Ramayana: A Summary

1. Dasharatha, King of Aydohya, has three wives and four sons. Rama is the eldest. His mother is Kaushalya. Bharata is the son of his second and favorite wife, Queen Kaikeyi. The other two are twins, Lakshman and Shatrughna. Rama and Bharata are blue, perhaps indicating they were dark skinned or originally south Indian deities.

2) A sage takes the boys out to train them in archery. Rama has hit an apple hanging from a string.

3) In a neighboring city the ruler's daughter is named Sita. When it was time for Sita to choose her bridegroom, at a ceremony called a swayamvara, the princes were asked to string a giant bow. No one else can even lift the bow, but as Rama bends it, he not only strings it but breaks it in two. Sita indicates she has chosen Rama as her husband by putting a garland around his neck. The disappointed suitors watch.

4) King Dasharatha, Rama's father, decides it is time to give his throne to his eldest son Rama and retire to the forest to seek moksha. Everyone seems pleased. This plan fulfills the rules of dharma because an eldest son should rule and, if a son can take over one's responsibilities, one's last years may be spent in a search for moksha. In addition, everyone loves Rama. However Rama's step-mother, the king's second wife, is not pleased. She wants her son, Bharata, to rule. Because of an oath Dasharatha had made to her years before, she gets the king to agree to banish Rama for fourteen years and to crown Bharata, even though the king, on bended knee, begs her not to demand such things. Broken-hearted, the devastated king cannot face Rama with the news and Kaikeyi must tell him.

5) Rama, always obedient, is as content to go into banishment in the forest as to be crowned king. Sita convinces Rama that she belongs at his side and his brother Lakshman also begs to accompany them. Rama, Sita and Lakshman set out for the forest.

Bharata, whose mother's evil plot has won him the throne, is very upset when he finds out what has happened. Not for a moment does he consider breaking the rules of dharma and becoming king in Rama's place. He goes to Rama's forest retreat and begs Rama to return and rule, but Rama refuses. "We must obey father," Rama says. Bharata then takes Rama's sandals saying, "I will put these on the throne, and every day I shall place the fruits of my work at the feet on my Lord." Embracing Rama, he takes the sandals and returns to Aydohya.

6) Years pass and Rama, Sita and Lakshman are very happy in the forest. Rama and Lakshman destroy the rakshasas (evil creatures) who disturb the sages in their meditations. One day a rakshasa princess tries to seduce Rama, and Lakshmana wounds her and drives her away. She returns to her brother Ravana, the ten-headed ruler of Lanka (Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon), and tells her brother (who has a weakness for beautiful women) about lovely Sita.

Ravana devises a plan to abduct Sita. He sends a magical golden deer which Sita desires. Rama and Lakshman go off to hunt the deer, first drawing a protective circle around Sita and warning her she will be safe as long as she does not step outside the circle. As they go off, Ravana (who can change his shape) appears as a holy man begging alms. The moment Sita steps outside the circle to give him food, Ravana grabs her and carries her off the his kingdom in Lanka.

7) Rama is broken-hearted when he returns to the empty hut and cannot find Sita. A band of monkeys offer to help him find Sita. 
Ravana has carried Sita to his palace in Lanka, but he cannot force her to be his wife so he puts her in a grove and alternately sweet-talks her and threatens her in an attempt to get her to agree to marry him. Sita will not even look at him but thinks only of her beloved Rama. Hanuman, the general of the monkey band can fly since his father is the wind, and Hanuman flies to Lanka and, finding Sita in the grove, comforts her and tells her Rama will soon come and save her.

8) Ravana's men capture Hanuman, and Ravana orders them to wrap Hanuman's tail in cloth and to set it on fire. With his tail burning, Hanuman hops from house-top to house-top, setting Lanka afire. He then flies back to Rama to tell him where Sita is.

9) Rama, Lakshman and the monkey army build a causeway from the tip of India to Lanka and cross over to Lanka. A might battle ensues. Rama kills several of Ravana's brothers and then
Rama confronts ten-headed Ravana. (Ravana is known for his wisdom as well as for his weakness for women which may explain why he is pictured as very brainy.) Rama finally kills Ravana.

