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Murty Classical Library of India #8
The Epic of Ram, Vol. 2
The Epic of Ram presents a new translation of the Rāmcaritmānas of Tulsidas (1543–1623). Written in Avadhi, a literary dialect of classical Hindi, the poem has become the most beloved retelling of the ancient Ramayana story across northern India. A devotional work revered and recited by millions of Hindus today, it is also a magisterial compendium of philosophy and lore and a literary masterpiece.
In the second volume, prompted by the tyranny of the demon king Ravan, Ram decides to be born on earth. Tulsidas lovingly details Ram’s infancy, childhood, and youthful adventures, the winning of Princess Sita as his bride, and the celebration of their marriage.
This new translation into free verse conveys the passion and momentum of its inspired poet and storyteller. It is accompanied by the most widely accepted edition of the Avadhi text, presented in the Devanagari script.
In the second volume, prompted by the tyranny of the demon king Ravan, Ram decides to be born on earth. Tulsidas lovingly details Ram’s infancy, childhood, and youthful adventures, the winning of Princess Sita as his bride, and the celebration of their marriage.
This new translation into free verse conveys the passion and momentum of its inspired poet and storyteller. It is accompanied by the most widely accepted edition of the Avadhi text, presented in the Devanagari script.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2016
32 people want to read
About the author
Tulsidas
121 books33 followersTulsidas was a realized soul and saint, poet, often called reformer and philosopher from Ramanandi Sampradaya, in the lineage of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya renowned for his devotion to the Lord Shri Rama.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 23, 2016
This starts right where the first volume left off (and, really, this more of a continuation of my review of that volume), the deceived king has just become Ravan (who is basically the bad guy of the epic). Right out the gate there is a flying palace, Ravan lifts a mountain "just for fun", and he also hatches a plot to kill all the gods (or, failing that, at least enslave them). And then he basically proceeds to start executing that plan. In answer to this, Ram is incarnated on earth (finally).
[Ram's incarnation was so stunning that the sun "forgot himself" and let a month go by, just hanging motionless in the sky. I really love these sorts of details, which frequently pop up in these type of epics. Hyperbole delights me.]
One interesting thing that I noticed in this second volume is that the various story tellers (Tulsidas, the sage, and Shiva) all have their own interjections throughout the telling, these small details that sort of reinforce the spoken aspect of the narratives, but also reinforces the three layers of speakers. I'm sure it popped up in volume 1 (I know Tulsidas makes his voice heard a few times that I recall) but I definitely noticed it here.
So, this volume consists of three titled sections – there is one dedicated to the misdeeds and malfeasance of Ravan, one dedicated to Ram’s birth and youth, and the final section (which takes up roughly half of the volume) is Ram and Sita’s wedding. The first two sections are very standard epic stuff – the aforementioned lifting of a mountain, a guy going around just punching everything into submission, slaying a demon with a single arrow, picking up a bow with ease that 10,000 kings working together could not lift – and I don’t say “standard” in a derogatory fashion, I say it meaning “Hell yeah, this is the stuff I’m here for”. But, the latter section balances the volume, as there is a lot of regal detail leading up to the wedding itself, but there are some strikingly, stunningly, beautiful passages in this third section, especially around the wedding procession/parade, that I distinctly glad to have read. And, again, “Hell yeah, this is the stuff I’m here for”.
[When Ram approaches Shiva's bow, there is this incredible (almost cinematic) build up of tension, and just an overall almost cathartic release when he picks it up. It's really well done, and thrilling.]
This was much more straightforward for me than the first volume – though I think at least part of that is driven by my growing familiarity with all the names of the various entities; but it’s also just getting into the narrative epic proper (though, even then, this was still more just a getting the pieces in place, I feel that things are really going to take off in coming volumes) which is helping straighten out the story for me.
This volume was exceptional. Now I’m bummed it just came out, and I’m stuck waiting for more.
[Ram's incarnation was so stunning that the sun "forgot himself" and let a month go by, just hanging motionless in the sky. I really love these sorts of details, which frequently pop up in these type of epics. Hyperbole delights me.]
One interesting thing that I noticed in this second volume is that the various story tellers (Tulsidas, the sage, and Shiva) all have their own interjections throughout the telling, these small details that sort of reinforce the spoken aspect of the narratives, but also reinforces the three layers of speakers. I'm sure it popped up in volume 1 (I know Tulsidas makes his voice heard a few times that I recall) but I definitely noticed it here.
So, this volume consists of three titled sections – there is one dedicated to the misdeeds and malfeasance of Ravan, one dedicated to Ram’s birth and youth, and the final section (which takes up roughly half of the volume) is Ram and Sita’s wedding. The first two sections are very standard epic stuff – the aforementioned lifting of a mountain, a guy going around just punching everything into submission, slaying a demon with a single arrow, picking up a bow with ease that 10,000 kings working together could not lift – and I don’t say “standard” in a derogatory fashion, I say it meaning “Hell yeah, this is the stuff I’m here for”. But, the latter section balances the volume, as there is a lot of regal detail leading up to the wedding itself, but there are some strikingly, stunningly, beautiful passages in this third section, especially around the wedding procession/parade, that I distinctly glad to have read. And, again, “Hell yeah, this is the stuff I’m here for”.
[When Ram approaches Shiva's bow, there is this incredible (almost cinematic) build up of tension, and just an overall almost cathartic release when he picks it up. It's really well done, and thrilling.]
This was much more straightforward for me than the first volume – though I think at least part of that is driven by my growing familiarity with all the names of the various entities; but it’s also just getting into the narrative epic proper (though, even then, this was still more just a getting the pieces in place, I feel that things are really going to take off in coming volumes) which is helping straighten out the story for me.
This volume was exceptional. Now I’m bummed it just came out, and I’m stuck waiting for more.
Displaying 1 of 1 review