গীত রামায়ণ

The narrator describes the scene where Kusha and Lava (Rama's sons) begin singing the Ramayan taught to them by their guru, Valmiki. They sing before Rama on the occasion of Ashwamedh Yagna, unaware of the relationship between them.

Kusha and Lava describe the pleasant life and the people of Ayodhya; however, the childless King Dasharatha and his three wives; Kausalya, Sumitra, Kaikeyi; are unhappy.

Kausalya, the eldest wife of Dasharatha, laments that they have not been blessed with any offspring.

Dasharatha consoles Kausalya, telling her they will perform the Ashwamedh Yagna and give gifts to please Agni dev. He hears a voice, telling him that he will beget four children.

Pleased by Dasharatha's devotion, Agni dev appears with the prasad sent by Lord Vishnu and says that the children conceived by the queens after consuming the prasad will be great warriors.

Dasharatha and his queens are blessed with four sons, and Ayodhya celebrates joyously.

Kausalya sings happily to the other queens, describing how Rama is growing up.

Rama and his brothers grow, studying a number of texts and becoming expert in warrior skills. Sage Vishvamitra asks Dasharatha to take Rama with him to protect the sacred yagnas, which were disrupted by demons.

On their way, Vishvamitra teaches and tells stories to Rama and Lakshmana until they are attacked by a demon named Tratika and her sons, Subahu and Maricha. Vishvamitra describes the evil she brings, and orders Rama to kill her.

Killing Tratika and Subahu and chasing the demon Maricha, Rama's valour impresses everyone. The King of Mithila, Janaka, is preparing for a yagna and the rishis ask Rama to come along.

On their way to Mithila Rama finds an old, abandoned place where Vishvamitra tells him the story of Ahalya, wife of the sage Gautama Maharishi, and asks him to end her curse.

At Mithila, Rama wins the swayamvara and marries Janaka's daughter Sita.

Seeing Rama content in married life and his affairs, Dasharatha decides to crown him as the next King of Ayodhya. Sita's sisters sing, announcing the news to Sita.

Afraid that her son Bharata would become hapless if Rama becomes King, Kaikeyi asks Dasharatha to exile Rama and crown Bharata instead.

Rama agrees to leave the kingdom, but Kausalya sadly pleads with him to stay.

Lakshmana is furious, and questions the turn of events. He praises Rama as best to inherit the kingdom, and promises to see this done.

Rama accepts Laxmana's request to accompany him, and asks his wife Sita for permission to leave. However, Sita has decided to follow her husband wherever he goes.

Seeing Rama leave Ayodhya with his wife and brother, the residents beg him to stay. They ask Sumanta, the minister of Ayodhya who is driving the chariot, to stop. They follow Rama to the Ganga River.

On the banks of the Ganga, Rama asks a boatman to take them across the river to continue their journey, and he complies.

The trio reaches the Chitrakoot region. Praising the place, Rama asks Lakshmana for a building on the banks of the Mandakini River.

Sumanta returns to Ayodhya, and reports on Rama. He tells Kausalya and Sumitra not to worry about him, and to forgive Kaikeyi, and asks Bharata to rule the kingdom wisely.

Dasharatha is unable to bear the pain of Rama's exile, and remembers how Shravan's blind parents cursed him. Singing that he now sees only darkness everywhere, he dies.

Enraged, Bharata curses his mother Kaikeyi for causing Dashratha's death and sending Rama away. He decides to bring Rama back and make him the king.

Lakshmana notices a commotion, and discovers that Bharata is coming. He is angry and puzzled, wondering what more Bharata could now want from Rama.

When Bharata finds Rama, Rama explains how humans are dependent on their fate; therefore, he should not feel sorry for him. He asks Bharata to return, rule Ayodhya and not look for Rama again until his exile ends.

Bharata informs Rama of Dasharatha's death, pleading with him to return since he is incapable of ruling the kingdom. Rama refuses; Bharata requests his paduka as a sign of his blessings and leaves.

