Epics

Invoking Sita Devi's Name is Catharsis of the Heart

Shurpanakha and Maricha: The Germination of Ravana's Enmity

According to Agastya’s instructions, when Sri Rama goes and resides in Panchavati, the major events in the story occur there. Shurpanakha sees Sri Rama, becomes...

Aranyakanda: The Hub of the Wheel of Srimad Ramayana

The Five Warriors of Renunciation in Srimad Ramayana

Mahābhārata – Episode 112 - Story of Yayāti

Yayāti was the tenth in the line of descendants from Dakṣa-prajāpati; his son was Pūru. Further in his lineage Duṣyanta was born. The preceptor of the Asuras,...

Sri Rama's Renunciation and the Dharma of Giving a Promise

Mahābhārata – Episode 111 - Śakuntalopākhyānam - Part 2

Duṣyanta – “Listening to the story you just narrated confirms that you indeed are a princess from a royal lineage. Please be my wife! Tell me what you desire to...

The Ayodhya Kanda as a Harbinger of an Entire Tradition of Nobleness

Mahābhārata – Episode 110 - Śakuntalopākhyānam - Part 1

There lived a king named Duṣyanta who belonged to the lineage of Puru. He was valorous and was ruling over the earth in a dhārmic manner. There was no varṇa-saṅ...

Maharshi Vishwamitra Trains Sri Ramachandra

āśīrnamaskriyā vastunirdeśo vā || (Dandin: Kavyadarsha) is a famous aphorism. However, this was composed long after Maharshi Valmiki’s period. I simply cannot...

Mahābhārata – Episode 109 – The Ascent to Svarga

As Yudhiṣṭhira went ahead, he first saw Duryodhana. He was sitting amidst the Devatās, glimmering with the wealth of courage, seated on a throne that was resple...

Introducing the Balakanda: Valmiki's Renowned Curse