Reading Notes: Ramayana Public Domain, Part B

Bharata Returns 

Rhama & Bharata

For this reading part, I decided to take a different approach. Instead of going back and forth between the reading and the links to see what each name depicts, I wrote it down on my notes to make the story flow easier and so that I may comprehend it better.

Bharata - Rama's brother
Kaikeyi - Bharata's -  mother and Rama's step mother
Dasharatha - father
Raja - monarch
Ayodhya - City & birhplace of Rama
Maharaja - "great ruler" / king
Shatrughna - Rama's youngest brother. Lakshmana's twin brother
Manthara - maid who convinced Kaikeyi (mom) to exile her step son, Rama
Chitrakoot - town
Jabali - Dasharata's advisor who also acted as a brahmanic (priest)


* I feel hurt for Rama when he found out about his dad. It reminds me of a very bad dream. It also reminds me of my uncle who died in a motorcycle accident and his soon to be wife was on a 13hour car drive to meet him in the town where they were going to get married in. She did not know he passed away that day, until she got to his house.

* The world is full of evil people and the need for power can destroy us. The story reminds me of the series "Once Upon a Time" and "Game of Thrones".

* I can write a short introduction of the plan that Manthara (the maid) and Kaikeyi (step mom) had to exile Rama. She told him that he had to hide in the woods in order to avoid being killed by the highest spirit?

* I can also change the story where Kaikeyi secretly had another son and that is why she exiled Rama - to make the "other son" the new king. She did not know that the monarch left to get Bharata and bring him back to the castle.

* Possibly describe more in detail how Shatrughna turned into an evil two headed dragon, bird or snake (as his power) and tried to kill the maid?? Why did the brother obey Bharata when he told him not to kill the maid?? What would have happened if he did not listen?

* The dad's funeral is sad and maybe I can write a poem that was read by the two brothers during the service

* Jabali, the advisor spoke some true words - we only get one life and we must live it to the fullest.

* The fact that Rama did not listen to Jabali's advise, symbolizes how important it is to adhere to authority (his father) and the wishes he had as a king. It also comes to show that Rama had a strong bond with his brother and trusted him completely to take over the kingdom.


(The town of Chitrakuta. Source: The Sun)
Bibliography: Ramayana Public Domain Edition.