THE RAMAYANACHAPTER 2 “THE WEDDING”

Translation: R.K. Narayan

PLOTRama, Laskhmana, and Viswamithra travel to Mithila to meet the King of Janaka.

Sita, the King’s daughter, and Rama’s eyes meet from afar and they feel in instant attraction. They do not speak to each other and do not know who each other are.

The next day, Rama, Laskhmana, and Viswamithra go to the assemblyhall to meet the King of Janaka who is immediately taken by Rama, wanting him to marry his daughter.

Rama strings the bow of Shiva and breaks it in the process, granting him the King’s daughter.

A wedding and celebration quickly follows and they both marry.

KEY QUOTES/SCENES“They had been together not so long ago in

Vaikunta, their original home in heaven, as Vishnu and his spouse Lakshmi, but in their present incarnation, suffering all the limitations of mortals, they looked at each other as strangers.” (23)

Rama strings the bow in order to marry the King of Janaka’s daughter and breaks it in half.

“Now I return to you Rama and Lakshmana. Their achievements are immeasurable, but there is much more ahead...” (32)

THINK….

What does this story reveal about the beliefs in the after life?Is the extravagance of this wedding comparable to modern weddings?How does Rama compare to Achilles?