The Ramayana Volume 4 (Uttara Kanda)

The Ramayana Volume 4: Uttarakanda (The Book of the Aftermath) is the final section of the Ramayana and it deals with the events that follow the conclusion of the great battle between Rama and Ravana. While the first three volumes of the epic focus on Rama's journey the abduction of Sita and the great war to rescue her the Uttarakanda brings the story to a more bittersweet and reflective conclusion.In the Uttarakanda Rama returns to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana and is crowned king. His reign begins with celebrations but soon he is faced with difficult moral and political dilemmas. The most prominent of these is the question of Sita’s purity which leads to her public trial by fire (Agni Pariksha). Despite proving her chastity Sita faces public doubt and Rama bound by his duty as king feels compelled to banish her to the forest to protect his honor and the kingdom’s reputation.