Ramayan
The story of Rama — all seven kands, their key episodes, and shlokas with plain meaning.
Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayan is an epic of some 24,000 shlokas, arranged in seven kands. It is less the story of a king than an answer to a question: what does an ideal human being actually look like — as a son, a brother, a husband and a ruler? Read each kand’s story, follow its key episodes, and sit with the verses that carry it.
The Seven Kands
Bala Kand
The Book of Childhood
Sage Narada tells Valmiki of an ideal man, and Valmiki composes the Ramayan. In Ayodhya, King Dasharatha's four sons are born — Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Sage Vishwamitra takes Rama and Lakshmana away to guard his sacrifice from demons, and that journey ends at Sita's swayamvar in Mithila.
77 sargas →
Ayodhya Kand
The Book of Ayodhya
Preparations begin for Rama's coronation, but Kaikeyi — turned by Manthara — calls in two old boons: the throne for Bharata, and fourteen years of exile for Rama. Rama honours his father's word without hesitating. Sita and Lakshmana go with him. Dasharatha dies of grief, and Bharata refuses the kingdom, placing Rama's sandals on the throne in his stead.
119 sargas →
Aranya Kand
The Book of the Forest
The exile years pass in the Dandaka forest, where Rama protects the sages. Shurpanakha is humiliated, Khara and Dushana are killed, and Ravana takes his revenge — Maricha becomes a golden deer to draw Rama away, the line is crossed, and Sita is carried off. The aged Jatayu gives his life trying to stop it.
75 sargas →
Kishkindha Kand
The Book of Kishkindha
On Rishyamukha hill comes the first meeting with Hanuman — and from his speech alone Rama knows this is no ordinary messenger. Rama and Sugriva swear friendship; Rama kills Vali and wins Sugriva the throne of Kishkindha. The vanara armies are sent out in all four directions, and Sampati reveals that Sita is held in Lanka.
67 sargas →
Sundara Kand
The Book of Beauty
The best-loved kand, and all of it Hanuman's. He leaps the ocean to Lanka, finds Sita in the Ashoka grove, gives her Rama's ring to steady her, burns the city and returns with her crest-jewel. It is the one kand that holds victory and no defeat, which is why it is considered the most auspicious to recite.
68 sargas →
Yuddha Kand
The Book of War
The vanara army bridges the sea and Vibhishana takes refuge with Rama. A terrible war follows in Lanka — Kumbhakarna and Meghnad fall, Lakshmana lies unconscious and Hanuman carries back a whole mountain to revive him. Sage Agastya teaches Rama the Aditya Hridayam, and Rama kills Ravana. Lamps are lit for the return to Ayodhya, and that is Deepavali.
128 sargas →
Uttara Kand
The Final Book
The story of Ravana's birth and his long penance is told. Rama's reign is established in Ayodhya, but public rumour leads him to send Sita to the forest. Luv and Kush are born in Valmiki's ashram, and those same children sing their father's story back to him. In the end Sita returns to the earth, and Rama completes his time upon it.
111 sargas →
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Ramayan.
Valmiki's Ramayan has seven kands — Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara. Together they run to roughly 24,000 shlokas, and each kand covers a distinct stage of Rama's life.