Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A

Rama Wins Sita
Main Characters: Rama, Janak, Sita, Vishvamitra

  • Monarchs, Nobles, Warriors gathered about to compete for Sita's heart
  • talks about the history and lavishness of the bow
  • lots of imagery to the setting 
  • main plot: Rama bent the bow to win Sita's heart
  • lots of room for retelling because plot is so simple and to the point

Main characters: Kaikeyi, Dasharatha, Bharata
  • Kaikeyi asks that her husband grant her the two wishes he had promised her long ago otherwise she will drink poison
  • he agrees and explains he will never be happy again unless he grants her whatever wish she desires
  • her first wish: for her son, Bharata, to be crowned as King/Leader
  • her second wish: for Rama to be sent into exile
  • heartbroken, Dasharatha scolds Kaikeyi but knows he must grant the wish
  • she again reminds him that if he does not fulfill, she will kill herself
  • "So he lamented through the night, and unto Kaikeyi he said, 'I grant the boons, but I reject thee for ever and thy son Bharata also.'"
Main Characters Dasharatha, young boy, mother, father
  • Dasharatha was known to suffer a sad death since childhood
  • while hunting, he strung his bow and accidentally struck a helpless child
  • the boy forgives him as he passes away in the forest
  • Dasharatha informs the parents and brings them to the spot of the murder
  • the parents, devastated at this tragedy, question their purpose in life now that their son had gone
  • the father asks Dasharatha to put him out of his misery and kill him too
  • while cremating the body of the young boy, the parents step into the flame to await their death as well
Ramayana 
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