Essay name: Sundara Ramayana (translation and study)
Author:
T. N. Jaya
Affiliation: University of Madras / Department of Sanskrit
This is a study and English translation of the Sundara Ramayana—a Sanskrit Kavya consisting of seven books having 1209 verses composed by the 20th century author Sri Sundaresa Sastri. It represents a condensed version of the original Valmiki Ramayana.
Chapter 1
5 (of 18)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
happiness to mankind. Valmiki Before proceeding to analyse Sundara Rāmāyaṇa the merit of Vāmī Rāmāyṇa is brought to mind and a brief survey of the works on the Rāmāyaṇa is made in the following paragraphs. THE GLORY OF VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa has endeared the hearts of generations of people from time immemorial. This epic poem holds a unique place in the literary history of the world. No poem, ancient or modern, has sunk so deep into the hearts and lives of so many successive generations of men and women, as the Rāmāyaṇa. It is a synthesis of all the Sāstras. It is another Veda and revelation of ultimate truths. It is a gospel for the world at large. The assertion of the poet that as long as the mountains and rivers exist on earth, till then the Rāmāyaṇa shall also shine gloriously, is no exaggeration. 66 यावत् स्थास्यन्ति गिरयः सरितश्च महीतले ।
तावत् रामायणकथा लोकेषु प्रचरिष्यति ॥
[yāvat sthāsyanti girayaḥ saritaśca mahītale |
tāvat rāmāyaṇakathā lokeṣu pracariṣyati ||
] It is one of the best epics that educates the right code of conduct
and morals to be adopted in life. It has remained a constant and
personal source of inspiration down the centuries, to men of letters in
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