Where does “Ramayana” come from?
Ramayana (English) comes from Sanskrit रामायण, from Sanskrit राम, from Proto-Indo-Iranian raHmás, from Proto-Indo-European reh₁mós — dirty; dirt.
Ancestry of “Ramayana”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Sanskrit | रामायण | Rama’s journey |
| 2 | Sanskrit | राम | dark, dark-coloured, black; white; pleasing,... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | raHmás | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | reh₁mós | dirty; dirt |