Robert P. Goldman is the William and Catherine Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Sanskrit and Indian studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and general editor of the R?m?ya?a Translation Project. Sheldon I. Pollock is the Arvind Raghunathan Professor of South Asian Studies in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University. His books include The Language of the Gods in the World of Men and A Rasa Reader.

"Winner of the 2017 World Sanskrit Award, Indian Council for Cultural Relations"

• List of Abbreviations ix Preface xv Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation xvii PART I INTRODUCTION 1 Prelude to the Ayodhyakanda 3 2 Synopsis of the Ayodhyakanda 6 3 The Central Issues 9 4 A Problem of Narrative and Its Significance 25 5 The Philosophy 33 6 Aesthetic and Literary-Historical Considerations 37 7 The Characters 48 8 The Women of the Ayodhyakanda 53 9 Dasaratha 58 10 Rama 64 11 The Text, Annotations, and Translation 74 PART II AYODHYAKANDA 77 PART III NOTES 325 Glossary of Important Proper Nouns and Epithets 529 Emendations and Corrections of the Critical Edition 533 Bibliography of Works Consulted 535 Index 549

Robert P. Goldman is the William and Catherine Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Sanskrit and Indian studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and general editor of the R?m?ya?a Translation Project. Sheldon I. Pollock is the Arvind Raghunathan Professor of South Asian Studies in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University. His books include The Language of the Gods in the World of Men and A Rasa Reader.

"Winner of the 2017 World Sanskrit Award, Indian Council for Cultural Relations"

• List of Abbreviations ix Preface xv Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation xvii PART I INTRODUCTION 1 Prelude to the Ayodhyakanda 3 2 Synopsis of the Ayodhyakanda 6 3 The Central Issues 9 4 A Problem of Narrative and Its Significance 25 5 The Philosophy 33 6 Aesthetic and Literary-Historical Considerations 37 7 The Characters 48 8 The Women of the Ayodhyakanda 53 9 Dasaratha 58 10 Rama 64 11 The Text, Annotations, and Translation 74 PART II AYODHYAKANDA 77 PART III NOTES 325 Glossary of Important Proper Nouns and Epithets 529 Emendations and Corrections of the Critical Edition 533 Bibliography of Works Consulted 535 Index 549

Robert P. Goldman is the William and Catherine Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Sanskrit and Indian studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and general editor of the R?m?ya?a Translation Project. Sheldon I. Pollock is the Arvind Raghunathan Professor of South Asian Studies in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University. His books include The Language of the Gods in the World of Men and A Rasa Reader.

"Winner of the 2017 World Sanskrit Award, Indian Council for Cultural Relations"

• List of Abbreviations ix Preface xv Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation xvii PART I INTRODUCTION 1 Prelude to the Ayodhyakanda 3 2 Synopsis of the Ayodhyakanda 6 3 The Central Issues 9 4 A Problem of Narrative and Its Significance 25 5 The Philosophy 33 6 Aesthetic and Literary-Historical Considerations 37 7 The Characters 48 8 The Women of the Ayodhyakanda 53 9 Dasaratha 58 10 Rama 64 11 The Text, Annotations, and Translation 74 PART II AYODHYAKANDA 77 PART III NOTES 325 Glossary of Important Proper Nouns and Epithets 529 Emendations and Corrections of the Critical Edition 533 Bibliography of Works Consulted 535 Index 549