Reading Notes: Ramayana Part B

Reading Notes from The Ramayana by R.K. Narayan

The events after the death of Dasaratha through the eyes of Bharatha. He must have been feeling so many emotions when he read the message that was brought to him: disbelief, sorrow, anger, shame. It would be an interesting story of how he handled the news of being made king at the cost of his father and brother being ripped from his life.

Another interesting story would be that of Kaikeyi. She was Dasaratha's beloved wife and had even saved his life on the battlefield. Did she grieve the king's passing? Did she feel remorse for her actions? Did she still believe her favored servant's story that this was the only way to protect her power? What if Kaikeyi had a change of heart and regretted following Kooni's plan?

I am also intrigued to write from Soorpanaka's point of view. Does she actually love Rama? Is this an elaborate ploy? I could write out her view of trying to make Rama love her, her jealousy of Sita, and her sorrow when Kara and his army fell.

There is a lot of beautiful writing in this section, but it's really hard to find places to retell in a new story. Every section flows to the next just like different streams make their way into one, indiscernible river. The best I can do is narrate the inner thoughts and motivations of interesting characters such as these.

As soon as I finished typing the previous paragraph, inspiration struck like lightning. I could retell the story of the Golden Deer. The allure of beauty that is mere inches from our grasp, but when we reach to grab it, it gives chase and we lose sight of our senses in pursuit of it. Giving up everything we know for the glorious unknown, and perhaps realizing the ruse just as we attain what we sought.

(Sita showing the Golden Deer to Rama and Lakshmana, Wikimedia Commons)