Best Translation of the Ramayana and Mahabharata

[Drkshadow03]

So I am looking for the best translation of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. I've looked into various translations and too many seem to be mostly summaries, poorly footnoted, or take drastic liberties with both the story and language.

I would like to find something that constitutes a genuine translation, maintains the original's aesthetics as much as possible, keeps the actual story without making changes, etc. Does such a translation exist? Which translations do you prefer/recommend and why?

[Calidore]

If you want the complete Mahabharata in English, you have one choice: The Ganguli translation from the late 1800s. There's been a modern English translation in the works from the University of Chicago since the '70s, so don't hold your breath.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm

Sacred Texts also has a public domain Ramayana...

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/index.htm

...though a Google search seems to turn up more versions. I'll let you do the research there to see which works for you.

[Drkshadow03]

No other responses?

[mortalterror]

I'd recommend getting the Ganguli version from archive.org too and reading it on your ipad or kindle. It's the version I've got on mine. Or you could look into getting a paperback version in four volumes, if you don't like reading off of screens.

The Ganguli version is in very readable prose, and it's the only one which isn't abridged, adapted, or incomplete. I think there was another prose version which is a little newer besides the one in the works from Chicago U, but I think the guy died before finishing it. If you want to see a real good verse version of some famous sections, then Edwin Arnold's translation here http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/ii.htm might be worth a look.