Ramayana for Kids

1Long ago, in the city of Ayodhya, King Dasharatha had four sons. The eldest was kind and brave Rama.

2Rama grew up with his brothers Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. They played together, learned together and always shared.

3One day Rama and Lakshmana travelled to the city of Mithila with a wise teacher. A princess named Sita lived there.

4King Janaka, Sita's father, had a giant bow that belonged to Lord Shiva. "Whoever can lift this bow may marry Sita," he said. Many strong kings tried. Nobody could even move it.

5Then Rama walked up. He lifted the bow as if it was light as a feather. He pulled the string, and SNAP! The great bow broke in two. Everyone gasped.

6Sita smiled and gave Rama a garland of flowers. Rama and Sita were married, and the whole city celebrated with songs and lamps.

1In Ayodhya, King Dasharatha wanted to make Rama the new king. All the people were very happy.

2But Queen Kaikeyi reminded the king of two promises he had made to her long ago. She asked that Rama go to live in the forest for fourteen years.

3The king was heartbroken, but he had given his word. Rama was not angry. "A promise must be kept, Father," he said gently.

4Sita and Lakshmana said, "We will come with you!" They put on simple clothes and walked out of the city. The people waved and cried.

5Rama's brother Bharata loved Rama very much. He did not want to be king. He ran to the forest to bring Rama home.

6But Rama kept his promise. So Bharata placed Rama's sandals on the throne and looked after the kingdom until Rama came back.

1In the forest, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana lived in a little hut made of leaves. They loved the birds, the trees and the flowers.

2A kind old bird named Jatayu became their friend. He watched over them from the tall trees.

3One day Sita saw a beautiful golden deer with silver spots. "Rama, please catch it for me!" she said.

4Lakshmana said, "Brother, be careful. This may be a trick." But Rama went after the deer, and Lakshmana stayed to guard Sita.

5Far away, a voice cried out, "Lakshmana! Help me!" It sounded like Rama. Sita was frightened and asked Lakshmana to go. Before he left, Lakshmana drew a line around the hut. "Please do not step outside it, Sita," he said.

6While Sita waited, the wicked king Ravana came in disguise. When Sita stepped out of the line, he took her away in his flying chariot. Brave Jatayu tried to stop him, but Ravana was too strong.

1Rama and Lakshmana searched the whole forest for Sita. They asked the trees, the birds and the rivers. Nobody had seen her.

2They came to a rocky hill where the monkey king Sugriva lived. Sugriva saw two strangers with bows and felt afraid.

3He sent his wise friend Hanuman to find out who they were. Hanuman came as a simple traveller and asked politely.

4Rama spoke with such kindness that Hanuman knew he was good. Hanuman bowed low and said, "I will help you, Lord Rama."

5Rama and Sugriva became friends. "I will help you," said Rama. "And my monkeys will help you find Sita," said Sugriva.

6Monkeys went off in every direction to look for Sita. Rama gave Hanuman his ring. "Show this to Sita," he said. "She will know you are my friend."

1The monkeys stood at the edge of the great sea. Sita was on an island far away called Lanka. But the sea was wide and deep.

2Old Jambavan said, "Hanuman, you have forgotten how strong you are. You can leap across!" Hanuman felt his power come back. He grew big and strong.

3With Rama's name on his lips, Hanuman leapt into the sky and flew over the waves. A sea monster tried to stop him. Clever Hanuman became tiny, slipped past her and flew on.

4In Lanka, Hanuman found Sita sitting under a tree, sad but brave. He gave her Rama's ring. "Rama is coming soon," he said.

5Ravana's guards caught Hanuman and set his tail on fire. But the fire did not hurt him! He jumped from roof to roof, and Lanka's golden towers began to burn.

6Then Hanuman flew back over the sea. "I have seen Sita," he told Rama. "She is safe, and she is waiting for you." Rama hugged him with joy.

1To reach Lanka, Rama and his friends had to cross the sea. The monkeys and bears wrote Rama's name on stones and dropped them in the water. The stones floated!

2Even a tiny squirrel wanted to help. It rolled in the sand and shook the sand between the stones. Rama stroked the squirrel gently and thanked it.

3Together they built a long bridge and marched across to Lanka.

4Rama asked Ravana to give Sita back, but Ravana would not listen. He was proud and did not want to say sorry.

5A great battle began. Lakshmana, Hanuman and the monkey army fought bravely. Ravana had ten heads and great power, but he used it in an unkind way.

6At last, Rama lifted his bow and shot one glowing arrow. Ravana fell, and the battle was over. Sita was free, and everyone cheered.

1Fourteen years had passed. Rama's time in the forest was over, and it was time to go home.

2Rama, Sita and Lakshmana climbed into the Pushpaka, a flying chariot that looked like a giant lotus. Hanuman and their friends came too.

3In Ayodhya, Bharata had been counting the days. When he saw Rama coming, he ran to hug him with happy tears.

4It was a dark new-moon night, so the people lit thousands of lamps called diyas to show Rama the way. The whole city sparkled like stars.

5Rama was crowned king of Ayodhya. Sita sat beside him, and Hanuman sat at his feet.

6Rama ruled with kindness, and everyone was happy. That is why we light diyas every year on Diwali.