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

Kaikeyi and Dasharatha 

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.'"

Dasharatha's Karma

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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