Watch this episode as an animated video: youtube.com/watch?v=H2N7zg8ClTg
Key ideas and notes: bsgknowledge.com/books/valmiki-ramayana-books-1-3

Valmiki Ramayana, Books 1–3: the real story as Valmiki told it, in order, with the book and canto shown for every surprise.

You have met this story on TV and at festivals. This is its source: the first three books of Valmiki's poem, told in order. One thread runs through them. A man keeps his word, and every promise he keeps has a price. It ends at an empty hut, with twelve months running out.

Ramayana, in Valmiki's Words. Episode 2, Part 1 of 2 (Books I–III). Part 2 (Books IV–VII) follows in early November.

Chapters:
0:00 The question and the bird (Book 1)
1:44 Four sons and a blind promise (Book 1)
4:15 The sage's road (Book 1)
6:08 The bow (Book 1)
8:01 Two boons (Book 2)
10:58 The road out (Book 2)
14:04 Chitrakuta (Book 2)
17:38 A vow in the forest (Book 3)
20:00 The golden deer (Book 3)
22:42 The empty hut (Book 3)
25:28 Twelve months (close)

The book and canto for every event, in Gita Press numbering via ramayana.info:
Opening: 1.1.2; 1.2.15; 1.2.18
Ch 1, Four sons: 1.14.1; 1.16; 1.18.10–13; 1.18.56; 1.20.2–3; 1.21.8
Ch 2, The sage's road: 1.30.17; 1.48.29–30; 1.49.16–17; 1.57–60
Ch 3, The bow: 1.66.13–14; 1.66.22; 1.67.4; 1.67.16–17; 1.74–76; 1.77
Ch 4, Two boons: 2.7.31, .35; 2.9.28; 2.11.3, .7; 2.11.26; 2.12–13; 2.14.3 and .8 (tr. BSG Knowledge); 2.18.30
Ch 5, The road out: 2.20.29, .33; 2.21.12; 2.22.3; 2.25.40; 2.34.26 and .28 (tr. BSG Knowledge); 2.40.46; 2.52; 2.56; 2.57.9; 2.62.7; 2.64
Ch 6, Chitrakuta: 2.66.15; 2.103; 2.106.31; 2.107.3, .5–7; 2.108.3; 2.109.13, .17; 2.112.25; 2.115
Ch 7, A vow in the forest: 3.6.19; 3.10.17–19; 3.11.27; 3.22.22; 3.33.12
Ch 8, The golden deer: 3.31; 3.34.5; 3.36.18; 3.37–41; 3.43; 3.44–45; 3.54.1–2; 3.56.24–25
Ch 9, The empty hut: 3.57; 3.60.3–7; 3.60.12, .17; 3.64.71; 3.65.9; 3.69–73; 3.74.17; 3.75
Close: Brahma's promise 1.2.36; the twelve months 3.56.24–25

Text: Valmiki Ramayana, with book, canto and verse numbers from the Gita Press edition, via ramayana.info. English verse: Ralph T. H. Griffith's translation (1870–74, public domain). Lines marked tr. BSG Knowledge are our own rendering.

Tradition credits the whole Ramayana to Valmiki. Some scholars think Book 1 and Book 7 were added later. This series follows the traditional text. It says clearly when the text is speaking, and when a part is in doubt. Many traditions tell the Ramayana, and many people hold Rama sacred. This series reads one text, Valmiki's. It does not rank other tellings or argue for or against any belief.

Series playlist: Ramayana, in Valmiki's Words: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJKLB3WfvseM

Books we recommend (Amazon): link.amazon/B0hvq5WFK

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