Invitation to join "Worldwide initiative on Ramayana"

Worldwide initiative

to read original Valmiki Ramayana sloka by sloka

starting from Sri Rama Navami day

* * * * *

How does it work ?

1. Sign up today, on the website www.readramayana.org with your emailid.
2. Receive one or two Sargas (20 to 60 slokas) every week in email starting from Sri Rama Navami Day, April 8, 2014.
3. The email will contain original Slokas in the script of your choice and meaning in simple English. Scroll down to the bottom of this email for a sample.
4. Read the slokas/meaning on your laptop, tablet or smart phone at your convenience.

Background

1. The objective of this initiative is to make reading original Valmiki Ramayana easier for those who are interested in reading it for whatsoever reason (devotional, exegetical, etc.)
2. Provide meaning of the Slokas in simple English, so that it easy for the younger generation that is conversant with English than any other language.
3. This initiative started in 2013 on Srirama Navami day. The first batch of readers (4000+) started in 2013. Every year a new batch of readers will start on Srirama Navami day.
4. This is a free service with no advertisements, started by Krishna Sharma, a lover of this great Indian epic with passion to bring it to everyone. You can contact him by email any time.

More Information

1. Visit our website www.readramayana.org
2. Read sample emails: Sarga 1.19 and Sarga 1.36.
3. Contact the founder Krishna Sharma or volunteers in your area, from the website.
4. See the up-to-date statistics of the readership, country-wise, language-wise, etc.
5. See your Facebook friends that might have already signed up.
6. Participate in Facebook discussions at www.Facebook.com/ReadRamayana.

Spread the word !

1. Forward this email to your friends and to the groups that you know.
2. Hit the 'Like' button on the Facebook page www.Facebook.com/ReadRamayana
   and invite your friends to do the same.
3. Download, print and distribute the following posters and handouts:
   
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Poster-A4H.tif (India format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Poster-A4H.pdf (India format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Ribbons-A4H.tif (India format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Ribbons-A4H.pdf (India format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Cards4pp-A4H.tif (India format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Cards4pp-A4H.pdf (India format)
   
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Poster-LetterH.tif (US format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Poster-LetterH.pdf (US format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Ribbons-LetterH.tif (US format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Ribbons-LetterH.pdf (US format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Cards8pp-LetterV.tif (US format)
   www.readramayana.org/docs/ReadRamayana-Cards8pp-LetterV.pdf (US format)

