The Authentic Valmiki Ramayana

This podcast includes an authentic Sanskrit recitation and the reading of a genuine translation in English by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India. This is not a western translation of the Valmiki Ramayana, nor a re-telling in any form. It is translated by Hindus from within the tradition, and it is thereby recommended as the most authentic recitation and English reading available. The Ramayana recitation by Sriram-ghanapaathi HariSitaramamurti-ghanapathi is taken from archive.org. The reading is from the English version of Srimad Valmiki Ramayan translation by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India.

Kishkindha Kanda Saga 43, "Udeecheem Prathi Shathavali Preshanam", Book 4 Canto 43

Sugriva dispatches a contingent of monkeys under the leadership of Satabali in order to seek for Sita in the northern quarter.Recitation: 00:00 - 10:12Translation: 10:16 - 25:00[Land of Surasenas = area about Mathuralands of the Kurus = about the modern Delhilands of the Daradas = beyond Peshawar]

03-29
25:01

Sundarakanda Sarga 68, "Sita expressed her grave doubt", Book 5 Canto 68

Hanuman tells Sri Rama, how Sita expressed her doubt in the first instance about a monkey being able to leap across a vast sea and how her doubt was resolved by him.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:10Translation: 05:13 - 12:00*** END OF SUNDARAKANDA ***

05-29
12:00

Sundarakanda Sarga 67, "Hanuman narrates an incident connected with a crow", Book 5 Canto 67

Hanuman reproduces at length the incident connected with a crow that took place during the sojourn of Sita with Sri Rama at Chitrakoota, related by her by way of a token, and further describes her piteous lament and the way in which she was comforted by Hanuman.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:24Translation: 07:27 - 17:43

05-29
17:44

Sundarakanda Sarga 66, "Sri Rama urges Hanuman to repeat the words spoken by Sita", Book 5 Canto 66

Pressing to his bosom the jewel for the head sent by Sita and piteously wailing in many ways, Sri Rama urges Hanuman to repeat the message of Sita.Recitation: 00:00 - 02:47Translation: 02:51 - 07:06

05-29
07:07

Sundarakanda Sarga 65, "Hanuman conveys Sita's message to Rama", Book 5 Canto 65

Asked by Sri Rama to tell him the news about Sita, Hanuman apprises Sri Rama of her presence at the foot of a Shimshapa tree in the midst of ogresses and delivers her message after narrating the incidents related by her as a token.Recitation: 00:00 - 04:52Translation: 04:56 - 11:38

05-29
11:40

Sundarakanda Sarga 64, "Hanuman apprises of the discovery of Sita", Book 5 Canto 64

Returning to Madhuvana as commanded by Sugriva, and craving the forgiveness of Angada, Dadhimukha submits to the latter that he is urgently summoned by Sugriva. Set out in the company of Hanuman and others, and approaching Sugriva, Prince Angada apprises Sri Rama, after saluting him, of the discovery of Sita and other events.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:27Translation: 07:31 - 17:21

05-29
17:21

Sundarakanda Sarga 63, "Dadhimukha reports Madhuvana destruction to Sugriva",, Book 5 Canto 63

Having heard from the mouth of Dadhimukha the story of Madhivana having been laid waste by the monkeys, Sugriva concludes from the jubilation of the monkeys that Sita has been traced out. Comforting Dadhimukha, he asks him to send Angada and others without delay.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:50Translation: 05:53 - 13:40

05-28
13:41

Sundarakanda Sarga 62, "Dadhimukha departs to Kishkindha", Book 5 Canto 62

Having entered Madhuvana and partaken of honey, as permitted by Hanuman, and singing and dancing like drunken people, the monkeys were forbidden by those guarding the grove and they belaboured the latter. Repulsed by them, the guards reported the matter to their leader, Dadhimukha, who appeared on the scene with his entourage and on remonstrating with the monkeys was thrashed by Angada, who dashed him to the ground. The guards headed by Dadhimukha then move en masse to Kishkindha to report the matter to Sugriva and bow down at the latter's feet.Recitation: 00:00 - 06:25Translation: 06:30 - 15:00

05-28
15:00

Sundarakanda Sarga 61, "Monkeys took halt at Madhuvana", Book 5 Canto 61

Set out from the Mahendra mountain in the direction of Kishkindha, the monkeys halt at Madhuvana, a grove guarded by the monkey Dadhimukha and most beloved of Sugriva, which falls on their way. When the monkeys began to enjoy the fruits of the grove with the permission of Prince Angada, Dadhimukha, comes in their way and is lacerated with their claws and teeth.Recitation: 00:00 - 04:38Translation: 04:42 - 10:27

05-28
10:27

Sundarakanda Sarga 60, "Jambavan's wise guidelines", Book 5 Canto 60

Feeling encouraged by the tributes paid to his valour by his fellow monkeys, Price Angada undertakes to exterminate the entire ogre race including Ravana and bring back Sita from Lanka. Jambavan, however, who is more sagacious and practical-minded, discourages him by recourse to potent counter-arguments.Recitation: 00:00 - 03:39Translation: 03:43 - 09:12

