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Ramayana — The Story of Lord Rama
Countless ages ago, when men and animals could speak together and powerful brahmanas could effect miracles, the uncontrollable King Ravana was terrorizing the universe. The Ramayana records the adventure of Rama, the Lord of righteousness, as He struggles to overcome the forces of Ravana. This absorbing naration has delighted and enlightened countless generations in India, and its timeless spiritual insights are compellingly relevant in today's confused world.
- GenresMythology
627 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2011
159 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Bhakti Vikasa Swami
36 books15 followersThe author was born in Britain in 1957 and joined ISKCON in London in 1975. Later that year, he was formally accepted as a disciple of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, the founder-ācārya of ISKCON, and renamed Ilāpati Dāsa.
From 1977 to 1979, Ilāpati Dāsa was based in India, mostly traveling in West Bengal distributing Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. He spent the following ten years helping to pioneer ISKCON’s preaching in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
In 1989 he was granted the order of sannyāsa, receiving the name Bhakti Vikāsa Swami, and again made his base in India. Since then he has preached Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the subcontinent, lecturing in English, Hindi, and Bengali. He also spends a few months each year preaching in the West. His television lectures in Hindi have reached millions worldwide.
Bhakti Vikāsa Swami writes extensively on Kṛṣṇa conscious topics. His books have been translated into over twenty languages, with more than one and a half million in print.
Additionally, he is involved in developing several gurukulas and also Vedic rural projects based on simple living and high thinking.
From 1977 to 1979, Ilāpati Dāsa was based in India, mostly traveling in West Bengal distributing Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. He spent the following ten years helping to pioneer ISKCON’s preaching in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
In 1989 he was granted the order of sannyāsa, receiving the name Bhakti Vikāsa Swami, and again made his base in India. Since then he has preached Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the subcontinent, lecturing in English, Hindi, and Bengali. He also spends a few months each year preaching in the West. His television lectures in Hindi have reached millions worldwide.
Bhakti Vikāsa Swami writes extensively on Kṛṣṇa conscious topics. His books have been translated into over twenty languages, with more than one and a half million in print.
Additionally, he is involved in developing several gurukulas and also Vedic rural projects based on simple living and high thinking.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 17, 2022
Ramayan was among the first big novels that I read as a child. I was only 8 -10 yrs old, when I read the kannada translation of Valmiki Ramayana many times. i remember being fascinated by the journey Rama undertook during his vanvas and the description of the forests. Recently when I visited Hampi and saw the places where Rama met Hanuman first, the place where Vali and Sugreeva fought and Vali was killed, i had an intense urge to read this book again and refresh my memories. i couldnt find the kannada book. When i found this English version on Kindle, I immediately read this. This was a disappointing read though. I couldn't find the enjoyment I felt as a kid. Maybe I have grown up now 😐 and trying to find logic in every action. There was lots of exaggeration, there was no time sense, like sages doing penance for 1000 year. Gods, who either are pleased too easily to grant outrageous wishes and sometimes to stubborn that it takes very tough penance to please them. The demigods upto no good trying to break the penance using petty means. the ascetics who get angry very easily.... No one seems to reproduce the normal way, even with multiple spouses. Some of them were so icky. Valmiki sure had some weird imagination.
It is fun to read it as pure fantasy.
It is fun to read it as pure fantasy.
May 8, 2019
"Să nu ne lăsăm pradă descurajării. Descurajarea este otrava cea mai puternică. Ea ucide pe cel neînţelept, ca un şarpe furios pe un copil fără minte."
July 18, 2025
The story should not be viewed as a religious text or a myth but something inbetween. It is my opinion that the story is an attempt to retell stories of a much older civilization but with heavy human editing as there are many inconsistencies.
