Week 4: Reading Diary B - The Journey Continues

Reading Diary Pg. 60-109
The Ramayana by William Buck

• Dasaratha decides to make Rama his successor and have him carry out his legacy as king. He king of does this behind his other son's backs, and in the end it comes around to get him. This is a similarity to what happened in Narayana's version of the Ramayana. One of Dasaratha's wives, Kaikeyi is convinced that this is a terrible mistake, and uses her two wishes that the king owes her to make her son, Bharata his successor, and to put Rama in exile. He has no choice but to fulfill her wishes. Rama is told about his exile, and does not resist. This is a true show of his character, and how the author is wanting him to be betrayed as. 
• Sita and Lakshmana plan to go into exile together with Rama, and as they try to leave, the people of Ayodhya are determined to keep them from leaving. They make the river rise, blocking them in and forcing them to stay through the night. 
• When they begin their journey into exile and enter the forest they run into Guha, the Hunter King. He immediately runs to Rama with open arms and big huge saying, "Oh Rama, Rama! Now you are an outcast like me! You look more outlandish than I remembered you!" (p. 72). He whistled and men came out from behind trees bearing all sorts of hot, steaming food! Later that night he goes on to tell them all the story of how he rejected Shiva's priests, and kicked her statue every single day. When he later died, Shiva rescued him because Shive considered him his most devoted follower. 
• Guha then goes on to tell them another story of when Kaikeyi had used her power to get Dasharatha to teach her the language of animals, even though he was to guard that knowledge with him own life. One Dasaratha had figured out what was going on, he knew he had made a mistake and did not have to do what she had demanded of him. 
• As Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana continue their journey, they meet sage Bharadwaja who convinces them to stay Chitratuka, where they choose to reside and Lakshmana builds them a beautiful house.  
• As the reading comes to an end, Dasharatha is told of Rama's departure. He dies the next day. His last thoughts were of a time he had accidentally killed a young boy in the forest, and he sees a connection between the death of that boy and the loss of his son.
• I really enjoy picking out the similarities and differences between the two versions of the Ramayana. For me, this version is easier to follow since I already have knowledge of the story and can focus more on what is happening, instead of just getting the characters distinguished. Although, very similar, I can point out differences here and there.