Courtesy:http://prramamurthy1931.blogspot.in/...-ramayana.html


QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM VALMIKI RAMAYANA


Ramayana and Mahabharata are the two epics which have so mingled with the collective conscience of our people that, to this day, the ideas and values in them continue to influence our lives. Ramayana is considered the Adi Kavya,, the first ever epic poem written. Maharshi Valmiki is known as the Adi Kavi, the first ever poet in the history of Sanskrit literature, nay, the history of world literature.


Ramayana pictures the whole gamut of life of an individual. It throws light on his/her duties and responsibilities in various roles as father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, friend, master, servant, teacher and so on. Valmiki presents Rama as the ideal man and Sita as the ideal woman. However, later versions of Ramayana like Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, Kamba Ramayanam in Tamil by poet Kamban, Adhyatma Ramayana in Malayalam by poet Ezuthachan and Ranganatha Ramayana in Telugu present Rama as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.


The quotes selected and presented here are the words of the different characters of this great epic uttered in different situations. The ideas and values contained in them form part of what is called sanatana dharma and are eternally true for all ges. In these times of social upheaval it is all the more necessary for us to get back to these fundamental principles of life and living which we have almost forgotten in the rat race for material gains.




आहुः सत्यं हि परमं धर्मं धर्मविदो जनाः


Aahuh satyam hi paramam dharmam dharmavido janaah
2.14.3

Those who have knowledge of dharma say that Truth is the highest dharma


[Context: Dasaratha had promised three boons to Kaikeyi when she saved his life during one of those battles he fought on the side of the Devas. When the coronation of Rama is announced, Kaikeyi asks for two of the boons from Dasaratha. She wants Bharata to be installed as the King and Rama to be sent to the forest for fourteen years. When Dasaratha was in a dilemma, Kaikeyi says that Truth is the highest dharma, implying that Dasaratha should keep his promise as otherwise he will be guilty of transgressing dharma.]