10). Rama frees Sita. After Sita proves here purity, they return to Ayodhya and Rama becomes king. His rule, Ram-rajya, is an ideal time when everyone does his or her dharma and "fathers never have to light the funeral pyres for their sons."

The Two Brothers

¹Once there were two brothers. Anpu was the elder, and Bata was the younger. When their parents died, Anpu was already married and had a house of his own, and so he took his little brother with him and treated him like his son. When the little brother grew to be a young man, he was an excellent worker; he did the plowing; he harvested the corn; there was not his equal in the whole land. Behold, the spirit of a god was within him!

          ²Every morning, the younger brother followed his oxen and worked all day in the fields, and every evening, he returned to the house with vegetables, milk, and wood. He laid all these before his elder brother and at dawn, he took with him which he had baked and laid it before his elder brother; and he tookwith him his bread and he drove the cattle into the field.

³Because Anpu loved his younger brother very much, his wife became very jealous and she wanted to destroy Bata.

One day, when Anpu and Bata were in the fields, they needed some corn, so Anpu sent Bata home to get some. The younger brother found the wife combing her hair and said to her, “Get up and give me some corn that I may run to the field for my elder brother is in a hurry. Do not delay.”

⁴At eventide, Anpu returned home earlier than his brother because Bata had much work to do in the fields. Anpu was met by his wife who was crying bitterly. She showed him her arms and legs, which she had painted black and blue and accused Bata of having beaten her up. She pretended to be in great pain. She did not give him water to wash his hands with; she did not light the fire for him; she pretended that she was very sick.

⁵And Anpu became very angry; he sharpened his knife and waited for Bata in the stable.

When the sun went down, Bata came home as usual loaded with herbs, milk, and wood. As he entered the door he saw the feet of his brother and the sharp knife hanging by his side. The brother sprang at him and Bata fled praying to the god Ra. “My good Lord! Save me from death, thou who divines the evil from the good.” And Ra heard his cry; he made a river flow between one brother and the other and filled it with crocodiles.

 ⁶And Bata said to his elder brother, “Why do you seek to kill me? Am I not your brother and have you not always treated me as if you were my father? And has not your wife been as a mother to me? Now, since you want to kill me, I shall go to the Valley of the Acacia.”

⁷Anpu answered, “Why did you beat up my wife and almost kill her?”

⁸Bata answered, “I did no such thing. Have I not told you that I have always looked upon her as my mother?”

⁹So, Anpu went home. He found his wife near the river washing off the black and blue dye with which she had painted herself. Filled with great anger, Anpu killed his wife and cast her to the dogs. Then, he sat down, poured ashes on his head and mourned for his younger brother.

¹⁰Bata reached the Valley of the Acacia. There was no one with him; he slew wild beasts for food; he built himself a house under the Acacia tree, which is sacred to the gods.

One day as he walked out of his house, he met the Nine Gods who knew of his innocence and goodness. Ra said to the god Khunumu, “Behold, frame a woman for Bata that he may not remain alone.” And Khunumu made for Bata a wife to dwell with him. She was indeed more beautiful than any other woman in the whole land. She was like a goddess, and Bata loved her very much.

Makato and the Cowrie Shell (A Thai Folktale)

¹Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Makato. He was an orphan, for his father and mother had died when he was very young. He had no brothers, sisters, cousins, or friends to take care of him, so he had to make a living for himself. He did every kind of work—carrying heavy things, clearing away the forest, or feeding pigs. He never idled over his work, and although he was paid only a small wage, he was satisfied. He knew that if he did not work, he would starve. Wherever he went, his employers praised him for being sensible, hardworking, good-tempered, and cheerful.

²One fine evening after he had finished chopping up a big pile of wood, he sat down for a rest and thought of all he would like to do in the future. He wanted to try his luck in far-off strange lands for he longed for exciting adventures.

³“What are you thinking about so deeply, my boy?” asked his employer.

⁴“I would like to go on a journey for adventure,” said Makato pointing to the northeast. “I’ve heard that the land over there is fertile and the people are kind. I wish I could see that land for myself.” His eyes sparkled with excitement.

