Adhyatma Ramayana/Sanskrit Verse with English Translation

Adhyatma Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit work extolling the spiritual virtues of the story of Ramayana. It comprises around 4200 verses, is embedded in Brahm nda Purana and is considered to be authored by Ved Vyasa. Literally meaning 'Spiritual Ramayana', Adhyatma Ramayana is a poem spread across 4200 double verses, and considered a treatise of Vedantic philosophy. It is supposed to have provided Tulsidas (1511-1637 AD), the inspiration to write his seminal work Ramcharitmanas. It also inspired several later versions of the story of Rama like in Oriya, Bengali and Malayalam. Traditionally it is believed that Adhyathma Ramayana was narrated by Shiva to Parvati. The sacred verses are an extract from the latter portion of the Brahmanda Purana composed by the great Veda Vyasa. The verses are a dialogue between Lord Shankara (another name of Lord Shiva) and goddess and universal mother Parvati. This pious story was recited to the universal mother Parvathi by the Lord Shankara. This religious book contains the ideal characteristics of Lord Rama, the precept related to devotion, knowledge, dispassion, adoration and good conduct. The main context of the book based on spiritual and metaphysical knowledge. Mere reading of or listening to these verses enables one to attain self-realization. Valmiki's Ramayana, contains 24,000 verses and is a world famous epic justly called the very first of Sanskrit poems.The Adhyatma Ramayana, the spiritual version of the same Rama saga,though not so well known for poetic excellence, is none the less equally important in several other respects. In the compass of 3643 verses,the book gives the whole of Rama's story placed in a spiritual setting. Rama is not only depicted as a great personage,an exemplar of the highest ideals of dharma, but the very God,the divine Incarnate,revealing and fully remembering his spiritual glory. What the Bhagavata is to Krishna,the Adhyatma Ramayana is to Rama in revealing his spiritual excellence..