रा
Lord Rama
The Child & Bridegroom
Prince of Ayodhya, slayer of Tadaka, breaker of Shiva's bow — the epic's ideal man from his earliest days.
॥ श्री राम ॥
The Book of Childhood — Kanda 1 of the 24,000-shloka Ramayana
Kanda 1 of 7
बालकाण्ड · The Beginning
Bala Kanda is the fountain-head of the entire epic. It opens with the great sage Valmiki questioning Narada — "Is there a perfect man alive?" — and receiving the story of Rama that Narada narrates as the answer. Deeply moved by the loss of a krauncha crane pair, Valmiki utters the first shloka of world poetry.
Here is laid the sacred foundation: the Putrakameshti yajna performed by King Dasharatha, the divine payasam, and the birth of the four princes. The boy Rama, guided by the hermit Vishwamitra, protects the sacrificial fires, slays the tyrant of the woods Tadaka, sets the demon Maricha flying with a single arrow, and frees the cursed Lady Ahalya. At Mithila he breaks the bow of Shiva itself and wins the hand of Sita, daughter of Janaka.
By its close, we have witnessed the marriages of the four brothers, the meeting with the axe-bearing Parashurama, and a kingdom at peace — all before the long road of exile begins. It is the Kanda of origin — of beginnings so perfect that they frame the whole destiny of Ayodhya.
The Narrative
Moved by the death of a krauncha crane pair, Valmiki utters the first verse of the epic — the immortal mā niṣāda — and resolves to compose the Ramayana.
Rishyashringa performs the Putrakameshti yajna for Dasharatha; the divine payasam is shared, and Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra give birth to Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
The sage takes the young princes to guard his sacrifice. Rama slays the demoness Tadaka, and banishes Maricha to the far sea with a single leaf-arrow.
On the road to Mithila, Rama's footstep frees Ahalya from her long curse and gives the sage Gautama his peace again.
At Sita's swayamvar, Rama alone strings and breaks the great bow of Shiva, winning Sita's hand. Janaka gives Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutakirti to Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna.
On the return journey, Parashurama bows before Rama's strength, and the four blissful couples ride back to a rejoicing Ayodhya.
Key Figures
The Child & Bridegroom
Prince of Ayodhya, slayer of Tadaka, breaker of Shiva's bow — the epic's ideal man from his earliest days.
Daughter of Janaka
Born from the earth, wed to Rama at the swayamvar — the jewel of Mithila and the soul of dharma.
The King-Sage Mentor
Former king turned sage, he guides Rama's awakening and teaches him the divine astras.
The Philosopher-King
Wise Vedantin of Mithila who sets the divine bow as the test of Sita's bridegroom.
Verse of the Kanda
मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वमगमः शाश्वतीः समाः।
यत्क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकमवधीः काममोहितम्॥
"O hunter, you shall find no rest for endless years, for you slew one of a loving krauncha crane pair in the madness of passion."
Bala Kanda · Sarga 2 · the first verse of the Ramayana