The whole story of Ramayana in English is a complex and captivating tale. It begins with Rama's birth and his early life. Then comes the exile, Sita's abduction, the efforts to find her, and the final battle against Ravana. It emphasizes values like dharma, love, and courage.
One popular Tenali Rama English story is about the pot of wisdom. King Krishnadevaraya once declared that he would give a pot filled with wisdom to the wisest person in his kingdom. Many scholars came forward, but the king was not satisfied. Tenali Rama came, took the pot, and started walking away. The king asked him where he was going. Tenali Rama replied that if the pot was filled with wisdom, then as soon as he touched it, he became wise and now he was taking it home to use it. The king laughed and realized Tenali Rama's cleverness.
One of the main themes is dharma, or righteousness. Rama is the epitome of following one's dharma throughout the story. For example, when he accepts exile without hesitation to uphold his father's promise.
The main characters are Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Ravana and Hanuman. Rama is the prince and hero. Sita is his wife. Lakshmana is his brother. Ravana is the demon king who abducts Sita. Hanuman is the monkey god who helps Rama.
The Ramayana is an epic. It mainly tells about Rama, a prince. He was exiled with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. Sita was then abducted by Ravana. Rama fought against Ravana to rescue her. Eventually, Rama won and they were reunited.
Another moral is about humility. Often, the characters who are too proud, like some of the courtiers, are shown to be defeated by Tenali Rama. This teaches that being overly proud can lead to one's downfall. For instance, when a courtier brags about his knowledge and Tenali Rama makes him look foolish with his cleverness.
The battle between good and evil is a significant theme. Rama represents good, and Ravana represents evil. The short story would show how Rama, with the help of his allies like Hanuman, overcomes the powerful Ravana. This theme is often presented in a way that shows the triumph of righteousness and the consequences of evil actions.
One great 'Ramayana in English short story' is 'The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic' by R.K. Narayan. It beautifully captures the essence of the Ramayana in a concise and accessible way for English readers.