Baala Kanda Chapter1 continued

वार्यमाणः सुबहुशो मारीचेन स रावणः || १-१-५०
न विरोधो बलवता क्षमो रावण तेन ते |

"But Maareecha deterred Ravana telling him time and again, 'oh, Ravana, unpardonable will be your rivalry with that formidable Rama, formidable because fourteen thousand clansmen of ours could not triumph over him...' [1-1-50b, 51a]

अनादृत्य तु तत् वाक्यम् रावणः काल चोदितः || १-१-५१
जगाम सह मारीचः तस्य आश्रम पदम् तदा |

"Then heedless of Maareecha's advice and ushered by the time of his own doom, Ravana advanced to the threshold of Rama's hermitage along with Maareecha... [1-1-51b, 52a]

तेन मायाविना दूरम् अपवाह्य नृप आत्मजौ || १-१-५२
जहार भार्याम् रामस्य गृध्रम् हत्वा जटायुषम् |

"Ravana stole the wife of Rama, namely Seetha, by getting the princes Rama and Lakshmana distracted distantly from their hermitage through the trickster Maareecha, and after putting the eagle Jatayu, which came to Seetha's rescue, to sword... [1-1-52b, 53a]

गृध्रम् च निहतम् दृष्ट्वा हृताम् श्रुत्वा च मैथिलीम् || १-१-५३
राघवः शोक संतप्तो विललाप आकुल इन्द्रियः |

"On seeing the eagle Jatayu almost dead and on hearing from the same eagle that Maithili is stolen, seethed with anguish and senses frenzied Raghava bewailed... [1-1-53b, 54a]

Baala Kanda Chapter1

Divine sage Narada arrives at the hermitage of Sage Valmiki in order to enlighten him and keep him informed of his duty to author the epic poem Ramayana. In the dialogue between these two sages, Valmiki elicits from Narada about most virtuous person on earth, namely Rama. In this opening chapter, while eulogizing Rama Narada gives an outline of Ramayana, truly highlighting those aspects that are the keynotes in this epic, like virtuosity, generosity, morality, chastity and the like.

तपः स्वाध्याय निरताम् तपस्वी वाग्विदाम् वरम् |
नारदम् परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिः मुनि पुंगवम् || १-१-१

Sri Rama Stotram by Devendra

Bhajeham sada rama mindee varabham,
Bhavaranya dhavanalabhabhidanam,
Bhavani hruda bhavithananda roopam,
Bhava bhaava hethum bhavathi prapannam., 1

I pray always that Rama who has eyes of a blue lotus,
Who is the forest fire that destroys life’s sorrows,
Who is meditated in the form of pure happiness by Parvathi,
Who is the way out of sorrows of the world and saluted by all devas.

Rama Stotram by Jatayu

Aganitha guna maprameya madhyam,
Sakala jagat sthithi samyamathi hethum,
Uparamamaparam parathma bhootham,
Satatamaham pranothosmi Ramachandram., 1

I always salute that Ramachandra,
Who has immeasurable good qualities,
Who can never be completely known,
Who is the first among every one,
Who is the cause of all things in entire universe,
Who is inside and outside of everything,
And who is the first of all beings.

Hanuman Chalisa

Sri Guru charana saroja raj,
Nija mana mukura sudhar,
Varanau Raghuvara vimala yasa,
Jo dayaka phala char.

Having cleaned the mirror of my mind,
With the lotus like feet of my teacher,
I describe the unsullied fame of Lord Rama,
Which would give me the four fold wealth.

Budhi heena thanu jaani ke,
Sumeerou pavana kumar,
Bala budhi vidhya dehu moheem,
Harau klesa vikar.

Though I am one without any brain,
I place in my mind, the son of wind,
And pray to him earnestly to give me,
Wisdom, knowledge and strength,
And steal away from me all my miseries.

Saptha Rishi Ramayanam

1. Kasyapa (Bala Kandam)

Jatha Sri Raguu Nayako dasarathaan, munyaseama thatakaamHathwa,
Raksitha kaushika krathuvaraa, kruthvapyaa ahalyam shubaam,
Bunkthwaa rudhra sarasanam janakajaam panim graheethwa thatho,
Jithwaaordha dwani bhargawam punaragath sita sametha purim.

The lord of Raghu clan was born to Dasaratha, killed Thataka in the hermitage of the sage,
Protected the great sage Kaushika, later performed good to Ahalya,
Ate (destroyed) the bow of Shiva, Married the daughter of Janaka and later,
Won over Parasurama with terrible voice and came back to the city along with Sita.

