1.1.1 The seven Kandas and the story line

Explained

Bala Kanda.

• Dasharatha performs an Ashvamedha and then the Putrakameshti led by sage Rishyashringa (Rushyasrunga in APPSC spelling). The Yajnapurusha rises from the fire with payasa; the three queens share it.
• Births: Rama to Kausalya, Bharata to Kaikeyi, Lakshmana and Shatrughna (twins) to Sumitra.
• Vishwamitra asks for Rama because Maricha and Subahu spoil his yagna; Dasharatha agrees on Vasishtha's advice. On the Sarayu bank Vishwamitra teaches Rama the Bala and Atibala vidyas (no hunger, thirst or fatigue).
• Rama kills Tataka on Vishwamitra's order; pleased, the sage gives him many divine astras with the mantras to use and withdraw them.
• At Siddhashrama (once Vamana's hermitage): Maricha thrown 100 yojanas into the sea by the Manavastra (a "cool arrow" that does not kill), Subahu killed by the Agneyastra, the rest driven off by the Vayavyastra.
• Stories on the way: Vishwamitra's own family (on the Shona), the birth of Kumaraswamy (Shiva's tejas, nursed by the six Krittikas), Gangavataranam, the churning of the ocean (at Vishala), and Ahalya, freed when Rama enters Gautama's ashrama.
• At Mithila Rama breaks Shiva's bow. The four weddings are held under Uttara Phalguni nakshatra.
• On the way home Parashurama challenges Rama; Rama strings the bow of Vishnu, and Parashurama goes to Mahendragiri for tapas.
• Order: Tataka → Siddhashrama → Ahalya → Shiva's bow → Parashurama.

Ayodhya Kanda.

• The coronation is fixed for Pushyami in Chaitra. Manthara turns Kaikeyi, who sulks in the Kopagriha.
• Kaikeyi claims the two boons Dasharatha gave her in the war of gods and asuras (against Shambara): Bharata crowned, Rama exiled for 14 years.
• Rama gives his ornaments to Suyajna; the three wear bark cloth. Sumantra drives them; the first night is on the Tamasa.
• Guha, Nishada king of Shringaverapura, ferries them over the Ganga; Sumantra is sent back. They meet Bharadvaja at Prayaga, cross the Yamuna on a raft and settle at Chitrakuta.
• Dasharatha dies of grief, recalling the curse of the blind parents of the boy he once shot by sound (shabdavedhi).
• Bharata, called back from Girivraja (Kekaya), refuses the throne. Lakshmana sees his Kovidara flag and suspects an attack; Rama trusts Bharata. Rama offers tarpana in the Mandakini.
• Bharata takes Rama's padukas and rules from Nandigrama for 14 years.
• Kanda ends at Atri's ashram, where Anasuya gives Sita ornaments and an unguent.

Aranya Kanda.

• In Dandakaranya Rama kills Viradha (the gandharva Tumburu, cursed by Kubera), meets Sharabhanga (who then enters fire), Sutikshna and Agastya. Agastya gives him the Vaishnava bow made by Vishwakarma, quivers and a sword, and sends him to Panchavati.
• Jatayu, Dasharatha's friend, offers to guard Sita. Shurpanakha rushes at Sita; Lakshmana cuts off her nose and ears.
• Khara sends 14 rakshasas (killed with 14 arrows), then comes with Dushana, Trishira and 14,000; Rama alone kills them at Janasthana.
• Maricha, who calls Rama Ramo vigrahavan dharmah, becomes the golden deer. Ravana, dressed as a mendicant, carries Sita off; she drops her ornaments among vanaras on a hill. Jatayu fights, loses his wings and dies after telling Rama.
• Kabandha, freed, sends Rama to Sugriva. Shabari, disciple of Matanga, receives Rama near Pampa.

Kishkindha Kanda.

• Hanuman, disguised as a brahmachari, meets Rama at Rishyamuka; Rama says only one versed in the Vedas and grammar could speak so well. Rama and Sugriva swear friendship before Agni.
• Rama kicks away Dundubhi's carcass and pierces seven sala trees with one arrow. In the first duel the brothers look alike; a Gajapushpi creeper marks Sugriva for the second, and Rama kills Vali from behind a tree.
• Sugriva is crowned, Angada becomes yuvaraja. Rama spends four rainy months on Prasravana hill; Tara calms the angry Lakshmana.
• Search parties, with a one-month deadline:

• Rama gives Hanuman his ring. In the Rikshabila cave the ascetic Swayamprabha feeds the southern party. Facing a fast unto death, they meet Sampati, Jatayu's elder brother, who says Sita is in Lanka, 100 yojanas away.
• Jambavan reminds Hanuman of his power; Hanuman climbs Mahendra.

Sundara Kanda.

• Over the sea, in order: Mainaka offers rest; Surasa, mother of the nagas, tests him; he kills Simhika, who seizes shadows; he lands on Trikuta and subdues Lankini, guardian of Lanka.
• From a shimshupa tree in the Ashoka vana he sees Sita. Ravana gives her two months; Trijata tells her dream of Ravana's fall.
• Hanuman gives Rama's ring and takes her chudamani and the Kakasura story as tokens; she refuses to be carried away.
• He wrecks the garden, kills Jambumali and Akshakumara, and lets Indrajit's Brahmastra bind him out of respect for it and to meet Ravana. Vibhishana objects to killing an envoy, so his tail is set on fire; he burns Lanka, sparing Vibhishana's house.
• He leaps back from Arishta to Mahendra. The vanaras raid Sugriva's Madhuvana (guard Dadhimukha). He tells Rama "Drishta Devi" (I have seen Sita), and Rama embraces him.

Yuddha Kanda.

• Vibhishana leaves Ravana with four followers and surrenders (sharanagati); Rama anoints him king of Lanka with sea water.
• After three nights the ocean god appears. Nala (son of Vishwakarma) builds the setu, 100 yojanas long and 10 wide, in five days (14, 20, 21, 22, 23 yojanas a day).
• Shuka and Sarana spy on the army. Angada goes as envoy and breaks the top of Ravana's tower.
• Vidyujjihva makes an illusory head of Rama; Sarama, Vibhishana's wife, tells Sita it is maya. Malyavan advises peace.
• The gates of Lanka:

• Indrajit binds the brothers with the Nagapasha; Garuda frees them. In his first duel Ravana loses chariot and crown, and Rama lets him go to rest.
• Kumbhakarna, woken, carries off Sugriva, who bites his ears and nose and escapes; Rama kills him with the Aindrastra.
• Hanuman brings the herb mountain from the Himalayas for four herbs: Mritasanjivani, Vishalyakarani, Sauvarnakarani, Sandhanakarani (APPSC keyed it Dronagiri).
• Lakshmana kills Indrajit at Nikumbhila before his yaga ends. Ravana's Shakti fells Lakshmana; Sushena revives him.
• Agastya teaches Rama the Aditya Hridayam; Rama chants it three times. Indra sends his chariot with Matali, who advises the Brahmastra; it pierces Ravana's heart.
• Vibhishana performs Ravana's rites and is crowned. Sita passes the Agni pariksha. Indra revives the dead vanaras. The Pushpaka halts at Bharadvaja's ashram; Hanuman goes ahead to Bharata at Nandigrama.
• Pattabhishekam by Vasishtha. Sita gives Hanuman her pearl necklace. Lakshmana declines, so Bharata becomes yuvaraja.

Uttara Kanda.

• Agastya tells the origins of Ravana and Hanuman's boyhood.
• Bhadra reports the people's gossip; Lakshmana leaves the pregnant Sita on the Ganga bank; Valmiki shelters her and Lava and Kusha are born. Shatrughna kills Lavanasura and founds Madhura.
• Rama wants a Rajasuya; Bharata warns it means war, Lakshmana suggests the Ashvamedha. It is held at Naimisharanya on the Gomati. The twins sing the Ramayana, 20 sargas a day. Sita, called to swear her purity, is taken by Bhudevi.
• Kala (Time), sent by Brahma, meets Rama alone on pain of death; Durvasa threatens to curse the Ikshvakus, so Lakshmana interrupts. Banished on Vasishtha's advice, he gives up his body by yoga on the Sarayu.
• Kusha gets Kushavati, Lava gets Shravasti. Hanuman, Mainda and Dvivida are blessed to live long. Rama enters the Sarayu and returns to his Vishnu form; Sugriva merges into the Sun.

Weapons and boons at a glance.

The Rama story in other languages.