The Ramayana is an important Hindu epic composed between 200 BCE and 200 CE by the Brahmin poet Valmiki. It follows the characters of Rama and Sita who are models of proper behavior according to Hindu life and values. The epic explores themes of love, duty, and suffering as prescribed by dharma, with wives expected to devote themselves fully to their husbands, husbands to prioritize dharma over their marriages, and all citizens to accept their roles and endure hardship righteously as it determines their next lifetime.