Nama Ramayanam

Bala Kanda

Shudda Brahma Parathpara Rama
Kalathmaka parameshwara Rama
Seshathalpa suha nidhritha Rama
Barhamthyamara prarthitha Rama
Chanda kirana kala mandana Rama
Srimath Dasratha nandana Rama
Kausalya sukha vardhana Rama
Viswamithra priya dhana Rama
Gora Thatakaa gathaka Rama
Mareehadhi nipathaka Rama
Kaushika muka samrakshaka Rama
Srimad Ahalya uddharaka Rama
Gowthama muni sampoojitha Rama
Sura muni vara samsthutha Rama
Navika davidha mrudhu paada Rama
Mithila pura jana modhitha Rama
Triambaka karmuka banchaka Rama
Seetharpitha vara moulika Rama
Krutha vaivahika kauthuka Rama
Bhargava darpa vinaasaka Rama
Srimad Ayodhya palaka Rama

SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMA STOTRAM

श्री विष्णुसहस्रनामस्तोत्रम्

उपक्रमश्लोकाः  [not part of the original text]

शुक्लांबरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम्।

प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये॥१॥

यस्य द्विरदवक्त्राद्या पारिषद्या परश्शतम्।

विघ्नं निघ्नन्ति सततं विष्वक्सेनं तमाश्रये ॥२॥

व्यासं  वसिष्ठनप्तारं शक्तेः पौत्रमकल्मषम्।

पराशरात्मजं वन्दे शुकतातं तपोनिधिम्॥३॥

व्यासाय विष्णुरूपाय व्यासरूपाय विष्णवे।

नमो वै ब्रह्मनिधये वासिष्ठाय नमो नमः ॥४॥

GAYATRI RAMAYANAM

                                                     गायत्री रामायणम्

Valmiki Ramayana contains 24000 slokas divided into 7 Kandas, namely, Balakanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, Kishkindha kanda, Sundara kanda,  Yuddha kanda  and Uttara Kanda.  The first letter of the first sloka in each group of 1000 slokas is taken from the Gayatri Mahamantra (given below) in the same sequence namely, त, स, वि, तु, व  etc.,   

           तत्सवितुर्वरॆण्यं
           भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि
           धियॊ यॊ नः प्रचोदयात्   

The collection of these slokas constitutes the Gayatri Ramayana.      

Each sloka is identified below by the
      Kanda (1 for Balakanda, 2 forAyodhya Kanda etc),
      chapter number within the Kanda, 
      and serial number of the sloka within the chapter:

1. तपस्स्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम्।

   नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥  (१.१.१)

Sage Valmiki, ever engaged in austerities and reading of scriptures, asked Narada, foremost among Munis and a Master in the art of word craft (speech). 

[Note: Valmiki’s questions are expressed in the following slokas:

           कोन्वस्मिन् सांप्रतं लोके गुणवान् कश्च वीर्यवान्।

           धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च सत्यवाक्यो दृढव्रतः ॥   (१.१.२)

           चारित्रेण च को युक्तः सर्वभूतेषु को हितः ।

           विद्वान् कः कस्समर्थश्च कश्चैकप्रियदर्शनः॥(१.१.३)

           आत्मवान् को जितक्रोधः द्युतिमान् कोऽनसूयकः।

           कस्य बिभ्यति देवाश्च जातरोषस्य संयुगे ॥(१.१.४)

           एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे।

           महर्षे त्वं समर्थोऽसि ज्ञातुमेवं विधं नरं ॥(१.१.५)

O Naradamuni, Is there any man on this earth now who has all sterling qualities, who is valiant, who knows what is dharma, who acknowledges with gratitude whatever help is rendered to him, who always speaks the truth, who is firm on his commitments, whose conduct is unblemished, who thinks of the welfare of all beings, who is wise and competent, who has a pleasing appearance, who is rooted in his Atma, who has conquered anger, who gives out light, who is not envious and whom even the devas fear when he is afire with anger in a war?  I want to hear about him from you. I am keenly interested in this. You must be knowing someone with all these attributes.]               

Gajendra Moksha

गजेन्द्र मोक्ष Gajendra Moksha श्री शुक उवाच एवं व्यवसितो बुद्धया समाधाय मनो हृदि । जजाप परमं जाप्यं प्राग्जन्मन्यनुशिक्षितम् ।।1।। गजेन्द्र उवाच ओम् नमो भगवते तस्मै यत एतच्चिदात्मकम् । पुरुषायादिबीजाय परेशायाभिधीमहि ।।2।। यस्मिन्नदं यतश्चेदं येनेदं य इदं स्वयम् । योSस्मात्परस्माच्च परस्तं प्रपद्ये स्वयम्भुवम् ।।3।। यः स्वात्मनीदं निजमाययार्पितं क्वचिद्विभातं क्व च तत्तिरोहितम् अविद्धदृक् साक्ष्युभयं तदीक्षते स आत्ममूलोSवतु मां परात्परः ।।4।।

Ramayan Quiz

Question1 : In the epic Ramayana, which bird tried to prevent Ravana from carryingSitaaway?