July 8, 2023
आदरणीय समर्पण कृष्णकृपामूर्ति श्री श्रीमद ए. सी . भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी श्रीला प्रभूपाद संस्थापकचार्य - अंतराष्ट्रीय कृष्णभावनामृत संघ ।
रामायण एक ऐसा धर्मग्रंथ है , जो यह सिखाता है कि हर मनुष्य को अपना धर्म किस प्रकार करना है बिना मन के विचलित हुए । पूर्ण पुरुषोत्तम भगवान राम जो त्रेता युग मे अवतरित हुए थे और 11000 वर्षों तक राज्य किया । वैसे तो उनके गुणों की कोई संख्या नहीं है , लेकिन में उनके प्रमुख 16 गुणों के विषय मे बताउगा क्योंकि किसी भी परिस्थिति मे एक पुरुष अपने गुणों से समाज मे जाना जाता है ना कि ऐश्वर्य से ।
#1 गुण : गुणवान (Meritorious)
#2 गुण : कृतज्ञ (Gratefulness)
#3 गुण : वीर्यवान (Powerful)
#4 गुण : दृढ़वाता (Determination)
#5 गुण : कांतिमान (High class character)
#6 गुण : सभी के मित्र (Friends to all)
#7 गुण : विद्वान (Learned)
#8 गुण : सामर्थयशाली (Trustable)
#9 गुण : प्रियदर्शन (Beautiful)
#10 गुण : सकारात्मक (Positive)
#11 गुण : धैर्यवान (Self-controlled)
#12 गुण : सभी के रक्षक (Protector)
#13 गुण : शांत और सहज (Peaceful)
#14 गुण : ना द्वेष (No Hatred)
#15 गुण : जोशीला (Zealous)
#16 गुण : करुणा (Compassionate)
इन सभी गुणों के साथ-साथ भगवान राम मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम, आज्ञाकारी पुत्र और एक ईमानदार शिष्य थे । उन्होंने ऋषि-मुनियों कि रक्षा के लिए वन मे सभी राक्षकों का वध किया । वे विश्वास पति थे, क्यूंकि उन्होंने दण्डकारण्य वन मे माता सीता की सुरक्षा के लिए 14000 राक्षसों का अकेले वध किया और माता सीता को रावण कि कैद से मुक्त कराया ।
भगवान राम अपने भक्तों के प्रति बहुत ही दयालु है। जब उन्होंने विभीषण को स्वीकार किया , यह जानते हुए कि वह राक्षस कुल से थे।
भगवान राम राज्य के प्रति निष्ठावान और धर्मज्ञ थे । धर्म के पालन के लिए उन्होंने माता सीता और अपने अनुज भाई लक्ष्मण का भी त्याग कर दिया ।
भगवान राम का एक उच्च स्तरणीय व्यक्तित्व था। जो यह सिखाता है कि एक पुरुष को हमेशा पराया स्त्री का अभिवादन करना चाहिए और उनको सुरक्षा प्रदान करनी चाहिए ।
इसी के साथ, मै अपने शब्दों को समाप्त करूंगा क्योंकि भगवान राम के गुणगानों की जितनी चर्चा करो उतनी ही काम है।
जय श्री राम …….
रामायण एक ऐसा धर्मग्रंथ है , जो यह सिखाता है कि हर मनुष्य को अपना धर्म किस प्रकार करना है बिना मन के विचलित हुए । पूर्ण पुरुषोत्तम भगवान राम जो त्रेता युग मे अवतरित हुए थे और 11000 वर्षों तक राज्य किया । वैसे तो उनके गुणों की कोई संख्या नहीं है , लेकिन में उनके प्रमुख 16 गुणों के विषय मे बताउगा क्योंकि किसी भी परिस्थिति मे एक पुरुष अपने गुणों से समाज मे जाना जाता है ना कि ऐश्वर्य से ।
#1 गुण : गुणवान (Meritorious)
#2 गुण : कृतज्ञ (Gratefulness)
#3 गुण : वीर्यवान (Powerful)
#4 गुण : दृढ़वाता (Determination)
#5 गुण : कांतिमान (High class character)
#6 गुण : सभी के मित्र (Friends to all)
#7 गुण : विद्वान (Learned)
#8 गुण : सामर्थयशाली (Trustable)
#9 गुण : प्रियदर्शन (Beautiful)
#10 गुण : सकारात्मक (Positive)
#11 गुण : धैर्यवान (Self-controlled)
#12 गुण : सभी के रक्षक (Protector)
#13 गुण : शांत और सहज (Peaceful)
#14 गुण : ना द्वेष (No Hatred)
#15 गुण : जोशीला (Zealous)
#16 गुण : करुणा (Compassionate)
इन सभी गुणों के साथ-साथ भगवान राम मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम, आज्ञाकारी पुत्र और एक ईमानदार शिष्य थे । उन्होंने ऋषि-मुनियों कि रक्षा के लिए वन मे सभी राक्षकों का वध किया । वे विश्वास पति थे, क्यूंकि उन्होंने दण्डकारण्य वन मे माता सीता की सुरक्षा के लिए 14000 राक्षसों का अकेले वध किया और माता सीता को रावण कि कैद से मुक्त कराया ।
भगवान राम अपने भक्तों के प्रति बहुत ही दयालु है। जब उन्होंने विभीषण को स्वीकार किया , यह जानते हुए कि वह राक्षस कुल से थे।
भगवान राम राज्य के प्रति निष्ठावान और धर्मज्ञ थे । धर्म के पालन के लिए उन्होंने माता सीता और अपने अनुज भाई लक्ष्मण का भी त्याग कर दिया ।
भगवान राम का एक उच्च स्तरणीय व्यक्तित्व था। जो यह सिखाता है कि एक पुरुष को हमेशा पराया स्त्री का अभिवादन करना चाहिए और उनको सुरक्षा प्रदान करनी चाहिए ।
इसी के साथ, मै अपने शब्दों को समाप्त करूंगा क्योंकि भगवान राम के गुणगानों की जितनी चर्चा करो उतनी ही काम है।
जय श्री राम …….
June 16, 2022
Countless eons ago, when men and animals could converse together and powerful brahmanas would effect miracles, the uncontrollable demon Ravana was terrorizing the universe. The Ramayana records the adventures of Rama, the Lord of righteousness, as He struggles to overcome the forces of Ravana. This absorbing narration has delighted and enlightened countless generations in India, and its timeless spiritual insights are compellingly relevant in today's confused world.