⁵“The land you wish to go to is called Sukhothai,” said his employer. “They say PraRuang of Sukhothai is a very kindhearted king. You might be lucky if you could go there.”

⁶Some time later, Makato decided to try his fortune. He left his village and set out into the wide world. He walked along cheerfully, enjoying new sights and talking to the people he met on the way. After a month’s journey, he reached a village on the frontier of the kingdom of Sukhothai.

⁷“Please can I have some water to drink?” Makato asked an old woman with a big water pot on her head. “I’m so thirsty.”

⁸“Where did you come from? Why are you here alone? You look as if you’d come a long way,” said the old woman, pouring cold water from her pot into a small cup and handing it to Makato.

⁹“Thank you so much,” said the boy.

¹⁰“Who are your father and mother? Haven’t you any family?” the old woman asked again.

¹¹“I have neither father nor mother. I come from the city of Mon over there,” replied Makato.

¹²“Good heavens! Have you really come from Mon? How is it that you are traveling alone, such a young boy as you are?”

¹³“I wanted to see PraRuang of Sukhothai,” replied Makato. “They say he is a very kindhearted king.”

¹⁴“You are a determined boy!” said the woman. “Come along with me. Who knows, you might see PraRuang someday.”

¹⁵Makato was glad to go with her. If he could work for this kind woman, he would have a place to sleep, some food to eat and, perhaps, someday he might be lucky enough to see the king.

¹⁶The old woman’s husband was one of PraRuang’s mahouts, which meant that he helped look after the hundreds of elephants that the king owned. Makato helped the mahout find food for the elephants and clean out the elephant sheds. He worked hard and well and the mahout and his wife were fond of him.

¹⁷One day the sky was so clear and the weather so fine that it seemed to Makato that it must be a lucky day. As he worked in the elephant sheds, a tall young man in a splendid costume, followed by attendants, came in. It was PraRuang himself. Makato bowed low at once with his hands clasped together before him. His heart beat fast.

¹⁸“Where did that boy come from?” The king asked the old mahout, who was attending him.

¹⁹“He came all the way from the city of Mon,” said the old mahout, bowing. “He heard so much about Your Majesty that he longed to see you.”

²⁰“How old is he?”

²¹“Twelve years old, Your Majesty.”

²²“A good-looking and hard-working boy,” said the king. “Take good care of him.”

²³As the king walked away, Makato saw a little cowrie shell lying on the ground. He ran to pick it up and held it out to the king, but the king said with a smile: “You may keep it.”

 ²⁴“How wonderful!” Makato thought. “The king has given me a cowrie shell.”

²⁵At that time the people of Sukhothai used cowrie shells as money. Although one cowrie shell had little value, Makato wanted to make as much use of it as possible, for it was the king’s gift. For a long time he could not think of a way to use it so that it would earn more money for him.

²⁶One day he passed by a stall in the market where the seeds of many different plants were sold. He looked along the stall and caught sight of a basket full of lettuce seed.

²⁷Lettuce! He could grow small plants like that. He asked the jolly-looking woman at the stall: “Can I buy some lettuce seed?”

²⁸“Oh yes, my boy. How much do you want?” said the woman.

²⁹“I have one cowrie shell,” said Makato.

³⁰“One cowrie shell!” said the woman laughing. “That won’t buy anything. I can’t even measure that much.”

³¹“Look!” said Makato eagerly. “I’ll dip my finger into a pile of seeds; then I’ll take the seeds that stick to it—that must be about right for one cowrie shell.”

³²“Well, why not?” said the woman amused at his suggestion. “All right, boy. Help yourself.”

³³Makato paid the woman his one cowrie shell. Then he put his finger into his mouth and dipped it into a pile of seeds. When he pulled his wet finger out, it was covered with seeds. He carefully scraped them off his finger into the palm of his hand and went away happily, clutching the seeds.

³⁴Now that he had seeds, Makato broke the soil and sowed them at once. He watered the seed bed every day and soon the young plants appeared. Day by day, he cleared more ground and planted more lettuce seedlings until the kitchen garden was covered with them. He was very proud of himself because he had done so well.