1) Vibhishan 
2) Jatayu 
3) Garuda 
4) Bhulinga

Question2 : Ramayana, the great Indian epic, which every Indian child grows up learning about, is also the world’s longest poem, with over 3 million verses. Which city is described as the birthplace of the main protagonist, Lord Rama?

1) Kashi 
2) Dwaraka 
3) Ayodhya 
4) Varanasi

Question3: Lord Dattatreya is confluence of Bramha, Vishnu and who else?

1) Indra 
2) Maheshwara 
3) Ganesha 
4) Sai Baba

Question4: Vishnu is a dwarf in which of his avatars?

1) Vashishta 
2) Varaha 
3) Vamana 
4) Kurma

Question5: According to Ramayana who was Lakshmana’s mother?

1) Sumitra 
2) Kaikeyi 
3) Kausalya 
4) Panchali

Question6: What is the vehicle of Lord Kamadeva?

1) Parrot 
2) Owl 
3) Elephant 
4) Swan

Question7: Who is the king of wealth?

1) Agni 
2) Vayu 
3) Indra 
4) Kubera

Question8 : Which river did Lopamudra become?

1) Godavari 
2) Kaveri 
3) Narmada 
4) Tapti

Question 9: How wasSitarelated to Janaka?

1) He married her cousin 
2) She was his wife 
3) She was his foster-daughter 
4) He was her cousin

Question 10: What was the name of the woman who tried to become Rama’s wife, only to have her ears, nose, and breasts chopped off by Lakshmana?

1) Tara 
2) Ahalya 
3) Mandodari 
4) Kamavalli (Surpanakha)

Question 11: Whose bow did King Janaka make each ofSita’s suitors try to string?

1) Vishnu’s 
2) Janaka’s 
3) Lakshmana’s 
4) Shiva’s

Question 12: Who took Rama and Lakshmana on a quest at the beginning of ‘The Ramayana’?

1) Vali 
2) Sumanthra 
3) Viswamithra 
4) Jatayu

Question 13: What was the name of the King’s wife who persuaded him to make Bharatha king?

1) Kooni 
2) Kaikeyi 
3) Kausalya 
4) Sumithra

Question 14: Who did the King originally want to choose to replace him as king?

1) Kooni 
2) Lakshmana 
3) Rama 
4) Bharatha

Question 15: What is the name of Rama’s brother who goes with him into exile?

1) Bharatha 
2) Dasartha 
3) Ravana 
4) Lakshmana

Question 16 : Sitais the avatar of which spouse of Vishnu?

1) Durga 
2) Lakshmi 
3) Kali 
4) Krishna

Question 17: Rama is the avatar of what Hindu God?

1) Kooni 
2) Brahma 
3) Vishnu 
4) Shiva

Question 18: Around whose life is ‘The Ramayana’ centered?

1) Ravana 
2) Rama 
3) Dasaratha 
4) Viswamithra

Ayodhya kanda

ఆ అయోధ్యా నగరంలోని ప్రజలు రాముడికి పట్టాభిషేకం జెరుగుతుందని ఆనందంగా ఉన్నారు, అందరి ఇళ్ళముందు కళ్ళాపి జల్లారు. పట్టాభిషేకం అయ్యేసరికి రాత్రి అవుతుందని చెట్లని దీపాలతో అలంకరించారు. నటులు, గాయకులూ పాటలు పాడుతూ, నాట్యాలు చేస్తూ పరమ సంతోషంగా ఉన్నారు. ప్రజలందరూ మంచి వస్త్రాలు ధరించారు. అందరూ ఆనందంగా సంబరాలు చేసుకుంటున్నారు. కౌసల్య ఆనందానికి అవధులు లేకుండాపోయాయి. గొప్ప గొప్ప దానాలు చేసింది, శ్రీమహావిష్ణువుని ఆరాధన చేసింది. 

ముందురోజు రాత్రి రాముడు ఉపవాసం చేసిన వాడై దర్భల మీద పడుకున్నాడు. మరుసటి రోజూ ఉదయాన్నే నిద్రలేచి, స్నానం పూర్తిచేసుకొని, సంధ్యావందనం చేసుకొని బయలుదేరడానికి సిద్ధపడుతున్నాడు. ఆయన రథం ఎక్కుతుండగా చూడాలని రాముడి అంతఃపురం దెగ్గరకి వచ్చిన జానపదుల సంఖ్య ఎంతంటే, పదిహేను పక్కన పదిహేను సున్నాలు పెడితే ఎంతో, అంత. అప్పుడే అక్కడికి వచ్చిన వశిష్ఠుడు అంతమందిని చూసి ఆశ్చర్యపోయాడు. సముద్రములో పడవ వెళుతున్నప్పుడు నీళ్ళని ఎలా చీల్చుకొని వెళుతుందో, అలా వశిష్ఠుడు ఆ జనసమూహం మధ్యనుండి వెళ్ళాడు.