A free service

supported by volunteers, with no advertisements.
www.readramayana.org

--------------------: A sample email is given below :--------------------

Baala Kaanda - Sarga 19 In the previous Sarga, Viswaamitra arrived in Dasaratha's court and was received with great honor. In this Sarga, the Rishi Viswaamitra asks king Dasaratha to send his son Raama along with him to protect his Yagnya from the Raakshasas. This is one of the most concise Sargas in Raamayana. It requires no modifications, before it can be turned into a lesson on 'Proposal Making' for executives, diplomats and sales persons or before it is offered as part a curriculum in an MBA course.
1.19.1	तच्छ्रुत्वा राजसिंहस्य वाक्यमद्भुतविस्तरम् । हृष्टरोमा महातेजा विश्वामित्रो ऽभ्यभाषत ॥ tacchrutvā rājasiṃhasya vākyamadbhutavistaram । hṛṣtarōmā mahātējā viṡvāmitrō 'bhyabhāṣata ॥ Hearing those nice, elaborate and acquiescing words of the lion among kings (Dasaratha), the supremely radiant Muni had goose bumps and said:
1.19.2	सदृशं राजशार्दूल तवैतद्भुवि नान्यथा । महाकुलप्रसूतस्य वसिष्ठव्यपदेशिनः ॥ sadṛṡaṃ rājaṡārdūla tavaitadbhuvi nānyathā । mahākulaprasūtasya vasiṣṭhavyapadēṡinaḥ ॥ There is no wonder you spoke thus, and nothing different, considering the great lineage that you are born into and considering the able guidance you get from Vasishtha!
1.19.3	यत्तु मे हृद्गतं वाक्यं तस्य कार्यस्य निश्चयम् । कुरुष्व राजशार्दूल भव सत्यप्रतिश्रवः ॥ yattu mē hṛdgataṃ vākyaṃ tasya kāryasya niṡcayam । kuruṣva rājaṡārdūla bhava satyapratiṡravaḥ ॥ O tiger among kings! Hope you will be able to fulfill the request that is in my mind and do accordingly, without fail !
1.19.4	अहं नियममातिष्ठे सिद्ध्यर्थं पुरुषर्षभ । तस्य विघ्नकरौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ कामरूपिणौ ॥ ahaṃ niyamamātiṣṭhē siddhyarthaṃ puruṣarṣabha । tasya vighnakarau dvau tu rākṣasau kāmarūpiṇau ॥ O bull among men! I am following certain discipline and rigor in the pursuit of certain objectives. But two Raakshasas, that can take any form at will, are causing obstructions.
1.19.5-6a	व्रते मे बहुशश्चीर्णे समाप्त्यां राक्षसाविमौ । मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ ॥ समांसरुधिरौघेण वेदिं तामभ्यवर्षताम् । vratē mē bahuṡaṡcīrṇē samāptyāṃ rākṣasāvimau । mārīcaṡca subāhuṡca vīryavantau suṡikṣitau ॥ samāṃsarudhiraughēṇa vēdiṃ tāmabhyavarṣatām । As I was drawing to a close of that Vrata, the two powerful and well trained Raakshasas by names Maareecha and Subaahu have poured blood and dumped meat on the altar.	Aswamedha Yagnya, performed by kings involves animal sacrifice. Whereas, any presence of blood or meat, is considered sacrilegious in the case of Yagnyas done by Munis. It is my conjecture, that 1. Yagnyas done for the sake of material gains (such as by kings) may involve animal sacrifice and pomp and are performed in the middle of huge number of attendees. 2. But, Yagnyas done for the sake of gaining spiritual energies (such as by Munis) are done in an ascetic manner and in the midst of the quiet and serene Vanas.
1.19.6b-7a	अवधूते तथाभूते तस्मिन्नियमनिश्चये ॥ कृतश्रमो निरुत्साहस्तस्माद्देशादपाक्रमे । avadhūtē tathābhūtē tasminniyamaniṡcayē ॥ kṛtaṡramō nirutsāhastasmāddēṡādapākramē । Having my discipline, determination and effort thus spoiled, I felt de-motivated and abandoned it and came away.
1.19.7b-8a	न च मे क्रोधमुत्स्रष्टुं बुद्धिर्भवति पार्थिव ॥ तथाभूता हि सा चर्या न शापस्तत्र मुच्यते । na ca mē krōdhamutsraṣtuṃ buddhirbhavati pārthiva ॥ tathābhūtā hi sā caryā na ṡāpastatra mucyatē । I could not even get angry at them, because I was quieted down by the stipulations of the Vrata. Further, I could not even curse them because I am in the middle of the Yagnya.
