100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders 🚀

The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki

The Complete English Translation
4.07 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 13,150 ratings, 1,036 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki is an ancient Indian epic that narrates the journey of Prince Rama as he embarks on a quest to rescue his wife, Sita, who is abducted by the demon king Ravana. The story explores themes of duty, righteousness, and the struggle between good and evil, delving deep into philosophical and psychological insights. This timeless tale is rich with cultural and moral lessons, offering a profound exploration of human nature and cosmic order.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by epic narratives filled with moral and philosophical depth. It offers rich insights into ancient Indian culture, spirituality, and human psychology, making it a captivating journey for readers interested in timeless stories of heroism, duty, and destiny.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

"The definitive translation of the classic Sanskrit work in a single-volume paperback edition"--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The definitive English translation of the classic Sanskrit epic poem – now available in a one-volume paperback.

The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, the monumental Sanskrit epic of the life of Rama, ideal man and incarnation of the great god Visnu, has profoundly affected the literature, art, religions, and cultures of South and Southeast Asia from antiquity to the present. Filled with thrilling battles, flying monkeys, and ten-headed demons, the work, composed almost 3,000 years ago, recounts Prince Rama's exile and his odyssey to recover his abducted wife, Sita, and establish a utopian kingdom. Now, the definitive English translation of the critical edition of this classic is available in a single volume.

Based on the authoritative seven-volume translation edited by Robert Goldman and Sally Sutherland Goldman, this volume presents the unabridged translated text in contemporary English, revised and reformatted into paragraph form. The book includes a new introduction providing important historical and literary contexts, as well as a glossary, pronunciation guide, and index. Ideal for students and general readers, this edition of The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki introduces an extraordinary work of world literature to a new generation of readers.

'Truly epic and millennial in scale. The translation and expertise that have gone into this are not likely to be surpassed.' - Frederick M. Smith, Religious Studies Review

'The translation admirably succeeds in pursuing its “twin goals of accuracy and readability."...The closest thing [readers] could get to what the original taste and texture of the text must have been...This is a remarkable achievement.' - Yigal Bronner, European Legacy

'Goldman has chosen a translation style that is simple, direct, and very close to the text, without being prosaic. He has avoided the twin pitfalls of preciousness and pedantry. The Rāmāyaṇa, as he reminds us, is a poem in a sense we have almost lost touch with: intended to be heard, easily understood, chanted in a loose and repetitive metre that permits the lapidary phrase.' - Edwin Gerow, Journal of Asian Studies

Series: Princeton Library of Asian Translations

View all
  • The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei, Volume Three
    In this third volume of a planned five-volume series, David Roy provides a complete and annotated translation of the famous Chin P'ing Mei, an anonymous sixteenth-century Chinese novel that focuses on the domestic life of His-men Ch'ing, a corrupt, upwardly mobile merchant who maintains a harem of six wives and concubines. This work, known primarily for its erotic realism, is...
    Hardback
    $23700
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei, Volume Three
    In this third volume of a planned five-volume series, David Roy provides a complete and annotated translation of the famous Chin P'ing Mei, an anonymous sixteenth-century Chinese novel that focuses on the domestic life of His-men Ch'ing, a corrupt, upwardly mobile merchant who maintains a harem of six wives and concubines. This work, known primarily for its erotic realism, is...
    Paperback
    $13100
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume VII
    The concluding volume of a critical English edition of the monumental Indian epic. The seventh and final book of the monumental Ramayana of Valmiki, the Uttarakanda, brings the epic saga to a close with an account of the dramatic events of King Rama's millennia-long reign. It opens with a colourful history of the demonic race of the raksasas and the...
    Paperback
    $17500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei, Volume One
    In the first volume of a five-volume set, the author provides a complete and annotated translation of The Plum in the Golden Vase or, Chin P'ing Mei, an anonymous 16th-century Chinese novel that focuses on the domestic life of Hsi-men Ch'ing, a corrupt, upwardly mobile merchant in a provincial town, who maintains a harem of six wives and concubines. This...
    Paperback
    $13100
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Guanzi
    With this volume, W. Allyn Rickett completes the first full translation of the Guanzi into English. Named for the famous Chinese minister of state, Guan Zhong (d. 645 B.C.), the Guanzi is one of the largest collections of ancient Chinese writings still in existence. This volume represents a truly monumental effort, as the Guanzi is a long and notoriously difficult...
    Paperback
    $25100
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Central Philosophy of Tibet
    This is the paperback edition of the first full study, translation, and critical annotation of the Essence of True Eloquence by Jey Tsong Khapa (1357-1419), universally acknowledged as the greatest Tibetan philosopher. Robert Thurman's translation and introduction present a strain of Indian Buddhist thought emphasizing the need for both critical reason and contemplative realisation in the attainment of enlightenment. This...
    Paperback
    $16900
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume I
    This is the first of seven volumes of a translation of the Valmiki Ramayana, the great Sanskrit epic of the life of Rama, ideal man and incarnation of the great god Visnu. This renowned work of ancient India has profoundly affected the literature, art, religions, and cultures of countless millions of people in South and Southeast Asia—an influence that is...
    Paperback
    $15900
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume II
    This is the second volume of a translation of India's most beloved and influential epic saga, the monumental Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki. Of the seven sections of this great Sanskrit masterpiece, the Ayodhyakāṇḍa is the most human, and it remains one of the best introductions to the social and political values of traditional India. This readable translation is accompanied by commentary...
    Paperback
    $9900
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume III
    This is the third volume of a planned seven-volume translation of India's most beloved and influential epic tale—The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki. This third volume carries forward the narrative by following the exiled hero Rama, his wife, and his brother on their wanderings. The book contains the narrative centre of the epic, the abduction of Sita by the demon king Ravana....
    Paperback
    $9600
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume IV
    This is the fourth volume of a translation of India's most beloved and influential epic tale—The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki. As befits its position at the centre of the work, Volume IV presents the hero Rama at the turning point of his fortunes. Having previously lost first his kingship and then his wife, he now forms an alliance with the monkey...
    Paperback
    $9600
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume V
    The fifth and most popular book of the Ramayana of Valmiki, the Sundarakanda, recounts the adventures of the monkey hero Hanuman in leaping across the ocean to the island citadel of Lanka. Once there, he scours the city for the abducted Princess Siti. The poet vividly describes the opulence of the court of the demon king, Ravana, the beauty of...
    Paperback
    $9600
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki
    The definitive English translation of the classic Sanskrit epic poem – now available in a one-volume paperback. The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, the monumental Sanskrit epic of the life of Rama, ideal man and incarnation of the great god Visnu, has profoundly affected the literature, art, religions, and cultures of South and Southeast Asia from antiquity to the present. Filled with...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki has been highly acclaimed, earning the distinction of a Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year. Renowned scholar Wendy Doniger praised it as a "masterpiece of scholarship" in the New York Review of Books.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691206868

