Selected Slokas from the Srimad-Ramayanam

 

          The following verses are selected from the Srimad Ramayanam of Sri Valmiki.  According to Indian tradition, Ramayanam is the first samskrit poem (Aadi-Kaavyam) and Valmiki is the first poet (Aadi-Kavi).  Valmiki is generally placed by modern historians about the 3^rd B.C.  The Ramayanam is one of the two epics, the other being the Mahabharatam.

          The Ramayanam is acclaimed as one of the top-ranking poems in Sanskrit literature. Some critics consider it to be the best of Sanskrit poems.

1.     असङ्कल्पितमेवेह यदकस्मात्प्रवर्तते । निवर्त्यारम्भमारब्धं ननु दैवस्य कर्म तत् ।।

Asankalpitameveha yadakasmat pravartate l

Nivarthyarambhamaarabdham nanu daivasya karma thath ll

                                                                   - Ayodhya.Kaan:22-24

These are the words of Rama to Lakshmana, when the latter expressed his unhappiness over Rama’s going to the forest-

“Whatever undertaking gets started abruptly without any premeditation causing abandonment of the one that is already taken up, that indeed is the work of Providence.”

2.     शोको नाशयते धैर्यं शोको नोशयते श्रुतम्।शोको नोशयते सर्वं नास्ति शोकसमो रिपुः ।।

Soko naasayathe Dhairyam Soko naasayathe srutham  l

Soko naasayathe sarvam Naasthi Sokasamo RipuH  ll

                                                                   - Ayodhya.Kaan: 62-15

These words are spoken by Kausaly to Dasaratha- Grief destroys courage; grief destroys erudition; grief destroys everything; there is no emeny comparable to grief.