Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part D


  • Rama needs to cross the bridge to Lanka; he asks for assistance to cross, God of Ocean recommends he ask Nala for help
    • Other versions say people just wrote the name "Rama" on stones, allowing them to float and make a bridge across the ocean 
  • Ravana tries to make Sita lament and pretends to bring in head of Rama - it's just an illusion 
  • Ravana awakens his gigantic brother Kumbakarna to fight 
  • Hanuman roots up an entire mountain to bring back healing herbs for the army 
    • In other versions, he brings it back specifically to tend to Lakshmana's wounds 
    • Would be very interesting to write a story from the point of view of Hanuman on this matter
  • Lakshmana slays Indrajit 
  • Rama kills Ravana, and Vibhishana becomes king of Lanka 
    • In other versions, Ravana comes to realize that Rama is an avatar of Vishnu and that Hanuman is an avatar of Shiva and repents as he passes away 
  • Sita is tested by fire for "purity;" passes the test, and both leave back for Ayodhya 
  • Sita is sent into exile again by Rama, because the townspeople questioned her virtue...
    • She lives in the hermitage of the sake Valmiki, and gives birth to twins Lava and Kusha
  • Eventually, after some rendezvous, Rama runs into his twin sons, who explain that their mother is Sita
  • Rama wants Sita to prove her innocence again, Sita decides enough is enough - she returns back to Goddess Bhumi, her mother, having taken enough 
  • Rama surrenders his body to the River Sarayu 
A picture depicting Rama surrendering his physical body at the River Sarayu


Bibliography: PDE Ramayana, Public Domain, http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/ramayana-online-public-domain-edition.html

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