The first book describes Ráma's childhood up to his sixteenth year.
- Canto I. Nárad.(7)
- Canto II. Brahmá's Visit
- Canto III. The Argument.
- Canto IV. The Rhapsodists.
- Canto V. Ayodhyá.
- Canto VI. The King.
- Canto VII. The Ministers.
- Canto VIII. Sumantra's Speech.
- Canto IX. Rishyasring.
- Canto X. Rishyasring Invited.
- Canto XI. The Sacrifice Decreed.
- Canto XII. The Sacrifice Begun.
- Canto XIII. The Sacrifice Finished.
- Canto XIV. Rávan Doomed.
- Canto XV. The Nectar.
- Canto XVI. The Vánars.
- Canto XVII. Rishyasring's Return.
- Canto XVIII. Rishyasring's Departure.
- Canto XIX. The Birth Of The Princes.
- Canto XX. Visvámitra's Visit.
- Canto XXI. Visvámitra's Speech.
- Canto XXII. Dasaratha's Speech.
- Canto XXIII. Vasishtha's Speech.
- Canto XXIV. The Spells.
- Canto XXV. The Hermitage Of Love.
- Canto XXVI. The Forest Of Tádaká.
- Canto XXVII. The Birth Of Tádaká.
- Canto XXVIII. The Death Of Tádaká.
- Canto XXIX. The Celestial Arms.
- Canto XXX. The Mysterious Powers.(166)
- Canto XXXI. The Perfect Hermitage.
- Canto XXXII. Visvámitra's Sacrifice.
- Canto XXXIII. The Sone.
- Canto XXXIV. Brahmadatta.
- Canto XXXV. Visvámitra's Lineage.
- Canto XXXVI. The Birth Of Gangá.
- Canto XXXIX. The Sons Of Sagar.
- Canto XL. The Cleaving Of The Earth.
- Canto XLI. Kapil.
- Canto XLII. Sagar's Sacrifice.
- Canto XLIII. Bhagírath.
- Canto XLIV. The Descent Of Gangá.
- Canto XLV. The Quest Of The Amrit.
- Canto XLVI. Diti's Hope.
- Canto XLVII. Sumati.
- Canto XLVIII. Indra And Ahalyá
- Canto XLIX. Ahalyá Freed.
- Canto L. Janak.
- Canto LI. Visvámitra.
- Canto LII. Vasishtha's Feast.
- Canto LIII. Visvámitra's Request.
- Canto LIV. The Battle.
- Canto LV. The Hermitage Burnt.
- Canto LVI. Visvámitra's Vow.
- Canto LVII. Trisanku.
- Canto LVIII. Trisanku Cursed.
- Canto LIX. The Sons Of Vasishtha.
- Canto LX. Trisanku's Ascension.
- Canto LXI. Sunahsepha.
- Canto LXII. Ambarísha's Sacrifice.
- Canto LXIII. Menaká.
- Canto LXIV. Rambhá.
- Canto LXV. Visvámitra's Triumph
- Canto LXVI. Janak's Speech.
- Canto LXVII. The Breaking Of The Bow.
- Canto LXVIII. The Envoys' Speech.
- Canto LXIX. Dasaratha's Visit.
- Canto LXX. The Maidens Sought.
- Canto LXXI. Janak's Pedigree.
- Canto LXXII. The Gift Of Kine.
- Canto LXXIII. The Nuptials.
- Canto LXXIV. Ráma With The Axe.(254)
- Canto LXXV. The Parle.
- Canto LXXVI. Debarred From Heaven.
- Canto LXXVII. Bharat's Departure.