Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 1: Contents of the Rāmāyaṇa Summarized
Text 1.1.95
इदं पवित्रं पापघ्नं पुण्यं वेदैश्च सम्मितम्।
यः पठेद्रामचरितं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते॥
idaṁ pavitraṁ pāpaghnaṁ puṇyaṁ vedaiś ca sammitam
yaḥ paṭhed rāma-caritaṁ sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate
idam = this brief; pavitram = is purifying pāpaghnam = it destroys sinful reactions; puṇyam = it is auspiciousness; vedaiḥ ca = the Vedas; sammitam = it is like; yaḥ = he who; paṭhet = studies it; rāma-caritam = description of the activities of Lord Rāma; sarva-pāpaiḥ = from all sinful reactions; pramucyate = will be fully liberated.
This brief description of the activities of Lord Rāma is purifying. It destroys sinful reactions. It is auspiciousness. It is like the Vedas. He who studies it will be fully liberated from all sinful reactions.
This brief description of the activities of Lord Rāma is purifying, that is, it is a means to become fully pure. It destroys sinful reactions.
It is auspiciousness, that is, it can produce auspiciousness. This is like the statement, “A plough is the very life [of a farmer].”
Therefore, [for one who faithfully studies this description of Lord Rāma’s activities] there is no need to perform any of the atonements [prescribed in the dharma-śāstras to destroy sinful reactions]. The atonements only destroy sinful reactions; [they do not make one fully pure and produce auspiciousness].
This brief description is purifying, it destroys sinful reactions and it produces auspiciousness because it is like the Vedas. Therefore, he who studies it like the Vedas under rules and regulations on a daily basis will be completely liberated from all sinful reactions. This is confirmed in the Rāmopaniṣad.