05-27
09:12

Sundarakanda Sarga 59, "Hanuman describes the plight of Sita to his fellow monkeys", Book 5 Canto 59

Picturing to his fellow monkeys the said plight of Sita, and feeling that it behoved them all to see Sri Rama only after recovering Sita from Lanka, recounting the past heroic exploits of Jambavan and others, Hanuman incites them all to have recourse to the arbitrament of war.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:33Translation: 05:37 - 13:41

05-27
13:42

Sundarakanda Sarga 58, "Jambavan requests Hanuman to narrate clearly the happenings", Book 5 Canto 58

Enquired by Jambavan, seated along with the monkey hordes, Hanuman narrates in extenso how he saw Mount Mainaka in the course of his journey to Lanka, reached Lanka, beheld Janaka's daughter and returned to Mount Mahendra.Recitation: 00:00 - 27:08Translation: 27:11 - 01:00:53

05-27
01:00:54

Sundarakanda Sarga 57, "Hanuman leaps from Lanka and touches Mount Mainaka", Book 5 Canto 57

Having leapt from the coast of Lanka and touching the Mainaka mountain, which he came across in the way, advancing further, Hanuman roars at the top of his voice at the sight of the Mahendra mountain in order to bring joy to the monkeys awaiting his return there. Jambavan tells the monkeys, who got up impetuously on hearing the roar, that Hanuman has returned successful from his expedition as was evident from his jubilant roar. Having greeted Jambavan and others on alighting on the summit of the Mahendra mountain, Hanuman narrates to them in a nutshell the story of his discovery of Sita. Applauding Hanuman, Prince Angada, who was eager to hear the story, sits down to do so on an extensive flat rock along with all. Recitation: 00:00 - 08:53Translation: 08:55 - 20:11

05-27
20:11

Sundarakanda Sarga 56, "Hanuman again visits Ashoka garden", Book 5 Canto 56

Hanuman sees Sita once more and bidding adieu to her, takes a leap across the sea.Recitation: 00:00 - 08:33Translation: 08:37 - 19:25

05-21
19:25

Sundarakanda Sarga 55, "Hanuman doubts whether Sita dies in the fire", Book 5 Canto 55

Seeing the whole of Lanka reduced to ashes and presuming Sita too to have shared its lot, Hanuman begins to reproach himself and gets overwhelmed with grief. In the meantime, he hears of her safety from the lips of Siddhas, Chaaranas (celestial bards) and others and feels comforted.Recitation: 00:00 - 06:03Translation: 06:06 - 15:12

05-13
15:14

Sundarakanda Sarga 54, "Hanuman makes up his mind to set fire to the city of Lanka", Book 5 Canto 54

Making up his mind to set fire to the city of Lanka, which was the only work left for him to do, and coming out into the open, Hanuman burns the entire city barring the abode of Vibhishana. Astonished to see the city burning, the gods and Gandharvas (celestial musicians) are filled with supreme joy.Recitation: 00:00 - 09:40Translation: 09:43 - 22:10

05-13
22:11

Sundarakanda Sarga 53, "Ravana orders Hanuman's tail to be set on fire", Book 5 Canto 53

Wrapping up the tail of Hanuman in rags and soaking it in oil, and then lighting it up, the ogres, as urged by Ravana, take Hanuman round the city to the accompaniment of beats of drums. Hearing this news from the lips of the ogresses, Sita prays to the god of fire on oath to see that Hanuman remains unscathed. Climbing up the gate and shedding the fire by attenuating his body, and then resuming vast proportions and seizing the iron bar of the gate, Hanuman kills with it the ogres guarding the gate.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:53Translation: 07:56 - 18:14

05-13
18:13

Sundarakanda Sarga 52, "Ravana orders Hanuman to be killed", Book 5 Canto 52

Provoked by the harsh words of Hanuman, Ravana orders him to be put to death. Vibhishana, however, exhorts the latter to desist from this dastardly act, pointing out that the killing of an envoy is forbidden by the Shastras.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:53Translation: 05:57 - 13:52

05-13
13:52

Sundarakanda Sarga 51, "Hanuman narrates the story ", Book 5 Canto 51

Narrating the story of Sri Rama from the latter's entry into the forest, to his own sight of Sita being borne away by Ravana through the air over the Rshyamuka mountain, and celebrating the glory of Sri Rama, Hanuman points out to Ravana that if he longed to survive he should restore Sita to Sri Rama and that he should be prepared for the worst if, on the other hand, he chooses not to part with her.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:52Translation: 07:56 - 19:03

05-13
19:03

Sundarakanda Sarga 50, "Hanuman declares himself to be a messenger of Sri Rama', Book 5 Canto 50

Commanded by Ravana, Prahasta inquires of Hanuman as to who he was as also his motive in devastating the royal pleasance and killing the ogres. In reply Hanuman says that he destroyed the grove in order that he might be taken captive and dragged to the presence of Ravana, whom he was eager to see, and was compelled in self-defence to kill those who stood in his way. In the end he declares himself to be a messenger of Sri Rama and adds that, though protected against the missile presided over by Brahma, he submitted to its influence only in order to be able to see Ravana.Recitation: 00:00 - 03:18Translation: 03:21 - 09:07

05-09
09:08

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