In this edition, readers are offered the third of the seven books of Valmiki’s Ramayana, Aranyakanda (“Book of the Forest”), also translated by P.A. Grinzer. He also compiled extensive comments and wrote an accompanying article that explains the place of the “Book of the Forest” in the overall structure of the poem, as well as the specifics of the images and motifs of this book. It tells about the life of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in their forest exile: about meetings with hermit sages, about fierce battles with rakshasas - and how Ravana, having tricked Rama and Lakshmana from their hut into the thicket of the forest, kidnapped Sita and took her to Lanka. The book is intended for a wide range of readers interested in history, literature and culture India.

CONTENTS: RAMAYANA (Translation by P.A. Grintser) Book three. ARANYAKANDA (Book of the Forest) 7 APPENDICES: P.A. Grinzer. Forest Book of the Ramayana 295Notes. Compiled by P.A. Grinzer 315 Dictionary of names and geographical names. Compiled by P.A. Grintser 380List of abbreviations 390List of additional literature 397