gazing eye Can Rava? and the dame descry.Devise some plan to overleap This barrier of the briny deep.Find the Videhan lady there, And joyous to your home repair.Me too, O Vanars, to the side Of Varu?'s(772) home the ocean, guide
- 142 'Tis better far to fast and die Than hopeless bound in chains to lie, Your steps, O Vanars, homeward bend And leave me here my life to end.Better to die of hunger here Than meet at home the fate I fear.Go, bow you at Sugriva's feet, And in my na
- 141 Canto LII. The Exit."Rama," he cried, "a prince whose sway All peoples of the earth obey, To Da??ak's tangled forest came With his brave brother and his dame.From that dark shade of forest boughs The giant Rava? stole his spouse.Our ki
- 140 He gazed from every mountain height, He sought each cavern dark as night, And wandered through the bloomy shade By pool and river and cascade, But, though they sought in every place, Of Sita yet they found no trace.On fruit and woodland berries fed Throug
- 139 Through every land in order go Right onward to the Hills of Snow.Search mid the peaks that s.h.i.+ne afar, In woods of Lodh and Deodar.(734) Search if with Janak's daughter, screened By sheltering rocks, there lie the fiend.The holy grounds of Soma t
- 138 He who beyond tho month shall stay Will with his life the forfeit pay."Canto XLI. The Army Of The South.He gathered next a chosen band For service in the southern land.He summoned Nila son of Fire, And, offspring of the eternal Sire, Jambavan bold an
- 137 "Lost was my power," the king replied, "All strength had fled, all hope had died.The Vanars owned another lord, But by thy grace was all restored.All this, O conqueror of the foe, To thee and Lakshma?'s aid I owe.And his should be the
- 136 At length, O righteous prince, relent, Nor let my words in vain be spent, This sudden blaze of fury slake, I pray thee for Sugriva's sake.He would renounce at Rama's call Ruma and Angad, me and all Who call him lord: his gold and grain, The favo
- 135 Through the fair city Lakshma? came, Invited in Sugriva's name.Within the gates the guardian bands, Of Vanars raised their suppliant hands, And in their ordered ranks, amazed, Upon the princely hero gazed, They marked each burning breath he drew, The
- 134 Thus be the Vanar king addressed, Then add thyself what seems the best."Canto x.x.xI. The Envoy.Thus Rama spoke, and Lakshma? then Made answer to the prince of men: "Yea, if the Vanar, undeterred By fear of vengeance, break his word, Loss of his
- 133 Sugriva after rest will know The hour is come to strike the blow, Nor will his grateful soul forget My succour, or deny the debt I know his generous heart, and hence Await the time with confidence When he his friendly zeal will show, And brooks again untr
- 132 Four months, thou knowest well, extends The season when the rain descends.No time for deeds of war is this: Seek thou thy fair metropolis, And I with Lakshma?, O my friend, The time upon this hill will spend.An ample cavern opens there Made lovely by the
- 131 But when Sugriva saw her weep O'erwhelmed in sorrow's rus.h.i.+ng deep, Swift through his bosom pierced the sting Of anguish for the fallen king.At the sad sight his eyes beheld A flood of bitter tears outwelled, And, with his bosom racked and r
- 130 "Sweeter my slain lord's limbs to touch, Than Angad or a hundred such.No rule or right, a widowed dame, O'er Angad or the realm I claim.Sugriva is the uncle, he In every act supreme must be.I pray thee, chief, this plan resign, Nor claim fr
- 129 Then grieve no more, O Prince, but clear Thy bosom from all doubt and fear, For fate, inexorably stern, Thou hast no power to move or turn.Thy princely Angad still will share My tender love, Sugriva's care; And to thy offspring shall be shown Affecti
- 128 Thou carest naught for n.o.ble gain, And treatest virtue with disdain, While every sense its captive draws To follow pleasure's changing laws.I wronged thee not in word or deed, But by thy deadly dart I bleed.What wilt thou, mid the virtuous, say To
- 127 A heart so bold that will not yield, But yearns to tempt the desperate field, Such loud defiance, fiercely pressed, On no uncertain hope can rest.So lately by thine arm o'erthrown, He comes not back, I ween, alone.Some mightier comrade guards his sid
- 126 Sore weight of sin on him must lie By whom a friend is made to die; And Lakshma?, I, and Sita, best Of dames, on thy protection rest.On, warrior! for the fight prepare; Nor fear again thy foe to dare.Within one hour thine eye shall view My arrow strike th
- 125 Then Bali's soul with rage was fired, Queen Tara and the dames retired; And slowly, with a laugh of pride, The king of Vanars thus replied: "Me, fiend, thou deemest drunk with wine: Unless thy fear the fight decline, Come, meet me in the fray, a
- 124 Canto X. Sugriva's Story."I strove to soothe and lull to rest The fury of his troubled breast: "Well art thou come, dear lord," I cried."By whose strong arm thy foe has died.Forlorn I languished here, but now My saviour and defenc
- 123 Again I promise and declare, Yea, by my truth, dear friend, I swear."Then glad was King Sugriva's breast, And all his lords their joy confessed, Stirred by sure hope of Rama's aid, And promise which the prince had made.Canto VIII. Rama'
