#0 Ramayana Introduction

The deeds of Rama that will be described in the sacred poem.

Sage Valmiki creates the metrical form for the story.

Shri Narada relates to Valmiki the story of Rama.

Rishi Valmiki gave expression to this unique experience, in Sanskrit verse, in the 24,000 slokas (48,000 lines) known as the Ramayana. The sloka is a specific metre which the poet himself discovered, as is told in a beautiful passage in the first book. The poem is divided into seven books (Kanda) of unequal length, which are summarized in the chapter.