Week 4 Lab: Microfiction: The Hidden Treasure

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    Deagle could feel something within the cloud. He began digging ecstatically for he knew knew it could only be one thing. Treasure! Time and again he would dig, try different angles, and even try to bite through. Inevitably, he tuckered himself out, and rests for the next attempt.

My dog Deagle (July 2019). Source: Me

Mystery (Six-word Story)

Deagle has yet to find treasure.

Author's Note

    I decided to make two stories about my dog Deagle and how he like to dig when I put him on my bed. I don't know why, but every time I put him on my bed, he runs around and proceeds to try to dig on it. Perhaps it's because he's part beagle, but it's pretty cute.

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part D

 

61-70 

    Rama spoke with gods to build a land bridge to Lanka. Once there, the battle began and many lost their lives. Rama managed to slay a giant who was awoken to feast on the apes. Ravana tried to trick Sita and failed. Sug managed to keep the ape troops rallied and Hanuman managed to recover a special herb that revived the dead from Himalaya. Lak then fought and slayed Indrajit, Ravana's son. Ravana wept and was going to get revenge by killing Sita, but the female raks persuaded him not to. He then went to battle and slayed Lak, but Lak was revived thanks to Hanuman and his herbs. Rama was then given a ride and weapons in Indra's chariot and went to battle Ravana. He emerged victorious after beheading all of his heads.

Rama battles Ravana. Source: Mewar Ramayana

71-80

    Vibi then became king of Lanka and Mandodari wept for her slain husband, Ravana. Rama then met with Sita and had the gods and fire prove that Sita was still pure to him to avoid any rumors that may come from her living with another man. Then he took Sita on a trip back home, reminiscing of their journey on the way. When they returned, Rama was made king and the people rejoiced. However, Sita was banished due to public criticism and gave birth to two sons. Rama learned of this 16 years later and wished to redeem Sita. Sita was redeemed and was consumed by the Earth and went to heaven. Rama saddened and met with old age also eventually went to back to heaven/land of the gods.

Bibliography

"Public Domain Edition: Ramayana" by M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part C

 

41-50 

    Rama and Lak met Sugriva and Hanuman and learned of Sug's pat, which had similarities to Rama. Sug promised to help if Rama helped him face his brother and they did. Sug challenged his brother to a duel and, mid duel, Rama shot an arrow through the brother's heart. Sug wept but became king and gained his wife again. some rain kept them from pushing forward, but as it went away, the brothers urged Sug to use hi army to help find Sita. He sent his army out to search and the southern troops ran into the vulture Sampati, Jatayu's brother, and told him of his brother's fate. Sampati informed them of Sita's location and offered to help them. The held a funeral and Hanuman had slain a sea rak.

Rama and the Monkeys Go to Lanka. Source: Mewar Ramayana

51-60

    Hanuman then went to Lanka to recce the city in search of Sita. He eventually found her and told her that Rama was coming, but also learned that she had 2 months to live if she kept rejecting Ravana. He then caused a ruckus and got captured intentionally as he figured it'd be a good idea to talk to Ravana. He was questioned and his tail was lit on fire, but Sita's prayers ensured a cool fire. Noticing the cool, Hanuman made his move and slain many raks and destroyed much of their city. He then checked on Sita and signaled the others that he found her. Rama and the army then headed that way. Ravana gathered his people and banished his lil' bro for suggesting giving up Sita to save their people. So the lil' bro, Vibhishana, joined Rama and the army.

Bibliography

"Public Domain Edition: Ramayana" by M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.

Extra Credit Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part B

 

21-30 

    Bharata was summoned and learned of his father's death. He chose to spare his mother and Manthara, and he rejected the throne and wants Rama to return. The funeral proceeded with many offerings and a large fire that I believe the body and offerings were burned in. Bharata then found Rama and tried to convince him to come back. Jabali also tried by speaking heresy. Rama refused and wished to carry out his father's orders. Bharata then gave golden sandals to Rama, to which he refused to keep, and kept them at the throne as a symbol of Rama's authority. Wandering the forest, Sita met Anasuya. Anasuya seemed to lighten her mood. Going further into the woods, the trio encounter a rakshasa that wants to wife Sita and kill the brothers. It advises the trio that he is unkillable by weapons and thus the brothers beat him and bury him to ensure he can't escape, but they actually free him of his curse and he goes to heaven. The trio then meet Agastya. The writing is a bit difficult to follow, but he seems to give them weapons, directions, and warnings of dangerous areas. Rama then encounters Shurpanakha, a rakshasa, who tries to swoon him away from Sita and his brother, and threatens to eat them. Rama refuses but suggests she swoons his brother as he is single. Shur then talked to Rama's brother and tried to attack Sita, so the brothers cut off her ears and nose. Shur ran away and urged her brother, Khara, to do something, and they sent 14 rakshasas to kill them. All 14 died, so the Shur's brother took up arms and prepared to send an army of 14,000 rakshasas. Rama stood his ground and sent his brother and Sita to hide in a cave. The rakshasas were scared to attack but followed their leader, who was slain just after his brother was. Rama won with the remaining raks scattering.

The Battle with Viradha.

Illuminated Ramayana ms (circa 1700). Source: Huntington Archive

31-40

    Shur then went and told another brother, Ravana, who is the lord of the raks. Ravana then met with Maricha and threatened him to help him. He agreed and took the form of a jeweled deer to draw out Sita. Sita then tells Rama what she sees and Rama goes to hunt the deer. Rama killed the deer/rak but it imitated Rama's voice as it was slain. Sita heard and urged Lak to go help Rama and threatened suicide if he died. Lak refused at first, but Sita launched hurtful accusations, so he changed his mind. Ravana then approached Sita, asked to wife her, and kidnapped her when she refused. She called out for help and a vulture, Jatayu, went to save her and there was a battle in the sky. Ravana slayed the vulture and flew off again with Sita while she gave her belongings to some monkeys on a mountain top. Captured, Sita kept turning down the lustful Ravana time and time again. He could not force himself upon her as he was cursed to death if he did that again. Rama and Lak then return to find Sita gone and the Jata, the vulture, laying on the ground dying. They question the vulture and Rama wails in sadness. They then run into Kabandha, another cursed rak, and kill him and burn his body, per his request. Kab then tells the brothers of the location of Sita, who Ravana is, and to seek help from ape chief Sugriva. Not sure exactly what happens at the end, seems like a lady blessed the brothers.

Bibliography

"Public Domain Edition: Ramayana" by M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.