1-10
Setting seems nice. Large mountains, palaces, temples, lakes, and foliage. Maharajah Dasharatha is well protected by a thousand warriors. Also have eight sage counselors and two family priests. Dasharatha had no son. Dash then persformed a horse sacrifice that had the gods promise him four sons. The horse wandered for a year and was slain by a sacred scimitar. Vishnu divided himself into the four sons and had other gods like Indra become apes to help him in the future. The wives that ate the sacrificial food had the sons. Two of the brothers, Lakshmana and Rama, set upon a dangerous service. The brothers had slain Thataka who was terrorizing a country. As a reward, Vishwamitra chanted mantras which allows Rama to think of celestial weapons to appear next to him. He then used these weapons to fight off a couple of rakshasas. Vishvamitra told Rama the story of Bhagiratha and Ganga. Rama then met with Ahalya and lifted her curse set by her husband because she cheated on him. The brothers then went into town and saw Princess Rita. Her and Rama had a love at first sight connection. They then met with King Janaka and were shown the bow of Shiva. The king will allow the person that can bend the bow to marry his daughter. Of course, Rama could bend the bow, broke it actually, with no problem and won Sita and broke Janak's war bow.
The breaking of the Bow of Janaka by Monro, W. D (1911). Source: Wikimedia
11-20
A man, I assume to be Parashurama, appeared and was upset that someone broke a holy relic. He had Rama draw the bow of Vishnu to prove himself and he did. Then the wedding ceremony happened and several other people got married too. Rama's father then wants to retire and put Rama in charge. He set a council to see what people thought and everyone was happy and approved. Everyone except Manthara that is because Rama smote her back in the day. She then convinced Queen Kaikeyi to use her favors of the king to save her son, I believe, this part kind of confuses me. The queen essentially threatened suicide unless her son became heir to the throne and Rama banished for 14 years. The King agreed as he owed her the favors but was very sad and reluctant to do so. Rama took the news quite well as it was his duty and he wanted to fulfill his dad's vow. Sita and Lakshmana insisted on going with Rama but were not beholden to the same standards, in terms of shame/limitations, as Rama. Rama had to wear bark, though Lakshmana did as well. The people of the kingdom were sad to see him go and thought of the new rulers as evil. The trio traveled and vowed to protect each other. In the past, Dasharatha had accidentally killed a young boy who took care of his elderly and blind parents. The father had cursed Dash that he too will know how it feels to lose a son and that only Dash's death during his sorrowed time will bring retribution. Dash then passed away two nights after Rama left in the company of his other two wives, the mothers Kaushalya, of Rama, and Sumitra, of Lakshmana.
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