Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part B

 Ramayana by various authors

- Bharata, Kaikeyi and Dasharatha's son, returns home to find his father dead and his brother banished. He does not agree with what Kaikeyi has done and decides to find Rama and give him back the throne. First, however, Bharata must perform the funeral rites for his father. 

- Bharata finds Rama and tells him that he wishes to give him back the throne to which Rama refuses because he has to fulfill his father's vows. Make sure you come back to the speech made by Jabali because you found it intriguing and will want to incorporate it into your story.

- Bharata gives Rama some golden sandals which he refuses until his years of banishment are done. 

- Sita, Rama, and Lakshmana run into a rakshasha named Viradha who threatens their lives and says that he will marry Sita. Rama and Lahshmana go to bury him in a pit because he can not be killed by sharp weapons and he reveals that he is a ghandarva, Tumburu. 

- Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita then run into the sister of Ravana, rakshasha, Shurpanakha who wants to make Rama her husband. Rama and Lakshmana tease Shurpanakha for her interest in them and Rama turns her down because he is in love with Sita. Lakshmana also turns her down at which point she attacks. Shurpanakha runs to her brothers Khara and Dushana for help. Rama and Lakshmana beat both Khara and Dushana, slaying them. 

- Shurpanakha flees to her brother, Ravana. Make note of Shurpanakha's speech in this passage because it is very interesting. It would be interesting to add more depth to her character and give her and her brother Ravana more of a background. Ravana vows to avenge her with evil cackles.

- Maricha takes the form of a golden deer in order to trick Sita into being alone. Sita sees the golden deer, urges Rama to go get it for her, and then forces Lakshmana to go after Rama for fear that he is in danger, leaving her alone to be kidnapped by Ravana whom she turns down in a touching speech. Sita in these chapters is annoying and naive. If I include a female character in her place, I hope to portray her as more intelligent and strong. 

- The great vulture Jatayu tries to stop the kidnapping, but fails. Rama and Lakshmana realize Sita has been kidnapped and find Jatayu who tells them what happened before he dies.

                                                Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana (Source: Wikipedia) 

Bibliography: "Ramayana" by various authors. Website: Indian Epics: Images and PDE Epics.