April 22, 2023
Nice attempt in transcripting from original sanskrit slokas, book contains no slokas but full telugu vachanam. Good to read though some parts it do not touch the as is of Sri valmiki Ramayan is available at chirukaanuka .com
May 6, 2024
A beautiful and heart-felt narration of the greatest epic of Indian mythology.. Should be read nation-wide by elementary students to teach life-long lesson and should be unequivocally be read by adults to reinforce those lessons in their daily practices.
October 6, 2018
Another simple way of narrating the great epic....
January 7, 2019
King of all kings
This literature is essential for all people to read and understand how a perfect leader and a king should be like.
This literature is essential for all people to read and understand how a perfect leader and a king should be like.
January 21, 2019
Epic EPIC.
July 26, 2022
This is not a book review, but a life lesson learned by reading this book. “It is not your position but your spirit of service that matters.”
October 10, 2023
Perfect absolutely prefect🤗🤗🤗
January 4, 2024
Rāmāyan is the seed that brought out my love for reading.💚 This just feels like a giant hug and soothing balm. It’s an immortalized story and one that stays in my heart.💚
December 5, 2014
This is a wonderful book telling the story of Lord Rama based on original Valmiki Ramayana!
The book is written in such a catchy but simple style that anybody and everybody will love to read it. Whether you are a spiritualist or a philosopher or a historian or a vacationer or an anxious parent or a management student etc….this book has something, nay a lot, to offer to you! Anybody can get lot of satisfaction and happiness from reading this book.
Students go to management institutions to learn management, but they can learn lot of management from our vedic literatures! Ramayan is also a vedic history and I was amazed to see that it even teaches us management instructions! For example, conversation between Angada and Hanumanji on page no 259. In this conversation Hanumanji is teaching leadership principles to Angada! Not only that, from later paragraphs, you can also learn how Hanumanji is applying these same principles on Angada! This is practical wisdom which we can use in our day to day life!
These days parents wish to give good books to their children which inculcate good moral values! I found that this books is so simple that it can be read by children also! I have given it to some of my friends and there kids just loved the stories from this book! So If you are one such parent then this is the edition you are looking for!
One more thing the story based on Valmiki Ramayan is intervoven with so many other puranic stories and it becomes so interesting and exciting that it’s hard to stop reading it! If you intend to read for half an hour, you will end up reading it for at-least 3 hours!
All in all it’s a very-very nice book…go for it!
The book is written in such a catchy but simple style that anybody and everybody will love to read it. Whether you are a spiritualist or a philosopher or a historian or a vacationer or an anxious parent or a management student etc….this book has something, nay a lot, to offer to you! Anybody can get lot of satisfaction and happiness from reading this book.
Students go to management institutions to learn management, but they can learn lot of management from our vedic literatures! Ramayan is also a vedic history and I was amazed to see that it even teaches us management instructions! For example, conversation between Angada and Hanumanji on page no 259. In this conversation Hanumanji is teaching leadership principles to Angada! Not only that, from later paragraphs, you can also learn how Hanumanji is applying these same principles on Angada! This is practical wisdom which we can use in our day to day life!
These days parents wish to give good books to their children which inculcate good moral values! I found that this books is so simple that it can be read by children also! I have given it to some of my friends and there kids just loved the stories from this book! So If you are one such parent then this is the edition you are looking for!
One more thing the story based on Valmiki Ramayan is intervoven with so many other puranic stories and it becomes so interesting and exciting that it’s hard to stop reading it! If you intend to read for half an hour, you will end up reading it for at-least 3 hours!
All in all it’s a very-very nice book…go for it!
December 6, 2014
This is the original Valmiki Ramayana. I am so grateful to have been able to read this version. It is the best by far in all the other English versions and translations out there. Bhakti Vikasa Swami has done an amazing job. It captured the true essence of Ramayana. Many people who have read the Ramayana before have doubts that why did Lord Rama do this, Why did He leave Sita and so on, but after reading this all doubts will be cleared. I always knew that Ramayana is a very important and valuable literature and after reading this, I know why. I wish to read it again and again. I feel I am able to understand Lord Rama and Sita so much better now and why they did what they did. Ramayana itself is a treasure for the human society and everyone will benefit from reading it.
April 30, 2014
The best summarised version of the Ramayan. Clearly the most intricate research and detailed analysis of the sanskrit texts, with simple but accurate definitions of the philosophy. Most of all, such beautifully written and amazing gripping descriptions of the events of this epic chronicle!
February 16, 2018
How many times we read Ramayana , it never gets bored and becomes more sweeter every time. This is the only reference book , on how human should live.
April 14, 2020
Sri Ramashraya
To be read, studied and sung eternally the Glories of Lord Rama and his dear most devotees by every living entity during once lifetime.
To be read, studied and sung eternally the Glories of Lord Rama and his dear most devotees by every living entity during once lifetime.
January 1, 2023
🙏 జై శ్రీరామ్ 🙏
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews