(Baal Ramayana is Ramayan story in short. It is the story of Rama as narrated by Narad Muni to Valmiki Rishi).
It was a regular morning. Everyone at Valmiki Ashram awoke in the early hours and started their day as usual when something unexpected happened. A happy unexpected. Narad Muni, son of Brahma, respected devotee of Lord Vishnu and News Broadcaster of Satyug arrived at the Ashram. Everyone was excited not only because he is an excellent teacher but because he always brings The Best News. After the customary welcome, Rishi Valmiki asked Narad Muni if in all his travels he had found a Purushottam person. A man with all the good qualities that we respect.
Narad Muni smiled and replied, “Yes, Rishivar, I do! His name is Rama of Ishvaku dynasty. He is everything you say and more!”. Prince Rama’s father, King Dasharatha, announced him as the Yuvraaj (heir apparent to the throne) as he was not only the oldest but also best suited to be a king owing to his exceptional qualities. But Dashrath’s second wife, Queen Kaikeyi, changed that plan. The king owed her a Vachana (a promise) so she demanded Rama’s exile for 14 years and enthronement of her son Bharat. The king, bound by his promise, exiled his favorite son Rama to the forest. Rama agreed to leave to help his father keep his promise. He didn’t go alone though, his beloved brother Lakshman and his wife Sita went with him as well. As they left Ayodhya, hundreds of people followed them up-to Shrungiberapur. There the 3 met King Guha, sent back their charioteer and crossed river Ganga. After a long journey, they settled down in Chitrakoota mountain, as suggested by Bharadwaja Rishi.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck in Ayodhya as King Dasharatha passed away from a broken heart. Upon his death, ministers requested Prince Bharat to accept the kingdom. Bharat, however, refused and traveled to Chitrakoota to bring back Rama, Lakshman and Sita. He urged Rama to return and take his rightful throne. Rama, however, refused, because coming back early would break King Dasharatha’s promise to Kaikeyi. Bharata then returned home with Rama’s sandals, placed them on the throne, and declared that Rama was the true king. He then ruled the kingdom from Nandigram city as a caretaker.
After Bharata left, Rama left his hut in Chitrakoota and entered Dandak forest. It was an extremely dangerous place, full of dangerous animals & Rakshasas. He knew that no one from Ayodhya would dare look for him there. Soon upon entering, they killed Rakshas Viradh, who tried to snatch Sita. While in Dandakavan, they also met Rishi Sarabhanga, Sutikshna and Agastya. Agastya Rishi gave Rama a sword, a bow, and quivers of never-ending arrows. Rishi Sarabhanga invited them to stay at his ashram. The trio happily accepted the invitation. While Rama was at the ashram, all the sages living in Dandak forest pleaded with Rama to save them by killing Rakshasas in that area. Rama obliged them and killed many Rakshasas.
One day, a Rakshasi (demoness) called Surpankha saw Rama and asked him to marry her. She then tried killing Sita but Laxman cut off her ears and nose. Thereafter, she made Khara, Trisira, and Dushana to attack Rama. Rama easily destroyed them and their armies. When Ravana heard about the slaughter of his fellow Rakshasas, he became furious and sought Rakshas Marich’s help in kidnapping Sita. Marich tried to stop Ravana from picking a fight with Rama, but Ravana did not listen.
As he fled with Sita in his clutches, Jatayu, the vulture, tried stopping him but Ravana killed Jatayu. When Ram and Lakshman found Sita missing, they began looking for her everywhere, with no luck. During the search, they found dying Jatayu, who told them he saw Sita being carried away forcibly. Rama was utterly distressed on hearing this and continued his search after completing Jatayu’s funeral rites. As they wandered, they came across and killed Rakshasa Kabandha and met Shabari thereafter. Continuing their search, they reached the banks of Pampa where they met Hanuman, who advised them to befriend Sugriva.
Rama and Sugriva shared their stories with each other. They entered a pact wherein Rama agreed to kill King Vali so Sugriva could get his kingdom back. In turn, Sugriva promised to use all his resources to find Sita. However, Sugriva was unsure if Rama could defeat Vali. Therefore, Sri Rama proved his valor by kicking the mountain like skeleton of Dundubhi Rakshas with his toe. It was sent flying for 80 miles. He also shot one arrow piercing 7 trees, a mountain and the Rasatala. Soon after, Sugriva challenged Vali into a combat and as they fought, Rama killed Vali with a single arrow and coronated Sugriva as the king of Kishkindha. Sugriva fulfilled his promise by dispatching his forces in all directions in search of Sita.
One team came across Sampathi, the great vulture. At his suggestion, Hanuman leaped over the ocean, extending over a hundred yojanas. After some searching, he found Sita being held captive in the Ashoka Garden and meditating on Rama. He then presented her Rama’s ring to gain her trust and delivered Rama’s message to her. He consoled her and let her know of Rama’s efforts to find and rescue her. Then he took leave of Sita and created havoc in Lanka by crushing the arched gate of Ashok Garden, destroying trees and many structures. In the face off that ensued, he killed 5 commanders & 7 sons of the counselors. He then allowed himself to be captured and restrained in ropes so he could see Ravana. Once he had achieved that goal, he set fires in Lanka everywhere except the Ashok Garden, informed Sita of all he had done, and returned to Rama to deliver the good news. Rama lost no time in reaching the ocean once Hanuman gave him the news. The Samudra, lord of rivers, (afraid of Rama’s anger) appeared in his own form, and advised him to build a bridge with the help of Nala. Rama entered the city of Lanka through that bridge, killed Ravana in the battle, and recovered Sita. Though he had rescued Sita, accepting his wife after she had stayed in another’s home was embarrassing for him.
He spoke harsh words about her in the assembly. Sita, incapable of enduring such words, entered fire but when fire did not burn her, proving her sinless. Everyone rejoiced at the reunion of Rama and Sita. By then, 14 years of exile had ended. Having killed Ravana, Rama had earned the blessings of the devatas. Having got a boon from them, he could revive all Vanaras who fell in battle. He then coronated Vibhishana (Ravana’s brother) as Lanka’s king and set out for Ayodhya in the pushpak vimaan (aerial vehicle). He stationed himself at Rishi Bharadwaj’s ashram and sent Hanuman as a messenger to Bharata. Soon after that, he, Laxman, Sita and Sugriva departed to Nandigram, where he met his brothers and reclaimed the throne.
Everyone celebrated the coronation of Rama. Under his rule, people followed the path of righteousness. There was no fear of sufferings or agonies, diseases or famine. All the cities and villages were affluent and people lived happily.
