It is beieved , as gleaned from the Eoics and other texts that there are , anyhere beteen 300 to 1600 versions of the Ramayana.
Vallimiki’s Ramayana , is the original one and is called the Adi Kavya.(Earliest or First Literature ).
Valmiki himself is reported to have written more than one version, Adhyatma ramayana, AdbudaRamaya, among otheres.
One has to read Valmiki in the original to know how modern his story telling skilling technics are , with crisp or elaborate narration as required by the scene,descriptions of people and places, Imagery, most modern Flash back technics in story telling.
Some of the Sargas are the best screen plays ever conceived.
There is one verse which summarises the entire story of Ramayana of 24’000 couplets in one verse!
This also must have been by Valmiki himself, as I am of he opinion, given his skills, none other than Valmiki could have even conceived this Sloka.
This is the Sloka.
Adau Raama ThapoVanaadi GamaNam Hathwaa Mrugam KaanchaNam
Vaidehee HaraNam Jataayu Maranam Sugreeva SambhaShaNam
Vaalee NigrahaNam SamudraTharaNam LankaaPureeDahanam
PaschaaDraavana KumbhaKarnaNidhanam HyeThyadhi Raamaayanam.
‘Rama went in exile with a smiling face,
Golden Deer Killed,
Sita was abducted,
Jatayu killed,
Sugreeva was engaged,
Vali killed,
The Ocean was crossed,
Lanka was burnt,
Ravana and Kumbhakarna Dead,
This is Ramayana.
And
This is Valmiki for You!
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