Ramayana Katha
The complete Ramayana, episode by episode
This is the Ramayana told the way it is told at home: from the beginning, one episode after another, in plain words. It follows the order of Maharishi Valmiki's seven kandas and draws on the Ramcharitmanas of Goswami Tulsidas where the two are remembered together. Every episode has a Listen button, so that elders, children and anyone who prefers to hear the story can follow it too. Start with the first episode and keep pressing Next.
Bala Kanda: Birth and Boyhood of Shri Ram
- 1How the Ramayana Came to Be WrittenValmiki asks Narada who the best of men is, sees the krauncha bird fall, and speaks the first shloka. Brahma tells him to write the life of…🔊
- 2Ayodhya and the Yajna of King DasharathaThe city of Ayodhya, a king with everything but a child, the Putrakameshti yajna, the gods' plea to Vishnu, and the divine payasam shared b…🔊
- 3The Birth of Shri RamOn Chaitra Shukla Navami, at noon, Kaushalya gives birth to Ram in Ayodhya. Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna follow, and Vasishtha names t…🔊
- 4Vishwamitra Asks for Ram: Tataka and the YajnaVishwamitra asks Dasharatha for young Ram to guard his yajna. Ram slays Tataka, receives divine weapons and defeats Maricha and Subahu.🔊
- 5The Road to Mithila: The Ganga and AhalyaOn the way to Mithila, Vishwamitra tells how the Ganga came to earth, and at Gautama's deserted ashram Ram frees Ahalya from her long curse.🔊
- 6Sita's Swayamvara: The Breaking of Shiva's BowKing Janaka tells how he found Sita in a furrow and vowed to wed her to whoever strings Shiva's bow. Ram lifts it, strings it, and it break…🔊
- 7The Wedding of Ram and Sita, and ParashuramaDasharatha comes to Mithila, the four brothers marry four princesses, Parashurama challenges Ram on the road, and Ayodhya welcomes the brid…🔊
Ayodhya Kanda: The Promise and the Exile
- 8The Coronation Is Announced, and Manthara SpeaksDasharatha decides to crown Ram the next morning and Ayodhya rejoices. That night the maid Manthara turns Queen Kaikeyi's joy into fear.🔊
- 9Kaikeyi's Two BoonsIn the chamber of anger Kaikeyi claims her two boons: the throne for Bharata and fourteen years of exile for Ram. Ram accepts without a mom…🔊
- 10Ram, Sita and Lakshmana Leave AyodhyaKaushalya's grief, Lakshmana's anger, Sita's insistence on sharing the exile, Sumitra's blessing, and a whole city following the chariot to…🔊
- 11Guha the Friend, Kevat the Boatman, and ChitrakootAt the Ganga the Nishad chief Guha keeps vigil, the boatman Kevat washes Ram's feet before ferrying him, and the three make their home at C…🔊
- 12The Death of King DasharathaSumantra returns with an empty chariot. Dasharatha remembers the young ascetic he killed by mistake long ago and the curse that followed, a…🔊
- 13Bharata Returns and Refuses the ThroneBharata comes home to a silent city, learns what was done in his name, turns on his mother in grief, refuses the crown and sets out to brin…🔊
- 14Bharat Milap: The Sandals on the ThroneThe brothers meet at Chitrakoot. Ram will not break his father's word, so Bharata carries home his sandals and rules from Nandigram as thei…🔊
Aranya Kanda: The Forest Years
- 15Into the Dandaka Forest: Ram's Promise to the SagesRam slays Viradha, sees the bones of sages killed by rakshasas and vows to protect them. Ten years pass, and Agastya gives him the bow of V…🔊
- 16Panchavati, Shurpanakha and the Fall of KharaJatayu befriends the exiles at Panchavati. Ravana's sister Shurpanakha attacks Sita and is punished, and Ram alone destroys Khara's army of…🔊
- 17The Golden DeerMaricha warns Ravana and is forced to obey. As a golden deer he draws Ram away, and his dying cry in Ram's voice sends Lakshmana after him.🔊
- 18The Abduction of Sita and Jatayu's Last BattleRavana comes disguised as a mendicant and carries Sita off. The aged Jatayu fights him and falls. Sita drops her ornaments and is imprisone…🔊
- 19Ram's Grief, Jatayu's Last Words and KabandhaRam finds the hut empty and searches the forest in anguish. The dying Jatayu names Ravana, Ram performs his last rites, and Kabandha points…🔊
- 20Shabari's BerriesThe aged tribal ascetic Shabari, who has waited a lifetime, welcomes Ram with the fruit she has gathered. He teaches her the nine forms of…🔊
Kishkindha Kanda: Friendship with Sugriva
- 21Hanuman Meets Ram: The Friendship with SugrivaAt Lake Pampa, Hanuman approaches the two princes and wins Ram's praise. He carries them to Sugriva, and Ram and Sugriva swear friendship b…🔊
