Invocations

Salutations to the Guru

Salutations to Brāhmaṇas and saints

Salutations to the wicked

Contrast between saints and the evil-minded

Salutations to all living beings as so many images of Śrī Rāma

Tulasidasas humility and the glory of poetry describing Śrī Rāma’s greatness

Salutations to the immortal bards

Salutations to the sage Vālmīki, the Vedas, Brahma, Śiva, Pārvatī and other gods and goddesses

Salutations to the abode and companions of Sītā and Rāma

Salutations to and the glory of the Name

The excellences of Śrī Rāma and the greatness of His story

The date of composition of the Rāmacaritamānasa

The metaphorical representation of the Mānasa as a lake and its glory

Dialogue between the sages - Yājñāvalkya and Bharadvāja and the greatness of Prayāga

Sati’s bewilderment, Śrī Rāma’s divine glory and Sati’s remorse

Disowning of Sati by Śiva and Śiva’s trance

Sati’s visit to Dakṣa’s sacrifice

Sati’s self-immolation through the fire of Yoga out of indignation at the slight offered to Her Spouse by Her father: destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice

Descent of Goddess Pārvatī and Her penance

Śrī Rāma’s intercession with Bhagavān Śiva for marriage

Pārvatī’s unique fidelity as revealed through Her test by the seven seers

Love’s departure on the errand of the gods and his being burnt to death

Śiva’s boon to Rati (Cuper’s consort)

The god’s prayer to Śiva for marriage; the seven seers’ visit to Pārvatī

Śiva’s peculiar marriage procession and preparations for the wedding (undertaken by the other party)

Śiva’s nuptials

A dialogue between Śiva and Pārvatī

Causes of Śrī Rāma’s Descent

Ego’s sway over Nārada and the effect of the Lord’s Māyā

Princess Viśvamohinī’s self-election of a husband; Nārada’s pronouncing a curse on the attendants of Śiva as well as on the Lord Himself and his subsequent freedom from the spell of infatuation

The austerities of Manu and Śatarũpā and their receiving a boon from the Lord

The story of king Pratāpabhānu

The birth of Rāvaṇa and his brothers, their austerities, opulence and tyranny

The piteous appeal of mother Earth and other gods

The Lord’s compassion on them

King Daśaratha’s sacrifice for the birth of a son and his Queen’s pregnancy

The Lord’s manifestation and the delightful nature of His childish sports

Viśvāmitra visits king Daśaratha and asks for Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

Protection of Viśvāmitra’s sacrifice

Redemption of Ahalyā

Entry of Viśvāmitra with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa into the precincts of Mithilā

Janaka’s ecstasy of love at the sight of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

A visit to the town by Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

Śrī Rāma’s visit to Janaka’s garden; Rāma and Sītā catch sight of each other

Worship of Goddess Pārvatī by Sītā, Her receiving blessing from the Goddess and a dialogue between Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

Śrī Rāma’s entry into the pavilion erected for the Bow-Sacrifice along- with Lakṣmaṇa

Sītā’s entry into the pavilion, Proclamation of Janakais vow by his heralds

The princes’ failure to lift the bow and Janaka’s despondent utterance

Lakṣmaṇa’s fulmination

The breaking of the Bow

Sītā places the wreath of victory round Rāma’s neck

Arrival of Paraśurāma, exchange of hot words between Lakṣmaṇa and Paraśurāma and Śrī Rāma’s triumph over the latter

Janaka’s despatching of messengers to Ayodhyā and departure of the marriage procession from there

Arrival of the marriage procession and its reception etc., at Janakapura

The wedding of Sītā and Rāma and Their farewell

Return of the marriage procession to Ayodhyā and rejoicing in the city

The glory of hearing and singing the story of Śrī Rāma