"Then listening to Sörpanakha, thronged up all the demons: called Khara, Trisiraska, Döshana, with all their followers in that forest [but they are] all killed by Rama."

"In his sojourn in that forest, Rama killed fourteen thousand demons, residents of Janasthana, and others who were living there about."

"Then, hearing his cousins' slaughter, Ravana, [the chief of demon race and the main villain of this epic] went into a fit of rage, and sought the help of [another demon] named Märëcha, to avenge the slaughter of his kinsmen."

"Heedless of the advise from Märëcha, Rävana, ushered by the time of his own doom, went to that hermitage of Rama, along with Märeecha."

"Then that trickster, Mareecha distracted the princes i.e. Rama and Lakshmana to a considerable distance, enabling Ravana to abduct the wife of Rama, Seetha. While abducting and taking her to his place, Ravana killed an eagle named Jatayu on his way, which came to the rescue of Seetha."

"The eagle, named Jatayu thus slain is seen by Rama, and he hears from that eagle about the abduction of Maithili [the bride from Mithila kingdom i.e. Seetha]. Then Rama, descendent of Raghu dynasty, was overcome with grief and wailed over, with agitated senses."

"Then with great grief for the death of a friendly eagle Jatayu, Rama cremated it, to give it an honorable funeral. On his way in the woods, Rama while searching for Sëtha has seen a demon named Kabandha, who is wicked in look and cruel."

"That demon which turned into an angel, while going to heaven advised Rama, thus " Oh! Raghava, Go to Sabari, a virtuous lady in her behavior, living ascetically [waiting for your arrival]" and left."

"Rama, the radiant, enemy destroyer, and the son of Dasaratha arrived at Sabari's hermitage. Rama was worshipped very well by her."

"Rama met Hanuma, the Vanara Hero, [the monkey god of Hindu mythology] on the banks of Pampa lake. Upon the advice of Hanuma, Rama befriended Sugrëva, a Vanara chieftain betrayed by his own brother, named Vali."

Comment: In this portion of Bala Kanda, otherwise called Samksepa Ramayana, here starts Kishkindha Kanda, where Rama's meeting of Hanuma happens, which is the essential part of the epic. For those who do not have time to read Ramayana  in its entirety, this part is enough for recitation. Youngsters are asked to recite these stanzas daily for longevity. An account about which stanza belongs to which Kada or Book will be furnished at the end of this chapter. Here Rama meets Hanuma, a Vanachara hero. Traditionally this character is taken as a monkey god.  "Vanena= in forests, charati= moves about, iti vaanara", is the declination of the term. It neither means absolute monkey-hood or absolute god-hood, but these are the great characterizations in this epic, about those cultures and civilizations that existed in those times. These Vanars have their own rich traditions which we will come across in Kishkindha Kanda proper. For now they may be taken as great heroes.

"Rama, the great mighty, has narrated all that happened from the beginning to Sugreeva, besides other Vanara heroes like Hanuma and others.   He narrated about Seetha's abduction in particular."

"Sugreeva the great Vanara hero having listened to Rama's agony, befriended Rama before an altar of fire with all pleasure; for Sugreeva is also in a similar disposition in having lost his wife Tara to his brother Vali."

"Then having been asked by Rama, the Vanara king Sugreeva narrated sad story of his banishment from their kingdom and also losing his wife Tara to his brother Vali.  He narrated all this with anguish and in love for his abducted wife Tara."

"Rama avowed then to kill Vali in return for his foul deeds. Sugreeva, the Vanara, related the unimaginable strength of Vali  incident by incident."

Comment: Vali, the elder brother of Sugreeva is capable of rendering oblations to gods in four oceans in the early hours of a single day.  He is mightier than Ravana, the chief villain of the epic.  As a preamble to the incident of killing mighty Ravana in the last book of the epic, this episode of killing a still mightier Vanara is the stepping stone for the climactic victory.

"Sugrëva always doubted the valiance of Rama."

"Sugëva desiring to know the capabilities of Rama, has shown Dundubhi's corpse, which is very massive like a great mountain."

  "Rama the great armed and very energetic one has seen the heap of bones of the dead demon, Dundubhi, lightly smiled at it. Then with his toe flicked that mountain like corpse to ten yojana-lengths, in its entirety."

Comment:  Sugreeva's brother, Vali, was able to throw this heap of bones of the dead demon, with whole of his foot, only one length.   Where as Rama, only with a flip of toe, could kick that heap to ten lengths.   Thus, Sugreeva gains confidence slowly in Rama's strength.  One Yojana is about nine miles and was an ancient measure for distance.

"Rama pierced through seven sala trees [which look like palm trees] with his single great arrow, which not only pierced the trees but also perforated through a mountain, and to the depths of netherworlds.   Such was the greatness of a single arrow of Rama.   All these acts have been performed by Rama only to inculcate confidence in Sugreeva's mind, about his own strength to win Vali in a war."