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 January 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Contributors:

  • Edited and translated by Robert P. Goldman
  • Edited and translated by Sally J. Sutherland Goldman
  • Edited by Robert P. Goldman

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 960

About the Author

Robert P. Goldman is the William and Catherine Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Sanskrit and Indian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and general editor of the Rmyaa Translation Project. Sally J. Sutherland Goldman is senior lecturer in Sanskrit at the University of California, Berkeley, and associate editor of the Rmyaa Translation Project.

More from Philosophy & Psychology

View all
  • Eat Your Ice Cream
    New Release
    Eat Your Ice Cream
    The New York Times bestseller that presents a bold new vision for living well and ageing with purpose from a world-renowned health expert THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From a leading doctor and world-renowned health expert, the simple, uplifting and practical guide to cutting through the wellness noise, living well and ageing with purpose. ‘Essential reading for anyone who...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Man's Search For Meaning
    Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profound, thought-provoking memoir and psychological exploration that delves into the harrowing experiences of life in Nazi concentration camps, intertwined with the author’s groundbreaking theories on existential psychology. The book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, offering a beacon of hope and a roadmap for finding purpose...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Inside the Box
    How to do more with less and use limits to stimulate creativity, innovation and collaboration, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Range. We live in a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and values freedom above all else. We have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be and how to spend our time....
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3900
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Atomic Habits
    Atomic Habits by James Clear is a transformative guide that demonstrates how tiny, incremental changes in behaviour can fundamentally reshape your life. Rather than urging sweeping transformations, Clear advocates for the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions. Whether it’s performing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes earlier, or making a brief, focused phone call, these minuscule adjustments,...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Body Keeps the Score
    The Body Keeps the Score by Dr Bessel van der Kolk is a compelling and compassionate exploration of the deep-seated impact of trauma on the human body and mind. This groundbreaking work delves into the complex causes of trauma and paints a vivid picture of the revolutionary treatments that are enabling countless individuals to reclaim their lives filled with purpose...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Tell Me Where It Hurts
    Leading expert Rachel Zoffness bridges the gap between medicine and psychology to get to the heart of treating pain We can move the dial on pain Every one of us will experience pain, be it back pain, the pain of childbirth, or living in an ageing body. Not a single one of us will escape. But what if everything you...
    Hardback
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Book of Awakening
    A new edition of the #1 NYT's bestseller by Mark Nepo, who has been called "one of the finest spiritual guides of our time" and "a consummate storyteller." Immerse yourself in The Book of Awakening, a compelling spiritual daybook by philosopher-poet and cancer survivor, Mark Nepo. This remarkable work is a profound manual for living a more deeply connected and...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Strangers
    The must-read memoir of the end of a marriage and the start of a personal revolution, based on the iconic Modern Love essay in the New York Times and perfect for fans of Glennon Doyle. "A beautifully written eulogy for the loss of a relationship" — Joyce Carol Oates How do we go on when a loved one betrays us?...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Strong Ground
    #1 New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown returns with an urgent call to reimagine the essentials of courageous leadership. In a time when uncertainty runs deep and bluster, hubris and even cruelty are increasingly framed as acceptable leadership, Brown delivers practical, actionable insights that illuminate the mindsets and skill sets essential to reclaiming focus and driving growth through connection, discipline and...
    Hardback
    $4000
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Anxious Generation
    A powerful argument for reclaiming childhood—and all human relationships—from the online world, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author. Jonathan Haidt has spent his career speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most difficult spaces—communities polarised by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the mental health emergency hitting teenagers today in many countries around...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Stimulated Mind
    A practical, empowering plan to boost your day-to-day brain function and prevent dementia - by a renowned neuroscientist and performance coach. 'From day one I was always blown away by Dr Tommy Wood's command of the science from which he communicates.' - Dr Peter Attia, bestselling author of Outlive- The Science and Art of Longevity 'As global health declines, Dr...
    Paperback
    $3800
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.