1.19.8b-9a	स्वपुत्रं राजशार्दूल रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ॥ काकपक्षधरं शूरं ज्येष्ठं मे दातुमर्हसि । svaputraṃ rājaṡārdūla rāmaṃ satyaparākramam ॥ kākapakṣadharaṃ ṡūraṃ jyēṣṭhaṃ mē dātumarhasi । O tiger among kings! Please give me your eldest son, the heroic and truly valorous Raama with beautiful side-locks ! The reference to the beautiful side-locks imply youthfulness !
1.19.9a-10b	शक्तो ह्येष मया गुप्तो दिव्येन स्वेन तेजसा ॥ राक्षसा ये विकर्तारस्तेषामपि विनाशने । ṡaktō hyēṣa mayā guptō divyēna svēna tējasā ॥ rākṣasā yē vikartārastēṣāmapi vināṡanē । He, with his own divine brilliance and acting under my direction and protection, will be the right person to destroy those Raakshasas that are obstructing my work !
1.19.10b-11a	श्रेयश्चास्मै प्रदास्यामि बहुरूपं न संशयः ॥ त्रयाणामपि लोकानां येन ख्यातिं गमिष्यति । ṡrēyaṡcāsmai pradāsyāmi bahurūpaṃ na saṃṡayaḥ ॥ trayāṇāmapi lōkānāṃ yēna khyātiṃ gamiṣyati । Please be assured that I will bring multitudes of such great things upon him that his fame would reach the far corners of all the three worlds.	These nine slokas (10b-19a) lay out a 9-point template for successful 'proposal making'. Viswaamitra wants Dasaratha to send Raama along with him. This may sound like a simple request. But, if you read through these 9 slokas carefully, you will see it as a well crafted and well delivered proposal. This 9 point template for 'proposal making' is very illustrative and can be used by you in any situation. For example, let us say, you want to request your friend to invest more than half of his retirement savings in your business. (You are like Viswaamitra, your friend is like Dasaratha. The 'retirement savings' are like Raama). How do you make your friend part with his 'retirement savings'? Follow the 9 points below, as laid out in each of these 9 slokas: 1. Speak about the returns on investment. (What 'is in it' for your friend?) 2. Explain how uniquely your friend is positioned for the opportunity and that there is no risk. (Boost the ego of your friend, and trivialize the risk). 3. Explain that the timing is perfect and everything is falling in place. (Draw attention to the 'timing', and again trivialize the risk). 4. Calm down the knee-jerk apprehensions. ("Don't let small things come in your way. Trust me, everything is well thought out"). 5. Deflect the focus away from yourself and put yourself in good company. ("It is not just me, other eminent people also agree with me"). 6. Shift the focus to him and away from you. ("It is in your long term interest, that you should do this" ). 7. Deflect the burden of decision making from him to his trusted advisors. ("Check with your confidants"). 8. Give the specifics only after you raised certain comfort level and say some feel-good words. (Such as: 'of course, it is your hard-earned money'). 9. Mention about the urgency ('offer is void if not acted upon in a certain time')and turn yourself into a counselor, from being a requester.
1.19.11b-12a	न च तौ राममासाद्य शक्तौ स्थातुं कथञ्चन ॥ न च तौ राघवादन्यो हन्तुमुत्सहते पुमान् । na ca tau rāmamāsādya ṡaktau sthātuṃ kathañcana ॥ na ca tau rāghavādanyō hantumutsahatē pumān । Those two (Raakshasas) cannot stand against Raama. Neither anyone other than Raama, the prince of the Raaghava Dynasty, can kill them.
1.19.12b-13a	वीर्योत्सिक्तौ हि तौ पापौ कालपाशवशं गतौ ॥ रामस्य राजशार्दूल न पर्याप्तौ महात्मनः । vīryōtsiktau hi tau pāpau kālapāṡavaṡaṃ gatau ॥ rāmasya rājaṡārdūla na paryāptau mahātmanaḥ । O tiger among the kings ! The end of those two wretched souls, that are emboldened by their raw muscle, is near. They are no match for the great Raama.
