Nārada Laghu Rāmāyaṇa Stotra

The Nārada Laghu Rāmāyaṇa Stotra is a short Rāmāyaṇa of one hundred verses. Laghu means small or short. Nārada recited it to Vālmīki at the very start of the Manohara Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, in Chapter 1. It is the maṅgalācaraṇa (auspicious opening) of that khaṇḍa. It is also a complete hymn on its own, which tells the whole course of Bhagavān Rāma’s story in a few verses.

What the hundred verses cover

The hundred verses tell the story in this order:

• The Ikshvāku line and the glory of Daśaratha’s line.
• The Putrakāmeshṭi yajña and the birth of Rāma, Bharata, Lakshmaṇa and Śatrughna.
• Viśvāmitra’s request, the journey to the forest, the slaying of Tāḍakā, and the guarding of the yajña at Siddhāśrama.
• The svayaṃvara (bride’s choice) at Mithilā, the lifting of Bhagavān Śiva’s bow, and the marriage with Sītā.
• The preparations for the coronation, the varas (boons) of Kaikeyī, and the exile.
• The stay in the forest: Viradha, Agastya and Pañchavaṭī.
• Rāvaṇa’s carrying off of Sītā, Jaṭāyu’s offering of his life, and Kabandha and Śabarī.
• The friendship with the vānaras, and the birth and qualities of Hanumān.
• The journey to Laṅkā, Sītā being found, and the setu (bridge).
• The great battle, the fall of Rāvaṇa, and Sītā’s trial by fire.
• The return to Ayodhyā, the coronation and Rāmarājya (the rule of Rāma).

Other short Rāmāyaṇas

The Bāla Kāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa opens with a first sarga in which Nārada tells Vālmīki the story of the most virtuous man, in one hundred verses. The Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇa also has short summaries of the story.

Sources

• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Manohara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 1