10 most famous quotes from the Ramayana and their meaning

One of the most respected and ancient epics in the world is Ramayana. Covering the life of Lord Ram, Mata Sita, Lakshman, Ravana, Lord Hanuman, and many other characters, Ramayana tells the story of the war between Ayodhya and Lanka. And even in modern times, the Ramayana is both relevant and inspirational. It still gives lessons, insights, and discussions on moral conduct and dharma.

Here we list the 10 most famous quotes from the Ramayana and their meaning.

A simple and precise quote, this one translates to ‘The wise always believe that truth is the highest form of righteousness.’
With a very powerful and relevant meaning, this quote focuses on the importance of truth, ethics, and righteousness. Just like in the Ramayana, as Lord Rama is the epitome of righteousness, and always chooses the path of truth even when it means going through hardships, similarly, men and women should uphold the value of dharma.

With a very beautiful and true meaning that states - ‘Constant happiness is rare’, this quote from the Ramayana gives a very realistic view of life. It states that always being happy is rare and cannot be achieved 24*7. But, in reality, what humans can do is constantly look at the brighter side of the canvas.
As life is filled with ups and downs, constantly chasing happiness and good things can lead to disappointment.

A brilliant quote about the power of emotions, this one translates to ‘Grief destroys courage, learning, and everything; there is no enemy like grief.’
In this quote, the power of grief and the hold it has on humans is rightly defined. It is both powerful and destructive and overwhelming sorrow can lessen anyone’s thinking capacity, intellect, and even wisdom. And so, intense grief is referred to as the biggest and strongest enemy.

Another excellent quote about the importance of righteousness is this one. It translates to ‘Wealth comes from righteousness, and from righteousness comes happiness. Through righteousness, one can achieve everything as it is the essence of this world.’

A quote that explains the power of enthusiasm is this one and it translates to ‘Enthusiasm is powerful, noble one; there is no greater strength than enthusiasm. For the enthusiastic, nothing in the world is difficult.’
Through the quote, enthusiasm or the will and energy to learn and try something new is shown as a source of achieving success. This quote shows that having a welcoming, positive and energetic attitude can help get over any obstacles and accomplish any difficult work.

Simple, beautiful, and relevant, are the 3 words that define this quote. It translates to ‘No one is without faults’, which is a very true statement in life. It is like an acceptance of human nature and the fact that no one is really perfect. The quote teaches people to be more tolerant and forgiving as the mistakes that were done by someone else, could also have been done by them.

Another beautiful quote about life, this one translates to ‘Absence of sadness is the root of prosperity; and absence of sadness is the highest happiness.’
Often people hear ‘Dont be sad, be happy’, and this quote is like a simple translation of the same. By eliminating things that make you unhappy or makes you feel dejected, you can make way for better conditions. While it won't happen instantly, but removing the root of sadness will help grow the roots of happier times.

A quote that loosely translates to ‘Destructing self brings many faults; but life brings happiness and experiences’, is like life advice given by a trusted friend. It talks about the importance of constructive actions rather than doing destructive ones. For example, from anger, one only loses their peace, but by happiness, humans can spread more happiness. Just like how Ravana’s destructive desires lead to his downfall, and Lord Ram’s efforts to bring peace and justice proved beneficial for him, just like that even in contemporary terms, your actions and intentions will define your life.

With a simple meaning of ‘The virtuous do not give in to anger’, this quote is an important life lesson that talks about the value of self-control and patience. Just like in the Ramayana, Lord Ram always maintained his calm and composure and did not give in to the hardest of battles, just like him humans should try to keep away from giving in to anger. The importance of controlling your temper and reacting to a situation with calmness is the sum of this quote.

A quote that will give everyone goosebumps is this one! Translating to ‘Mother and motherland are greater than heaven’, it shows the deep respect and love for one’s mother and homeland, or in simpler words, one’s country. It is said that when Lord Rama returned from the war of Lanka and back to Ayodhya, these were the words he said to Lakshman.