- 122 Then, wood with wood engendering,(554) came Neath his deft hands the kindled flame.Between the chiefs that fire he placed With wreaths of flowers and wors.h.i.+p graced.And round its blazing glory went The friends with slow steps reverent.Thus each to oth
- 121 Your smooth bows decked with dyes and gold Are glorious in their masters' hold, And with the arms of Indra(546) vie Which diamond splendours beautify.Your quivers glow with golden sheen, Well stored with arrows fleet and keen, Each gleaming like a fi
- 120 My life can be no longer borne, Since Sita from my side is torn."Thus like a helpless mourner, bent By sorrow, Rama made lament; And with wise counsel Lakshma? tried To soothe his care, and thus replied: "O best of men, thy grief oppose, Nor sin
- 119 The hills with towering summits rise, And with their beauty charm the eyes, Gay with the giant trees which bright With blossom spring from every height: And as the soft wind gently sways The cl.u.s.tering blooms that load the sprays, The very trees break
- 118 She heard the prince his wish declare: Then rose she, and the royal pair Of brothers through the wood she led That round her holy dwelling spread."Behold Matanga's wood" she cried, "A grove made famous far and wide.Dark as thick clouds
- 117 This hour thy footsteps onward bend, And make that mighty prince thy friend.With him before the attesting flame In solemn truth alliance frame.Nor wilt thou, if thy heart be wise, Sugriva, Vanar king, despise.Of boundless strength, all shapes he wears, He
- 116 The monstrous fiend, to anger stirred, The converse of the brothers heard.His horrid mouth he opened wide And drew the princes to his side.They, skilled due time and place to note Unsheathed their glittering swords and smote, Till from the giant's sh
- 115 There many a stately deer he slew, The flesh around the bird to strew.The venison into b.a.l.l.s he made, And on fair gra.s.s before him laid.Then that the parted soul might rise And find free pa.s.sage to the skies, Each solemn word and text he said Whic
- 114 To him by toil and sorrow tried The prudent Lakshma? thus replied: "Come, though our labour yet be vain, And search through Janasthan again,- A realm where giant foes abound, And trees and creepers hide the ground.For there are caverns deep and dread
- 113 The hatred that I nursed of old Grows mightier now a hundred fold Against these giants, fierce of heart, Who change their forms by magic art.Slain, eaten by the giant press, Or stolen is the votaress, Nor could her virtue bring defence To Sita seized and
- 112 These woes on which I sadly think Fill, till it raves above the brink, The stream of grief in which I sink,- The flood which naught can stay.Ne'er, brother, ne'er have I complained; Though long by toil and trouble pained, Without a murmur I sust
- 111 Thus roaming on like one distraught Still for his vanished love he sought, He searched in wood and hill and glade, By rock and brook and wild cascade.Through groves with restless step he sped And left no spot unvisited.Through lawns and woods of vast exte
- 110 Again, again he turned to chide With quivering lips which terror dried: He looked, and found her not.Within his leafy home he sped, Each pleasant spot he visited Where oft his darling strayed."'Tis as I feared," he cried, and there, Yieldin
- 109 But Lanka founded on a steep Is girdled by the mighty deep, And how will Rama know his fair And blameless wife is prisoned there?She on her woe will sadly brood And pine away in solitude, And heedless of herself, will cease To live, despairing of release.
- 108 Then trusting in her heart to wake Desire of all she saw, he spake: "Three hundred million giants, all Obedient to their master's call, Not counting young and weak and old, Serve me with spirits fierce and bold.A thousand culled from all of thes
- 107 Canto LIII. Sita's Threats.Soon as the Maithil lady knew That high through air the giant flew, Distressed with grief and sore afraid Her troubled spirit sank dismayed.Then, as anew the waters welled From those red eyes which sorrow swelled, Forth in
- 106 Then fierce the dreadful combat raged As fiend and bird in war engaged, As if two winged mountains sped To dire encounter overhead.Keen pointed arrows thick and fast, In never ceasing fury cast, Rained hurtling on the vulture king And smote him on the bre
- 105 Then to the lady, with the lore Of eloquence, he spoke once more: "Thou scarce," he cried, "hast heard aright The glories of my power and might.I borne sublime in air can stand And with these arms upheave the land, Drink the deep flood of O
- 104 Canto XLVII. Ravan's Wooing.As, clad in mendicant's disguise, He questioned thus his destined prize, She to the seeming saintly man The story of her life began."My guest is he," she thought, "and I, To 'scape his curse, must
- 103 I tell thee, of the sons of earth, Of G.o.ds who boast celestial birth, Of beasts and birds and giant hosts, Of demiG.o.ds, Gandharvas, ghosts, Of awful fiends, O thou most fair, There lives not one whose heart would dare To meet thy Rama in the fight, Li