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Ek shloki Ramayana (एक श्लोकी रामायण)

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What is the story of the Ramayana?

The Ramayana is a living text. Adikavi Valmiki composed the Ramayana in Sanskrit and since then there have been innumerable retellings and renderings of the Ramkatha across time and space. The tradition continues.

Know more about the Ramayana and Ramakatha

Have you ever asked – What is the nucleus of the story on which this ever-expanding glorious Indian Ramkatha tradition is based? If yes, your journey into the world of Sita and Rama can begin with what is commonly referred to as the Ek shloki Ramayana (एक श्लोकी रामायण) – the story of the journey of Ram in a single verse.

एक श्लोकी रामायण (संस्कृत में)

आदौ रामतपोवनादिगमनं हत्वा मृगं काञ्चनं,

वैदेहीहरणं जटायुमरणं सुग्रीवसम्भाषणम्‌।

बालीनिग्रहणं समुद्रतरणं लंकापुरीदाहनं,

पश्चाद्रावणकुम्भकर्णहननमेतद्धि रामायणम्‌॥

The Ek shloki Ramayana (in English)

In ancient times, Rama went to the forest. (He) hunted a golden deer. Vaidehi (Sita) was abducted. Jatayu died. (Rama) met and spoke to Sugreeva. Bali was killed. (Hanumana) crossed the sea. The city of Lanka was reduced to ashes. Ravana and Kumbhakaran were defeated and they met their end. This is the Ramayana.

एक श्लोकी रामायण (हिन्दी में)

आदि काल में, राम वन में रहने गये| (उन्होंने) एक स्वर्ण मृग का शिकार किया| वैदेही (सीता) का हरण हुआ | जटायु की मृत्यु हो गयी | (राम) और सुग्रीव की सन्धि  हुई | बालि का अन्त हुआ | (हनुमान) समुद्र लांघ गये | लंका पुरी जल कर ख़ाक हो गयी | रावण और कुम्भकरण पराजित हो गये और उनका अन्त हुआ| यही रामायण है|

 

Garima Chaudhry - Founder and Editor - CulturalSamvaad.com

Garima Chaudhry

Garima Chaudhry is the Founder and Editor of Cultural Samvaad and Founder and Managing Partner of Hiranya Growth Partners LLP, a boutique consulting and content advisory firm based in Mumbai.

A scholar-practitioner with deep roots in Indic Studies, Garima has been a visiting faculty member for over a decade at Mumbai University and KJ Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies, among other institutions. She has taught diploma, graduate and post-graduate courses in Development of Religious Thought in India, Hindu Thought, Bhartiya Purakatha, Buddhism and Comparative Mythology. She regularly conducts immersive workshops on India's dharmic traditions, civilisational heritage, enduring values, stories and symbols for diverse cohorts across institutions and organisations.

Garima brings over 25 years of leadership experience across financial services, digital payments, eCommerce, education and media. She began her career as a TAS Officer with the Tata Group, working across functions and sectors including FMCG and Power. At Citibank, she held progressive leadership roles culminating as Head of Strategy, Citi South Asia — working with the CEO, South Asia and Asia Pacific office on near and long-term strategic initiatives. Garima earlier led the business team for Digital Marketing, ePayments and eCommerce across India, building one of the country's early digital payment platforms. As Director at Capital18 (Network18), she led investment transactions and managed portfolio companies across focus sectors. She also served as CEO of GreyCells18 (Topperlearning and Topper TV), where she turned around and scaled the company to a 150-member team and built one of India's foremost supplementary education platforms.

Garima holds an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur and a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Statistics from DAV College, Kanpur.Her scholarly interest in India's ancient संस्कृति — culture — and her conviction that a native idiom rooted in India's own ethos is essential to equitable growth and sustainable change, is the founding impulse behind Cultural Samvaad.

2 comments

  • Fantastic! The entire story of Ramayan in one verse(shloka) containing full meaning and soul(saar) is commendable. This happens to be the mirror of Ramayan. This is the beauty of our revered Scripture. Cultural Samvaad is a commendable attempt to explore and enrich our heritage.
    My best wishes!