1.19.13b-14a	न च पुत्रकृतस्नेहं कर्तुमर्हति पार्थिव ॥ अहं ते प्रतिजानामि हतौ तौ विद्धि राक्षसौ । na ca putrakṛtasnēhaṃ kartumarhati pārthiva ॥ ahaṃ tē pratijānāmi hatau tau viddhi rākṣasau । Hope you would not back out, because of your love to Raama. Consider those two Raakshasas are killed by him. And, keep full trust in my words.
1.19.14b-15a	अहं वेद्मि महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ॥ वसिष्ठो ऽपि महातेजा ये चेमे तपसि स्थिताः । ahaṃ vēdmi mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam ॥ vasiṣṭhō 'pi mahātējā yē cēmē tapasi sthitāḥ । I am confident about the true capabilities of the great Raama. So do the radiant Vasishtha and and other Munis.
1.19.15b-16a	यदि ते धर्मलाभं च यशश्च परमं भुवि ॥ स्थितमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र रामं मे दातुमर्हसि । yadi tē dharmalābhaṃ ca yaṡaṡca paramaṃ bhuvi ॥ sthitamicchasi rājēndra rāmaṃ mē dātumarhasi । If you want to further the cause of Dharma and if you want to enhance your reputation in this world, please do not waver about sending Raama with me.
1.19.16b-17a	यदि ह्यनुज्ञां काकुत्स्थ ददते तव मन्त्रिणः ॥ वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे राघवं मे विसर्जय । yadi hyanujñāṃ kākutstha dadatē tava mantriṇaḥ ॥ vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ sarvē rāghavaṃ mē visarjaya । O prince of Kaakutsa dynasty ! Please check with your ministers and Vasistha and only upon their good advice, do you send Raama with me.
1.19.17b-18a	अभिप्रेतमसंसक्तमात्मजं दातुमर्हसि ॥ दशरात्रं हि यज्ञस्य रामं राजीवलोचनम् । abhiprētamasaṃsaktamātmajaṃ dātumarhasi ॥ daṡarātraṃ hi yajñasya rāmaṃ rājīvalōcanam । For the duration of the ten nights of the Yagnya, please send your dearest, shiny lotus eyed Raama, without delay.
1.19.18b-19a	नात्येति कालो यज्ञस्य यथा ऽयं मम राघव ॥ तथा कुरुष्व भद्रं ते मा च शोके मनः कृथाः । nātyēti kālō yajñasya yathā 'yaṃ mama rāghava ॥ tathā kuruṣva bhadraṃ tē mā ca ṡōkē manaḥ kṛthāḥ । O prince of Raghu dynasty ! Please act in time for my Yagnya. Everything will be alright and you shouldn't have anything to worry.
1.19.19b-20a	इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थसहितं वचः ॥ विरराम महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः । ityēvamuktvā dharmātmā dharmārthasahitaṃ vacaḥ ॥ virarāma mahātējā viṡvāmitrō mahāmuniḥ । Thus stated the Dharmatma, the Muni and the supremely Radiant Viswaamitra, his legitimate purpose. Dharma = legitimate, fair and reasonable. Artha = Purpose.
1.19.20b-21a	स तन्निशम्य राजेन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवचः शुभम् ॥ शोकमभ्यगमत्तीव्रं व्यषीदत भयान्वितः । sa tanniṡamya rājēndrō viṡvāmitravacaḥ ṡubham ॥ ṡōkamabhyagamattīvraṃ vyaṣīdata bhayānvitaḥ । The good opportunity Viswaamitra laid out, wouldn't help that king of kings from sinking with grief and fear.
1.19.21	इति हृदयमनोविदारणं मुनिवचनं तदतीव शुश्रुवान् । नरपतिरभवन्महांस्तदा व्यथितमनाः प्रचचाल चासनात् ॥ iti hṛdayamanōvidāraṇaṃ munivacanaṃ tadatīva ṡuṡruvān । narapatirabhavanmahāṃstadā vyathitamanāḥ pracacāla cāsanāt ॥ The words of Viswaamitra have torn his heart into pieces. The mind of the lord of men went out of shape. And he almost jumped out of his throne.
	इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमद्बालकाण्डे एकोनविंशः सर्गः ॥ ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē ṡrīmadbālakāṇḍē ēkōnaviṃṡaḥ sargaḥ ॥ Thus concludes the nineteenth Sarga in Baala Kaanda of Vaalmeeki Ramayana.
We completed reading 684 Slokas out of ~24,000 Slokas of Vaalmeeki Raamayana.

Prepared for: Read Ramayana International Initiative.
Meaning, notes and commentary by: Krishna Sharma.
Archived at: www.readramayana.org/emails/2013-Vaalmeeki-1-BaalaKaanda-Sarga019-Devanagari.html