Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A

Part A

Ramayana - Public Domain Edition

authors: M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.

1. Maharajah Dasharatha lives in a wonderful and incredibly prosperous city. He had three loyal wives, two loyal family priests, and eight loyal and sage counselors. However, despite his massive wealth and fortune, he was empty-hearted. For his loyal wives had not bore him any sons to succeed him. 

2. Dasharatha became desperate and eventually performed an ancient ceremony known as the Ashwamedha [horse sacrifice]. This was supposed to greatly increase his chances of having a son.

3. However, Dasharatha's predicament occurred at a fortuitous time, for there was a parallel problem in heaven. Ravana, the evil king of the Rakshasas, was invulnerable to gods demons. Ravana could only be injured by humans and apes. So Vishnu the Preserver promised to divide himself into four parts and become the four sons of Dasharatha.  

4. Vishvamitra takes Rama and Lakshmana (two of Dasharatha's sons) on a rite of passage to go battle with evil rakshasas.

5. Rama slays the rakshasa woman by the name of Thataka and he is rewarded with celestial weapons that he can summon with his mind!

6. 

7.

8. Rama and Lakshmana wonder into a nearby city and view the magnificent sights. However, people also have their eyes on the two youthful princes. Rama meet a princess, Sita. They met and as their eyes locked, they knew that they would love each other from then and forever onward. 

9. The King Janaka has set forth a challenge for any who wish to court his daughter, Sita. The suitor must bend the mighty bow of Shiva. This is no small task, as demons and gods fear this bow. However, in order to court Sita, Rama must succeed in this task. 

10. Rama, with peerless strength and an impressive display of sheer will, is able to snap the bow in half. Surely enough, King Janaka holds true to his word and acknowledges that Rama will be his new son-in-law. Rama is able to court his newfound sweetheart Sita after all. 

11. Upon breaking the bow of Shiva, the bull-like man Parashurama appears and challenges Rama. A hermit of the woods hands Rama a bow of Vishnu and when Rama is able to equip and wield the bow, everybody witnesses his powers.  

12. Rama and Sita are married with a gorgeous ceremony! Even better, Rama's brothers are able to find wives in Janaka's other daughters. 

13. Now that Dasharatha has four sons, he chooses his eldest son Rama, to serve as heir to the throne. 

14. Manthara, Dasharatha's youngest wife and the youngest queen, did not approve of this selection and wanted her own son, Bharata, to be named as heir apparent. 

15. Kaikeyi, conspiring with Manthara, calls on Dasharatha to keep an oath and execute two boons: one to install Bharata as heir apparent and another to banish Rama for 14 years. Dasharatha eventually agrees, albeit with extreme reluctance. 

16. As such, Rama is banished. This is truly a sad day for the kingdom. 

17. Having been told the terms of his banishment by his father, Rama departs. He understands the underhandedness that has occurred and knows he has to leave. He is accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana. 

18.

19. Dasharatha has a realization for why this is happening to him. He mortally wounded a young child in a hunting accident many years ago. It is fulfilling karma to understand the pain of losing a child. Dasharatha reconciles with that fact. 

20. Dasharatha comes to terms with his curse and understands that his old age will get the best of him. He dies, with none of his sons at his funeral. 

(Image- the death of King Dasharatha - credit)