- 22Vali and Sugriva: The Fall of ValiSugriva tells how his brother Vali drove him out. Ram proves his strength, Vali falls to Ram's arrow, questions him, and entrusts his son A…🔊
- 23The Rainy Season and Sugriva's Forgotten PromiseSugriva is crowned and the rains begin. Ram waits four months in a cave. Sugriva forgets his word until Hanuman reminds him and Lakshmana a…🔊
- 24The Search for Sita BeginsSugriva sends search parties in four directions with one month to return. Ram gives his ring to Hanuman. The southern party, lost in a cave…🔊
- 25Sampati's News and Jambavan's ReminderJatayu's brother Sampati tells the vanaras that Sita is in Lanka, a hundred yojanas across the sea. Jambavan reminds Hanuman of the strengt…🔊
Sundara Kanda: Hanuman's Leap to Lanka
- 26Hanuman's Leap Across the OceanHanuman leaps from Mount Mahendra. He declines Mainaka's offer of rest, outwits Surasa, destroys Simhika and reaches the shore of Lanka at…🔊
- 27Hanuman Searches Lanka by NightSmall as a cat, Hanuman defeats the guardian of Lanka and searches palace after palace by moonlight. He does not find Sita and nearly loses…🔊
- 28Sita in the Ashoka GroveHidden in a tree, Hanuman sees Sita. At dawn Ravana comes to plead and threaten, and Sita answers him from behind a blade of grass. Trijata…🔊
- 29Hanuman Meets Sita: The Ring and the JewelHanuman softly sings Ram's story from the tree, wins Sita's trust and gives her the ring. She refuses to be carried home and sends her hair…🔊
- 30The Burning of LankaHanuman wrecks the grove, slays Aksha, lets Indrajit bind him and warns Ravana in open court. His tail is set alight, and he burns the city…🔊
- 31"I Have Seen Sita": Hanuman ReturnsHanuman leaps back and the vanaras celebrate in Sugriva's honey grove. He gives Ram the jewel and Sita's message, and Ram, with nothing els…🔊
Yuddha Kanda: The War in Lanka
- 32Vibhishana Takes Refuge with RamThe army marches to the sea. In Lanka, Vibhishana urges Ravana to return Sita and is driven out. Ram receives him with his vow of protectio…🔊
- 33The Bridge Across the SeaRam prays to the Ocean for three days, then takes up his bow. The Ocean appears, Nala builds the bridge in five days, and the army crosses…🔊
- 34Angada's Embassy: Peace Offered One Last TimeRavana tries to break Sita's spirit with a false head of Ram. Before the first blow, Ram sends Angada to offer peace. Ravana refuses, and t…🔊
- 35The Serpent Arrows and the Fall of KumbhakarnaIndrajit binds Ram and Lakshmana with serpent arrows until Garuda frees them. Ram spares the exhausted Ravana. Kumbhakarna is woken, speaks…🔊
- 36Indrajit and the Sanjeevani MountainIndrajit's weapon fells the whole army, and Hanuman brings a mountain of herbs from the Himalayas. Lakshmana slays Indrajit, is struck down…🔊
- 37The Fall of RavanaIndra sends his chariot, Agastya teaches Ram the hymn to the Sun, and after a duel like no other Ravana falls. Ram orders a king's funeral…🔊
- 38The Trial by Fire and the Return to AyodhyaSita forgives her guards, passes through fire, and the exiles fly home in the Pushpaka. Bharata waits at Nandigram, and Ram is crowned in A…🔊
Uttara Kanda: Ram Rajya and After
- 39Ram Rajya: The Friends Depart, Hanuman StaysThe sages visit the new king, the allies return home, and Hanuman asks one boon: to remain on earth for as long as the story of Ram is told.🔊
- 40Sita Is Sent to the ForestRam learns what some citizens are saying about the queen. He puts the people's trust in the throne above his own happiness, and Lakshmana t…🔊
- 41Luv and Kush Are Born and Learn the RamayanaSita's twins are born in Valmiki's ashram. Shatrughna slays Lavana and founds Mathura. The boys grow up and learn the whole Ramayana by hea…🔊
- 42The Ramayana Sung Before Ram: Sita Returns to the EarthAt Ram's Ashwamedha two boys sing his own life to him, and he knows his sons. Sita is asked to affirm her purity once more, and the Earth r…🔊
- 43The Departure of Shri RamAfter long years of rule, Time comes to Ram. Lakshmana gives himself up to save the city, the sons are crowned, and Ram walks with all Ayod…🔊
This retelling follows the order of the Valmiki Ramayana. Where a well-loved episode comes from the Ramcharitmanas or from later tradition, the text says so. For a short summary of each kanda and what it teaches, see "Ramayana". The seven kandas →