Reading Notes: The Divine Archer, Section A

Photo Information: Source

Pg 3, Section 1

It is a prosperous time for the people of Ayodhya. King Dasaratha is generous and giving to his priestesses. He has three wives who have borne him four sons. Rama is revealed to be a divine creature briefly after he is born. He then returns to his mortal child form. Rama exhibits an extremely intelligent mind and crafty personality. He is an savant archer. Visva-mitra asks king Dasaratha for the accompaniment of his two sons Rama and Lakshman.

Pg 11, Section 2

After a journey to Janak, Rama hears the jingle of bangles on approaching feet and he declares that, whoever they belong, he will fall in love with. Sita is the one who approaches. Rama is then the only person able to meet the challenge by the king of Janak to string his godly bow. Rama breaks it in the process showing his immeasurable strength. Upon hearing the bow snap, a feared hermit appears and challenges Rama to string the bow of Vishna. He does so successfully and the hermit rewards him by giving it to him and proclaims his greatness. Rama then weds Sita. The kingdom is blessed and happy.

Pg 19, Section 3

King Dasaratha decides that his son Rama should succeed him as king. Upon hearing of the kings decision, the mother of his son, Baharata, who is Kaikeyi, recalls that the king owes her two wishes and uses them to request that her son succeed the king and that Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen years. This send the king into turmoil. Rama accepts his fate benevolently. Sita and Lakshmana insist on joining Rama in his exile.

Pg 26, Section 4

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana spend their first night under a Simsapa tree. The people of the kingdom do not want them to leave so they accompany them as well. Realizing that he must not lead the people of the kingdom, Rama and his two companions sneak away into the forest. Their they meet the hermit Valmiki who shows them to Chitrakuta where they decide to live. Back in the kingdom, king Dasaratha recalls a curse that was but upon him when he was younger for killing an innocent child. He dies from sorrow. Bharata arrives from his stay abroad and discovers his father dead, his brothers gone, and the throne waiting for him. He is angry at his mother for her wishes from his father. He refuses to take the throne and puts a pair of sandals on the throne to represent Rama in his absence until Rama returns from his exile.

Pg 34, Section 5

Rama and his companions move from Chitrakuta to the Panchavati forest. There, Shurpanaka sees Rama and falls in love with him. She begins scheming for a way to make Rama fall in love with her. When she tries to seduce Rama, he mutilates her and defeats her army. She returns to her brother, Ravana and convinces him to challenge Rama. Ravana uses Maricha to entice Rama away by revealing himself as a golden deer. Sita begs Rama to chase after the deer and shot it with his bow. After Rama give chase, she thinks she hears Rama calling her and begs Lakshmana to go find him. 

Pg 41, Section 6

Ravana sweeps in and kidnaps her in the absence of the two brothers. Jatayu, king of the vultures, sees Ravana taking Sita and he attacks Ravana. Ravana cuts off his wings. Rama and Lakshmana find Jatayu dying when they return. He tells the brothers what happened. Rama and Lakshmana, in pursuit of Ravana, meet Sugriva and Hanuman, the two monkeys, in the forest. Rama agrees to help Sugriva find release from his brother Vali’s chase if Sugriva helps Rama find Sita.

Bibliography:
F. J. Gould, The Divine Archer, p3-47