Valmiki composed the Ramayana in order to illustrate a heroic leader, who was able to combine in him the virtues of truth, heroism, love and justice. Sri Rama shines out in this great epic as an embodiment of all these virtues. Indeed, Sri Rama is the beloved hero and victor.

The episodes selected for this monograph are expected to be read by students and teachers to discover in them that sterling quality which Sri Rama inspires in us — Truth, whatever the consequences — that which is the greatest demand on the upward evolutionary effort of humankind. This is the one virtue that humanity is required to cultivate today.

Value-oriented education is the theme to which this series of monographs is devoted, and the entire series f aims at presenting to the educational world the life- currents of some of the greatest leaders in world history, who have demonstrated that there are three aspirations, which can uplift ordinary human life to the higher peaks of excellence, nobility and divinity, viz., Illumination, Heroism and Harmony.