"Then Sugreeva the great ape, satisfied at heart, became confident of Rama's strength.   Along with Rama Sugreeva arrived in Kishkindha, the capital of that kingdom.   He neared the cave, wherein the present king and elder brother of Sugreeva, namely Väli, resides."

"Then at the door of the cave, Sugreeva the great ape, glittering with golden hue, roared gigantically, calling Vali to a war.   Listening to that great roar Vali, the King of Apes, came out to meet the challenge."

 "Vali on hearing the loud roar of Sugreeva came out of the cave, duly pacifying Tara, his wife.   She doubted the arrival of Sugreeva is perhaps with a strong support.   There in that dual of Vali and Sugreeva, Rama killed that mighty ape Vali with one and only one arrow."

"Then as promised to Sugreeva, Rama killed Vali in the battle and Sugreeva is established on the throne of that kingdom."

  "Sugreeva, eminent among Vanaras, summoned all his subjects and chiefs and to all sides they were sent in search of Seetha, the daughter of Janaka.   It is gratitude extended by Sugreeva to Rama in his true friendship for mutual help."

Comment: Sugreeva is acclaimed to be a strict disciplinarian.   His orders can not be disobeyed by any.  Even now the proverbial saying exists that a "command is to be following like Sugreeva aajna" i.e. as ordered by Sugreeva it is to be completed at any cost but can not be refuted.

  "Then an eagle named Sampati, [brother of Jatayu, the slain eagle by Ravana while abducting Seetha] narrates to Hanumän, the direction in which Ravana took along Seetha.   The mighty and efficacious Hanuma crosses over a salty ocean, which is a hundred yojanas in its breadth."

 "On crossing over the sea, Hanuma arrived in Lanka, the capital from where Rävana governs.   On his entrance into Ashoka gardens during his search in that city, Hanuma has seen Seetha seated there meditatively."

"Hanuma presented a ring given by Rama, as a mark of identification, explained sad attitudes of Rama to Seetha.   It is a solace to Seetha, the daughter of Vidèha kingdom, to receive an emissary from her husband. Then Hanuma smashed the welcome arch of those beautiful Ashoka gardens, inciting the demons for a monkey quarrel, to register his entry."

"Hanuma during his monkey quarrel killed, among others, five army chiefs, and seven sons of ministers.   Aksha Kumara, a gallant demon was kneaded like dough and killed.  However, a magical weapon by Indrajit, the son of Ravana captured Hanuma at last."

Comment: Hanuma allows himself to be dragged to the court of Ravana, like an ordinary monkey, with all the aping around him, with an intent to gauge the strength of the enemy.  Hanuma sees Ravana and others in the court, creates a scene there as a show of his strength.   This episode is Sundara Kanda, a great narration of this epic, about the riches and wealth enjoyed by the ancients.  However, Hanuma, burns everything down, only to relegate the pride of Ravana and as a symbolic suggestion that pomp and effluence without virtue do not live long.

"Hanuma on approaching Rama, the great determined, saluted circling around him. The immensely intellectual Hanuma, reported " [I have] seen...Seetha" and other situations that have happened, factually."

"Then Rama along with Sugreeva and other Vaanara heroes went to the shores of that great salty ocean, which was crossed over by Hanuma earlier.  Rama became angry at the ocean for not yielding to the crossing by Vanara army.  In order to make way through the ocean, Rama starts depleting its waters with arrows, like the Lord Sun who depletes oceans with his rays.   Samudra, the Lord of Ocean, is thus put to turmoil."

Comment: "sharaaH" in Sanskrit is synonym for both the rays of sun and arrows of an archer and thus the similitude of Rama with Sun god.

"Perceiving Rama's fury, Samudra, the Lord of Rivers appeared himself before Rama and advises to build a bridge.  On Samudra's advice, Rama orders Nala, a Vanara hero to build a bridge of boulders across that ocean."

Comment: Nala, a Vanara engineer, had a boon from his mother.   In his childhood, he used to throw playthings in to water only to see them floating.   But they were all submerged.   His mother then curses that any article thrown by him into waters, will float, may they be stones or boulders.   Here that boon is taken advantage of, and a boulder bridge is built on ocean waters.

"By that bridge they went into the city called Lanka, and killed Rävana in a battle.   Rama regained Sëtha but doubted her chastity and was humiliated to accept her as his wife, since she resided in another man's house."

"Rama questioned her chastity strongly before all the groups of people present there.  Intolerant of the accusation made by her own husband, Seetha entered into flaming fires to immolate herself."

