My book is divided into two distinct parts dealing separately with the “Ramayana” and the “Mahabharata,” and at the end of each part I have given, in the form of an Appendix, one or two of the more striking legendary episodes lavishly scattered through these famous epics, and which, though not essential for the comprehension of the main story, are too beautiful or important to be omitted. Of these episodes I should say that they are the best-known portions of the “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata,” having been told and retold in all the leading Indian vernaculars, and having, most of them, been brought before the European world in both prose and verse. A General Introduction to the two poems, and a concluding chapter, containing remarks and inferences based on the materials supplied to the reader in Parts I. and II., complete the scheme of this little volume, which, I trust, will be found to be something more than a mere epitome of the great Sanskrit epics; for, in its preparation, I have had the advantage of considerable local knowledge and an intimate acquaintance with the people of _Aryavarta_. J. C. O. CONTENTS PAGE +GENERAL INTRODUCTION+ 1 PART I.--THE RAMAYANA CHAPTER I +INTRODUCTORY REMARKS+ 15 CHAPTER II +THE STORY OF RAMA’S ADVENTURES+ 19 CHAPTER III +THE RAM LILA OR PLAY OF RAMA+ 75 APPENDIX +THE STORY OF THE DESCENT OF GANGA+ 87 +NOTES+ 91 PART II.--THE MAHABHARATA CHAPTER I +INTRODUCTORY REMARKS+ 95 CHAPTER II +THE STORY OF THE GREAT WAR+ 101 CHAPTER III +THE SACRED LAND+ 197 APPENDIX (1) +THE BHAGAVATGITA OR DIVINE SONG+ 207 (2) +THE CHURNING OF THE OCEAN+ 219 (3) +NALA AND DAMAYANTI+ 225 +NOTES+ 237 +CONCLUDING REMARKS+ 241 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE +THE ABDUCTION OF SITA.+ (From an illustrated Urdu Version) 50