Question

What is another name (Apara Nama) for the Ramayana?

• A. Panchavimshati-sahasri Samhita
• B. Vimshati-sahasri Samhita
• C. Chaturvimshati-sahasri Samhita
• D. Raghava Samhita

Hint:

Gayatri Mantra (24 syllables) = Ramayana (24,000 verses). This link is the easiest way to remember "Chaturvimshati-sahasri."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Ramayana, attributed to the 'Adi Kavi' (first poet) Valmiki, is the world's first formal work of poetry (Adi Kavya). In the Indian tradition, epic texts are often referred to by the total number of verses (Shlokas) they contain. This serves as a formal identifier for the specific recension of the text.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The standard Valmiki Ramayana contains exactly 24,000 verses. These are divided into seven books called Kandas.
In Sanskrit numbers:
- Chatur = 4
- Vimshati = 20
- Sahasra = 1,000
Thus, Chatur-vimshati-sahasra means 24,000. The collection of these 24,000 verses is called the Chaturvimshati-sahasri Samhita.
There is a profound spiritual reason behind this number. The Gayatri Mantra consists of 24 syllables. It is traditionally believed that Valmiki composed the Ramayana such that the first letter of every 1,000th verse, when put together, forms the 24 syllables of the Gayatri Mantra. This is known as the 'Gayatri-Ramayana'.
Analyzing the other options: Panchavimshati (25,000) and Vimshati (20,000) are incorrect counts. While Rama is a 'Raghava' (descendant of Raghu), Raghava Samhita is not a formal academic title used to identify the Valmiki Ramayana in literature. The standard term found in the text's own 'Phalashruti' and scholarly indices is Option C.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The Ramayana is famously known as the Chaturvimshati-sahasri Samhita.