Ramayana (the epic)

The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic recounting the story of Rama, a prince and an avatar of the god Vishnu. It narrates his noble qualities, his quest to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana, and his battle to uphold righteousness (dharma). The epic explores themes of duty, loyalty, honor, and the triumph of good over evil. Composed of about 24,000 verses, it combines adventure, moral lessons, and spiritual insights, serving as a foundational cultural and religious text in Hindu tradition.