"Then Agni, the Lord of Fire, brought Seetha from the middle of pyre and handed over her to Rama saying that she is rid of all sins and was chaste.  On Rama's accepting Seetha that way and for his killing of Ravana, everyone including gods revered him.  Thus, Rama was resplendent with glory. "

"By Rama's great deeds of eradicating the demonic rule of Ravana and regaining Seetha, the trilogy of worlds [this world, netherworld and heavens] and all those that are mobile or sessile and along with deities, sages and other celestial beings were happy and jubilant."

"Rama enthroned Vibhëshana, the brother of Ravana, as the king of Rakshasas in Lanka.  Rama, the gallant, is rid of his febrile anguish when his oaths are done into deeds and with his aims fulfilled, he is happy at heart."

"Rama obtained a boon from the gods to bring life back to dead Vanara heroes in the battle and got them up on their feet as though waking them up from sleep.   Rama travelled towards Ayodhya, his capital, in an aeroplane called Pushpaka, with all his kind hearted friends around him."

Comment: Pushpaka is a divine aeroplane, which Ravana usurped from Lord Kubera.   This plane accommodates any number of travellers with one remaining place always.   It will not touch the ground, stays one-foot away from it, as in suspended animation.   Its greatness is described in Sundara Kanda, when Hanuma inspects each and every item enjoyed by Ravana.

"Rama, the true gallant, arrived at Sage Bharadwaja's hermitage and stayed there that night.   Rama was aware that Bharata's last day for self immolation was the very next day, if Rama were not to come back.  To prevent that Rama hastens Hanuma to Nandigrama, where Bharata was preparing for his self-immolation."

"Then Rama again boarded the plane, Pushpaka, along with Sugreeva and others.  While looking down at the places where he travelled and adventured, narrated those episodes and deeds done by him, to the gathering on that plane.  Thus he reached Nandigrama, to meet Bharata."

"In Nandigrama, Rama, the blameless, removed his tufts of matted hair locks.   Thus he gave up the dress and manners of hermitage, and attired in princely garbs, met his brothers.   He regained Sëtha as well as his kingdom after fulfilling his vows."

"Glad and gratified are all the worlds.   Rama's kingdom is abundant, exuberant, and also virtuous.   There are no miseries or diseases, famines or fears.   All the people are rid of them and lived great lives."

"Fathers do not see son's deaths anywhere, nor the ladies are widowed.  All ladies always lived amiable and devout to their husbands."

"People in that kingdom had no fear from wildfires, nor from floodwaters that drown their cattle and animals.   They also had no fear of gale-storms or of diseases."

 "There was neither fear of hunger in that kingdom, nor fear from thieves. All the townships and the entire kingdom was plentiful in coin and grain.   All people lived there very happily, as they would in Krita era."

"Rama performed hundreds of Aswamèdha rituals, wherein gods were very satisfied.  Rama, in those rituals donated innumerable wealth, with plenty of gold coins and millions of cows.  One who performs these rituals in this liberal way will journey to Brahma's abode in higher heavens."

"Rama established kingly dynasties in hundred folds, and maintained the four-caste system, by positing each of the caste in its own caste bound duties and functions with perfect social harmony."

"Rama ruled his kingdom devoutly for ten thousand years plus another one thousand years, i.e. for a total of eleven thousand years, and then desired and journeyed to the abode of Brahma, the highest abode in heavens."

"This Ramayana is Holy, sin removing, virtue enriching, and in accordance with the teachings of all Vedas.   He who reads this will get rid of all his sins."

"The study of this Holy Rama's path enhances longevity.   Anyone reading Ramayana, thrives with sons, grandsons and with all his clansmen here in this world and on mortality he attains heaven where he will be adored by all the celestials."

"Anyone reading this will gain privileges according to his caste.  If it were to be the Brahmin, the scholarly class of the four-caste system, he gains authority of his speech.   Likewise the Khsatriya, the warrior class, gains lordship on lands, the Vaisya, the tradesman, gains wealthy results, Sudra, the working class, gains greatness among all other people."

Comment:   This portion of Ramayana is called Samkshèpa Ramayana or Bala Ramayana, and the youngsters will be asked to recite it daily, for gaining longevity and a perfect personality like that of Rama.   The stanzas reflected here from the main epic book-wise are as below:
1.  Bala Kanda [Book I] verses I-1-8 to 18
2.  Ayodhya Kanda [Book II ] verses I-1-18 to 28
3. Aranya Kanda [Book III] verses I-1-29 to 57
4. Kishkindha Kanda [Book IV] I-1-58 to 71
5. Sundar Kanda [Book V] I-1-72 to 78
6. Yuddha Kanda [Book VI] I-1-79 to 90
7. Uttara Ramayana [Book VII] I-1-91 to 97
8. Phala Shruti [Results of Recitation] I-1-98 to 100.