Vani Darshan presents
The Ramayana, as Valmiki sang it.
All 20,169 verses in Sanskrit with English, in order, from the first question to Rama's coronation. Bala Kanda also comes with Hindi, commentary and a painting for every scene.
Word for word
Every verse. In order. None skipped.
The Sanskrit is the southern text printed by Gita Press, checked line by line against two printed editions. Where a verse had gone missing from the digital text, it was put back from print.
How you read
The painting holds. The verses move.
One verse at a time: the Sanskrit, then Hindi, then English, with a short commentary one tap away. The painting stays for as long as its scene lasts.
Scene by scene
Bala Kanda, painted.
165 paintings so far, one for each scene, in a modern anime style. The other five books are next.
Diwali · 8 November
This Diwali, read the homecoming.
Diwali remembers Rama's return to Ayodhya. Valmiki tells it at the close of Yuddha Kanda: Bharata gives back the kingdom, the city is decorated, and Rama is crowned with Sita beside him.
ततः स प्रयतो वृद्धो वसिष्ठो ब्राह्मणैः सह ।
रामं रत्नमये पीठे ससीतं संन्यवेशयत् ॥
Then aged Vasishtha, purified, with the brahmins, seated Rama with Sita on a jewelled seat.
Yuddha Kanda 6.128.59
Valmiki Ramayana · the series
Next, the paintings move.
An animated series made scene by scene from the verses, in the same style. Nothing invented, nothing left out.
Go deeper
The stories behind the verses.
Longer articles on the questions readers ask, written from the text and always marked as commentary.
An epic that begins with a question
Why the Ramayana opens with a list of virtues, not a battle.
Commentary, not scripture
The Krauncha birds and the first shloka
How grief over a hunted bird became the first verse of poetry.
Commentary, not scripture
The descent of the Ganga
Why a king's austerity brought a river down from heaven.
Commentary, not scripture
Ahalya's story
What the verses actually say about Indra, Gautama and Ahalya.
Commentary, not scriptureBegin
From Valmiki's question to Rama's crown, every verse.
Part of Vani Darshan
Vani Darshan presents India's scriptures exactly as they were written. The Ramayana is the first title. More follow, each done completely.