³⁵“I wish I could give the king some of my fine lettuce,” he thought.

³⁶One day the king passed by the elephant sheds again. Makato waited for his opportunity, then knelt down and proudly presented his biggest bunches of lettuce to the king.

³⁷“Where did you get these?” the king asked, surprised.

³⁸“I grew them from the cowrie shell you gave me, Your Majesty,” answered Makato with a beaming smile.

³⁹“How could you do that?” asked the puzzled king.

⁴⁰Makato told the king the whole story. The king was impressed with his intelligence and industry. So much so that later on he gave Makato a job in the palace.

⁴¹As the years passed, Makato grew tall and handsome. He mastered every grace and served the king well. He was so loyal that the king trusted him absolutely. He was promoted to higher and higher positions until he was given the title of KhunWang, which meant that he was the most important person in the king’s court.

⁴²He was also happily married to a beautiful young daughter of the king. After that, the king made him the ruler of Mon.

⁴³So it was that Makato, who had once been a poor orphan, became the king of a prosperous kingdom.

Shakuntala by Kalidasa (Act IV) (excerpts)

Sharngarava (listening to the song of koïl-birds).

Father,

The trees are answering your prayer

In cooing cuckoo-song,

Bidding Shakuntala farewell,

Their sister for so long.

Invisible beings.

May lily-dotted lakes delight your eye;

May shade-trees bid the heat of noonday cease;

May soft winds blow the lotus-pollen nigh;

May all your path be pleasantness and peace.

(All listen in astonishment.)

Gautami.

My child, the fairies of the pious grove bid you farewell. For they love the household. Pay reverence to the holy ones.

Shakuntala (does so. Aside to Priyamvada).

Priyamvada, I long to see my husband, and yet my feet will hardly move. It is hard, hard to leave the hermitage.

Priyamvada.

You are not the only one to feel sad at this farewell. See how the whole grove feels at parting from you.

The grass drops from the feeding doe;

The peahen stops her dance;

Pale, trembling leaves are falling slow,

The tears of clinging plants.

Shakuntala(recalling something).

Father, I must say good-bye to the spring-creeper, my sister among the vines.

Kanva.

I know your love for her. See! Here she is at your right hand.

Shakuntala (approaches the vine and embraces it).

Vine sister, embrace me too with your arms, these branches. I shall be far away from you after to-day. Father, you must care for her as you did for me.

Kanva.

My child, you found the lover who

Had long been sought by me;

No longer need I watch for you;

I’ll give the vine a lover true,

This handsome mango-tree.

And now start on your journey.

Shakuntala (going to the two friends).

Dear girls, I leave her in your care too.

The two friends.

But who will care for poor us? (They shed tears.)

Kanva.

Anusuya! Priyamvada! Do not weep. It is you who should cheer Shakuntala. (All walk about.)

Shakuntala.

Father, there is the pregnant doe, wandering about near the cottage. When she becomes a happy mother, you must send someone to bring me the good news. Do not forget.

Kanva.

I shall not forget, my child.

Shakuntala (stumbling).

Oh, oh! Who is it that keeps pulling at my dress, as if to hinder me? (She turns round to see.)

Kanva.

It is the fawn whose lip, when torn

By kusha-grass, you soothed with oil;

The fawn who gladly nibbled corn

Held in your hand; with loving toil

You have adopted him, and he

Would never leave you willingly.

Shakuntala.

My dear, why should you follow me when I am going away from home? Your mother died when you were born and I brought you up. Now I am leaving you, and Father Kanva will take care of you. Go back, dear! Go back! (She walks away, weeping.)

Kanva.

Do not weep, my child. Be brave. Look at the path before you.

Be brave, and check the rising tears

That dim your lovely eyes;

Your feet are stumbling on the path

That so uneven lies.

Sharngarava.

Holy Father, the Scripture declares that one should accompany a departing loved one only to the first water. Pray give us your commands on the bank of this pond, and then return.

Kanva.

Then let us rest in the shade of this fig-tree. (All do so.) What commands would it be fitting for me to lay on King Dushyanta? (He reflects.)

