Week 6: Reading Diary B - The Quest to Rescue Sita Continues

Reading Diary Pg. 270-324
The Ramayana by William Buck

Once Hanuman reports the news to Rama, he knows he has to get to Lanka to save her. He struggles with figuring out a plan to cross the sea in order to reach the city. In the midst of this, the Water King, Samudra, rises up and explains that a bridge can be made out of floating rocks across the sea by the monkey, Nala. With this, they get everyone together and one by one help in the making of the bridge to Lanka, until it is finally finished.

Vibhishana seeks to convince Ravana to give Sita back to Rama, and he is quite frankly offended by this. He does not take this lightly. Vibhishana is upset that Ravana has refused to do the right thing and give Sita back, so he sort of takes matters in his own hands by going to Rama and telling him for himself. Rama was skeptical at first, but ultimately decides to trust him. Vibhishana tells Rama all of the information that he knows and agrees to help him, but refuses to fight against his own people. This is understandable and relatable. No matter how angry you get at your loved ones or family members, you ultimately would not want to fight against them. This says a lot about his character.

Rama and his search team head over the bridge to Lanka and begin to make a plan to get Sita. In the meantime, Ravana has his minister, Shuka, a hawk, watching over Rama and his team. They eventually figure this out so Rama sends demon spies in the form of a monkey, which Vibhishana is able to detect.

Ravana uses his magicians to make it look like Rama has had his head chopped off. Ravana shows the head to Sita, and she immediately weeps when she recognizes his exact features. While this is happening, Phrahasta bursts in, not realizing what is going on, and exclaims that Rama has arrived in Lanka. Sita then realizes that this has been a sick prank.

Ravana wants war with Rama. He attacks Rama's forces, but Rama and his team are able to overpower him. when they are defeated, Rama awakens his brother, Kumbhakarna, who actually urges Ravana to give Sita back to Rama, as he believes it is wrong to take another man's wife. He eventually agrees to attack Rama though. This ended up being a bad choice, because Rama chops his head off, killing him. Ravana's son, Indrajit, get killed in battle by Rama's forces, leaving only himself left to fight Rama.