Valmiki Ramayanathe picture story
The whole story in 99 drawn panels across 7 parts, from the first shloka to the last. Under every picture is that episode in one line.
Meet the cast
Tap a character to read who they are.
Bala Kanda
The book of childhood. It opens with Narada and the krauncha birds, tells of Rama’s birth to King Dasharatha after a great yajna, his years with Maharshi Vishvamitra, and ends with the breaking of Shiva’s bow in Mithila and the four weddings.
From the textतपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम्। नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम्॥
The opening line of the poem: the ascetic Valmiki questioned Narada, foremost of sages, devoted to tapas and the study of the Veda, best of those who know speech.Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda 1.1
From the textमा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः। यत्क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम्॥
O hunter, may you find no rest for endless years, for you killed one of the pair of krauncha birds while it was lost in love.Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda 2.15
Ayodhya Kanda
The book of Ayodhya and the longest after the Yuddha Kanda. A coronation is announced and undone in a single night; Rama leaves for fourteen years in the forest, Dasharatha dies of grief, and Bharata refuses the throne and rules with Rama’s sandals.
From the textतद्ब्रूहि वचनं देवि राज्ञो यदभिकाङ्क्षितम्। करिष्ये प्रतिजाने च रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते॥
Rama to Kaikeyi: tell me, devi, what the king wishes. I will do it, I promise. Rama does not speak twice.Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda 18.30
From the textरामं दशरथं विद्धि मां विद्धि जनकात्मजाम्। अयोध्यामटवीं विद्धि गच्छ तात यथासुखम्॥
Sumitra to Lakshmana: know Rama as your father Dasharatha, know Janaka’s daughter as me, know the forest as Ayodhya. Go happily, my son.Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda 40.9
Aranya Kanda
The book of the forest. Ten quiet years among the rishis of the Dandaka end at Panchavati on the Godavari, where Shurpanakha’s insult brings war, a golden deer draws Rama away, and Ravana carries Sita off while the old vulture Jatayu gives his life to stop him.
From the textरामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानामिव वासवः॥
Maricha warning Ravana: Rama is dharma in bodily form, good, his strength is truth. He is king of the whole world, as Indra is of the devas.Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kanda 37.13
Kishkindha Kanda
The book of the vanara kingdom. At Pampa Rama meets Hanuman and makes friendship with the exiled Sugriva, kills Vali, waits out the rains, and sends the vanaras to every corner of the earth; the southern party learns from Sampati that Sita is in Lanka.
From the textनाहं जानामि केयूरे नाहं जानामि कुण्डले। नूपुरे त्वभिजानामि नित्यं पादाभिवन्दनात्॥
Lakshmana to Rama: I do not know these armlets, I do not know these earrings. The anklets I know, from bowing at her feet every day.Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda 6.22–23
Sundara Kanda
Hanuman leaps a hundred yojanas of ocean, finds Sita in Ravana’s Ashoka grove and gives her Rama’s ring. He then shakes Lanka to its roots, sets it ablaze with his own burning tail and carries Sita’s chudamani back to Rama.
From the textजयत्यतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः। राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः॥
Victory to Rama of surpassing strength, and to mighty Lakshmana! Victory to King Sugriva, protected by Raghava!Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kanda 42.33 (Gita Press numbering)
From the textदासोऽहं कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। हनुमान् शत्रुसैन्यानां निहन्ता मारुतात्मजः॥
I am the servant of Rama, lord of Kosala, whose deeds are done without strain. I am Hanuman, son of the Wind, destroyer of enemy armies.Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kanda 42.34 (Gita Press numbering)
Yuddha Kanda
The longest kanda: Rama receives Vibhishana, bridges the sea and lays siege to Lanka. Kumbhakarna, Indrajit and at last Ravana fall; Sita comes through the fire and Rama returns to Ayodhya to be crowned.
From the textसकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद्व्रतं मम॥
To one who comes to me for refuge even once, and asks, saying, I am yours, I give freedom from fear of all beings. This is my vow.Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda 18.33 (Gita Press numbering)
Uttara Kanda
The kanda of what came after: the rishis tell Rama the past of Ravana and Hanuman, and Rama’s reign is told to its end. Sita goes to Valmiki’s ashrama, Lava and Kusha are born and sing this very Ramayana before their father, Sita returns into the Earth, and Rama enters the Sarayu.
From the textयावद्रामकथां वीर श्रोष्येऽहं पृथिवीतले। तावच्छरीरे वत्स्यन्तु मम प्राणा न संशयः॥
O hero, for as long as I shall hear the katha of Rama upon this earth, so long may my life remain in this body; of this there is no doubt.Valmiki Ramayana, Uttara Kanda 39.16 (Baroda Critical Edition)
इति
The pictures are drawn for this site to help children and new readers follow the story; they are illustrations, not old art. The words under each picture summarise the episode, and the verses are quoted from the text with their reference.