Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C-D

Ramayana Part C

We start out where we left off in the last reading. Ravana is attempting to abduct Sita. Sita unknowingly converses with Ravana who is disguised. After some discussion the disguised individual reveals himself as Ravana and flies away with her. Jatayu says that he will try to rescue Sita, but he dies trying to do so. Rama and Lakshmana attempt to look for Sita, but cannot find her. They travel along and come to the monkey kingdom of Kishkinda. After coming into the kingdom, he tells them the story of Vali and Sugriva. Vali earned respect from the gods because he made nectar from the ocean. In turn, they offered him great fighting powers. Vali fought Mayavi in a cave, but the cave was sealed up by Sugriva. Once Vali emerged and beat Sugriva; Sugriva fled and Vali took his wife. Hearing this story, Hanuman employs Rama to defeat Vali. Once Rama finds Sugriva, he ends up giving Rama Sita's jewelry that he found and wants to help Rama find her. Sugriva then challenges Vali who is defeated by Rama. Sugriva then becomes king and him and Rama discuss on how to be a good king. Rama and Lakshmana continue to travel along and look for Sugriva's army after he said that he would send one. There was no army to be found, so Lakshmana returns to Sugriva to remind him of the promise he made. Upon meeting Sugriva, he is drunk, but promises not to get drunk again. He then goes to greet Rama. Sugriva then affirms his promise again and sends an army to help Rama. Sugriva sends Hanuman and Angada to find Rama. They get lost along the way and meet the brother of Jatayu (Sampathi). Sampathi tells them that he saw Sita with Ravana taking her to Lanka. Hanuman then grows in size and crosses the ocean.

Ramayana Part D

Hanuman comes upon Mandodari who he thinks that is Sita. He finds Sita and gives her Rama's ring. Hanuman then grows again and destroys Ashoka Vana. Ravana learns about this and is outraged by it. Ravana and Vibhishana talk with each other, but Ravana rejects any advice that he gives him. Vibhishana then goes and seeks asylum with Rama. Rama accepts and they discuss how to attack Lanka. Rama then builds a bridge across the ocean so tat his armies can cross over to Lanka. At this time Ravana tries to trick Sita by showing her a false decapitated head disguised to look like Rama. Sita sees through these lies. During the battle, Rama and Lakshmana faint on the battlefield; Ravana tries to show the bodies to Sita and convince her that they are dead, but Trijata tells her that they are just stunned and still alive. Rama then later gains consciousness and wounds Ravana and shatters hus crown. Kumbakarna is awakened form his deep sleep and promises to defeat Rama. Rama easily kills him and then Lakshmana kills Indrajit. Ravana is stricken by both of these deaths and now wishes to kill Sita. Ravana then employs Mahodara the giant to attack Lakshmana. He confuses Lakshmana with Rama and Mahodara is killed in the process. Rama and Ravana then battle and Rama begins by killing all of his army in hope of making him surrender. Ravana continues to battle , but Rama ends up defeating Ravana. Rama then rejects Sita initially because he thinks that Ravana has soiled her. Agni intercedes and saves Sita and the other gods intercede for her as well. Rama then is shown that Sita was untouched. Rama is then able to return to Ayodhya. 

Biography: Kamban / R. K. Narayan, The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic

(Rama vs Ravana: Wikimedia Commons)