While wandering in the forest, Ravana's sister Shurpanakha sees him. She asks to marry him; he politely refuses, since he is already married to Sita.

Angry, Shurpanaka pleads with Ravana to avenge Lakshmana for cutting her nose. She praises Ravana, saying that he deserves to marry Sita, and asks him to solve the problems caused by the two brothers.

Ravana sends the demon Maricha, in the form of a golden deer. Sita is attracted by the bejewelled, sparkling deer, and sends Rama to fetch it.

Seeing Rama and Lakshmana chasing the deer far away, Ravana comes to abduct Sita. Comparing him with Rama, Sita criticises his evil intentions and asks him to leave.

Rama is unable to find Sita when he returns from the hunt. He laments his fate, and asks the surrounding trees where Sita is.

Searching for his wife, Rama finds her footprints and flowers she wore in her hair. He sees signs of a fight between two warriors, but is unable to figure out what happened.

Rama sees the injured Jatayu nearby. Jatayu tells him how he fought Ravana (and was fatally injured) while trying to rescue Sita. He then directs them towards Lanka, where Ravana flew away with Sita.

Rama meets Shabari on his way. She sings, pleased to see him, and offers him berries.

After meeting Rama, Sugriva (the vanara king of Kishkindha) tells the story of how his brother Vali took his wife Rumā and his kingdom. He pleads with Rama for help, and offers his vanara force to search for Sita. Rama decides to help him by killing Vali.

After shooting Vali with an arrow, Vali asks Rama why. Rama replies that Vali should have forgiven Sugriva, since a younger brother is like one's own son. Rama justifies his interference by saying that he has King Bharata's permission to punish evil. He justifies attacking the unarmed Sugriva by comparing him with a deer that is killed by a hunter without warning.

Jambavan praises Hanuman for his ability to fly across the sea and find Sita in Ravana's Lanka. He describes Hanuman's childhood attempt to swallow the sun, and encourages him to fly high.

Hanuman flies to Lanka in search of Sita. He finally finds her in a garden, weeping and waiting for her husband to rescue her from Ravana's confinement.

Sita tells Ravana to let her go to her husband, promising him that Rama would forgive all his sins; if he does not let her leave, he will be killed by the archer Rama.

When Hanuman sees Sita, he gives her Rama's ring. She asks about him, and about when her husband will kill the demon Ravana.

Lava and Kusha describe Hanuman setting fire to Lanka.

To reach the island of Lanka, the vanaras build a bridge. The bridge stones float on the water when they are inscribed, "Sri Rama".

Ravana, with Vidyujivha's help, fools Sita by showing her Rama's bow and his broken head. Sita is grief-stricken.

After Sugriva attacks Ravana and loses the fight Rama scolds him for his impulsiveness, asking him to plan his attack next time.

Rama sends Angada to Ravana with his message, suggesting that if Ravana gives Sita away war will be averted.

Kusha and Lava describe the pitched battle between the vanara and the rakshasa.

Seeing the poor condition of Lanka in the battle, Ravana wakes Kumbhakarana from his long sleep and he then enters the battlefield.

Rama vainly tries many times to kill Ravana with his arrows. Helpless, he is unable to solve the mystery.

After Vibhishan reveals Ravana's secret Rama shoots him in the navel, killing him. Joyous at the demon's death, Gandharvas and Apsaras sing praise to Rama.

After the war ends, Rama frees Sita and they are reunited.

When people raise doubts about Sita's chastity, Sita proves herself in a trial by ordeal.

Rama returns to Ayodhya in a pushpaka vimana, and the citizens celebrate his arrival.

Hanuman asks for Rama's blessing and a place near his feet, saying that he would always be devoted to him.

Sita announces her pregnancy to Rama, telling him how happy she is and about the many things she wishes to do.

When some citizens still question Sita's chastity, Rama abandons her. She pleads with her brother-in-law, Lakshmana, to help her.

Sita takes shelter in the sage Valmiki's ashram, where she gives birth to twin sons: Kusha and Lava. Valmiki educates them, teaching them the Ramayan and asking them to spread the message.