The Rāmāyaṇa, the great Sanskrit epic ascribed to sage Vālmīki, is an ancient narrative woven in seven kāṇḍas recounting Prince Rāma’s exile, Sītā’s abduction by Rāvaṇa, and the epic war to restore dharma. Composed in antiquity (tradition and scholarship place its origins in the early first millennium BCE), it blends history, mythology and moral philosophy. Central themes—duty (dharma), fidelity, ideal kingship, devotion, and the struggle between good and evil—are embodied in Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanumāna. Ever relevant, the Rāmāyaṇa shapes South and Southeast Asian art, performance and ethics, offering timeless reflections on governance, personal integrity and social responsibility that continue to inspire literary, spiritual and civic life today.