What is The Ramayana?

• A. A Greek tragedy by Sophocles.
• B. A collection of Vedic hymns.
• C. A Sanskrit epic poem from ancient India.
• D. A modern novel by Vaishnavi Patel.

Answer: (C)

The Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic poem from ancient India. It tells the story of Prince Rama, his wife Sita, and his faithful brother Lakshmana as Rama is exiled for fourteen years, Sita is abducted by the demon king Ravana, and Rama, with help from allies like Hanuman and a monkey army, rescues her. Traditionally attributed to the sage Valmiki, it is one of the oldest and most influential works of Indian literature, shaping ideas about duty, virtue, and ethical conduct and inspiring countless retellings, performances, and religious practices across the region. It is not a Greek tragedy, not a collection of Vedic hymns, and not a modern novel.