Anusuya.

My dear, there is not a living thing in the whole hermitage that is not grieving to-day at saying good-bye to you. Look!

The sheldrake does not heed his mate

Who calls behind the lotus-leaf;

He drops the lily from his bill

And turns on you a glance of grief.

Kanva.

Son Sharngarava, when you present Shakuntala to the king, give him this message from me.

Remembering my religious worth,

Your own high race, the love poured forth

By her, forgetful of her friends,

Pay her what honour custom lends

To all your wives. And what fate gives

Beyond, will please her relatives.

Sharngarava.

I will not forget your message, Father.

Kanva (turning to Shakuntala).

My child, I must now give you my counsel. Though I live in the forest, I have some knowledge of the world.

Sharngarava.

True wisdom, Father, gives insight into everything.

Kanva.

My child, when you have entered your husband’s home,

Obey your elders; and be very kind

To rivals; never be perversely blind

And angry with your husband, even though he

Should prove less faithful than a man might be;

Be as courteous to servants as you may,

Not puffed with pride in this your happy day:

Thus does a maiden grow into a wife;

But self-willed women are the curse of life.

But what does Gautami say?

Gautami.

This is advice sufficient for a bride. (To Shakuntala.) You will not forget, my child.

Kanva.

Come, my daughter, embrace me and your friends.

Shakuntala.

Oh, Father! Must my friends turn back too?

Kanva.

My daughter, they too must someday be given in marriage. Therefore they may not go to court. Gautami will go with you.

Shakuntala (throwing her arms about her father).

I am torn from my father’s breast like a vine stripped from a sandal-tree on the Malabar hills. How can I live in another soil? (She weeps.)

Kanva.

My daughter, why distress yourself so?

A noble husband’s honourable wife,

You are to spend a busy, useful life

In the world’s eye; and soon, as eastern skies

Bring forth the sun, from you there shall arise

A child, a blessing and a comfort strong—

You will not miss me, dearest daughter, long.

Shakuntala (falling at his feet).

Farewell, Father.

Kanva.

My daughter, may all that come to you which I desire for you.

Shakuntala (going to her two friends).

Come, girls! Embrace me, both of you together.

The two friends (do so).

Dear, if the good king should perhaps be slow to recognise you, show him the ring with his own name engraved on it.

Shakuntala.

Your doubts make my heart beat faster.

The two friends.

    Do not be afraid, dear. Love is timid.

Sharngarava (looking about).

            Father, the sun is in midheaven. She must hasten.

Shakuntala (embracing Kanva once more).

            Father, when shall I see the pious grove again?

Kanva.

            My daughter, When you have shared for many years

            The king’s thoughts with the earth,

            When to a son who knows no fears

            You shall have given birth,

            When, trusted to the son you love,

            Your royal labours cease,

            Come with your husband to the grove

            And end your days in peace.

Gautami.

               My child, the hour of your departure is slipping by. Bid your father turn back. No, she would never do that. Pray turn back, sir.

Kanva.

            Child, you interrupt my duties in the pious grove.

Shakuntala.

            Yes, Father. You will be busy in the grove. You will not miss me. But oh! I miss you.

Kanva.

            How can you think me so indifferent? (He sighs.)

            My lonely sorrow will not go,

            For seeds you scattered here

            Before the cottage door, will grow;

            And I shall see them, dear.

               Go. And peace go with you. (Exit Shakuntala, with Gautami, Sharngarava, and Sharadvata.)

The two friends(gazing long after her. Mournfully).

            Oh, oh! Shakuntala is lost among the trees.

Kanva.

               Anusuya! Priyamvada! Your companion is gone. Choke down your grief and follow me. (They start to go back.)

The two friends.

            Father, the grove seems empty without Shakuntala.

Kanva.

            So love interprets. (He walks about, sunk in thought.) Ah! I have sent Shakuntala away, and now I am myself again. For

            A girl is held in trust, another’s treasure;

            To arms of love my child to-day is given;

            And now I feel a calm and sacred pleasure;

            I have restored the pledge that came from heaven.

(all exit)

About Kalidasa