आदौ रामतपोवनादिगमनं हत्वा मृगं काञ्चनम्
वैदेहीहरणं जटायुमरणम् सुग्रीवसंभाषणम् ।
वालीनिर्दलनं समुद्रतरणं लङ्कापुरीदाहनम्
पश्चाद्रावणकुम्भकर्णहननं एतद्धिरामायणम् ।
इति श्रीरामायणसूत्र ॥
Meaning:
In the beginning, starting with Rama’s forest-exile, killing of the golden deer, abduction of Sita Devi, death of JatAyu, frienship with SugrIva, killing of VAli, crossing of the ocean, burning of LankA and after that killing of RavaNa and KumbhakarNa – this is the story (aphorism) of Ramayana.
Word meanings:
आदौ = In the beginning;
रामतपोवनादिगमनं = beginning wIth Rama’s forest-exile;
हत्वा = having killed;
मृगं = deer;
काञ्चनं = gold;
वैदेहीहरणं = the abduction of Vaidehi;
जटायुमरणं = the death of Jatayu;
सुग्रीवसंभाषणं = the conversation with Sugriva;
वालीनिर्दलनं = Rama, destroyer of Vali;
समुद्रतरणं = crossing of the ocean;
लङ्कापुरी = Lanka;
दाहनं = burning;
पः = Air; wind; leaf; egg;
चाद्रावणकुम्भकर्णहननं = the killing of RavaNa and KumbhakarNa;
एतद्धिरामायणं = this is the Ramayana;
इति = thus;
श्रीरामायणसूत्र = the venerable Ramayana story in a short aphorism;
