THE RAMAYANAM, an itihasa of the highest order, is considered adi kavya, the first poem to have been composed. Written by Valmiki during Rama's time, and ratified by him, this timeless epic has been treated with utmost care by all acaryas in their famed commentaries. Since the advent of human civilization, it has inspired many poets and dramatists across the subcontinent and has been transcreated in almost all Bharatiya languages. Multiple layers of philosophy and theology are an embellishment to this classic. Its influence on Bharatiya music, dance, sculpture and textiles is unfathomable.

In this two-volume presentation, noted Vedic scholar Dushyanth Sridhar retells the Ramayaņam as a conversation between Välmiki and Narada. Infused with a dash of creativity that is accepted even by traditional scholars, and drawing upon interesting details from renowned and lesser-known works, this timeless epic has been recreated in a never-before manner. Furthermore, expressive sketches by eminent artist Keshav, and drawings of rare artefacts by Upasana add great value to this edition, making it the most trusted rendering of the Ramayaņam for readers across all ages.

DUSHYANTH SRIDHAR is one of the most sought-after speakers in sanatana dharma, and has delivered over 3,500 discourses across 23 countries. He has broken several stereotypes when it comes to Harikatha and is arguably the wittiest of storytellers, with a wide following across television, news and digital channels. He has conceptualized classical dance productions such as Agre Pasyami, Ramayana Sudha, Srinivasam Prapadye and Aranganin Padaiyyil. He has acted in the Manipravala movie Vedanta Desika and has directed the Sanskrit movie Sakuntalam. He has authored a coffee-table book on Vedanta Desika. In the last decade, he has organized heritage tours with over 3,500 yatris. He manages Desika Daya, a charitable trust that has carried out extensive cultural activities.

He is the recipient of titles such as Harikatha Bharati and Rama Bhakti Pracharamaņi, and has received the Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award. He is an alumnus of BITS, Pilani, and has interned at the Indian Institute of Science as an IAS fellow. He currently lives with his family in Bengaluru.

Kujantam Rama Rameti is the verse that has filled my ears since childhood. My journey with Rama and the Ramayaņam has been nothing short of a spiritual cruise since then. Ramayaņa reminds me of Valmiki, a maharși and a poet of the highest order, whose presentation of Rama and Sita's life history is plain truth. It is thus referred to as itihasa, making it integral to Bharata's history.

To keep associating the Ramayaņa with the word 'myth' is gross injustice. Our acaryas have placed the Ramayaņa alongside the Vedas, the Upaniṣads, the Bhagavad Gita and Bramha Sūtras, giving it the respect and prominence, it deserves. But it is made grander and unambiguous with the exquisite commentaries it has received in the last millennium. The famous ones include Tattvadipika of Mahesvara Tirtha, Bhūşaņa of Govindaraja, Dharmakūța of Tryambaka Makhin, Amṛtakataka of Madhava Yogi, Tilaka of Nagesa Bhatta and Siromaņi of Vamsidhara Sivasahaya.

No English retelling of the Ramayana, to the best of my knowledge, has covered the purpose of pairing the original with its commentaries, as much as this book does.