Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana Part D

Hello VagaBuddies

Time for the biggest reading in the whole Ramayana because Part D included the climax of this story!
At the start of this reading, my love of Hanuman was overwhelmingly confirmed when he sneaked into Lanka, Ravana's capital city, to find Sita. To do this, he mastered his supernatural shapeshifting powers, first becoming big enough to cross the sea in a step and then small enough to explore the evil city unnoticed (My monkey dude is magic too!!). He found Sita just in time, because she was close to committing suicide out of despair. Hanuman, who also has a way with words, comforted her and gave her Rama's ring, a token of his commitment to her. Then, Hanuman destroyed much of the city, allowed himself to be captured, and, when he was set on fire for being a spy, spread the fire all across the city, burning much of it down to the ground. I KNEW I LIKED THIS MONKEY FOR A REASON! Much later, after returning back to Rama, while Rama's camp was debating on whether to receive the defecting Vibishana, Hanuman was the sole voice of compassion of Rama's advisers. Hanuman remembered that Vibishana saved his life when he was captured by Ravana, and could feel that Vibishana was virtuous. Basically, Hanuman joined Lakshmana as the strong, wise sidekick who dominates everyone.

More Hanuman. Just cuz : Pinterest

Rama vs. Ravana : Dazzling Goa (WordPress)

Besides other amazing things Hanuman did, this reading also had the climatic fight between Rama and Ravana! Rama, who defeated enemy commander after enemy commander, had enraged Ravana so much that he tried to fight Rama, but was immediately shut down. After recovering, and even bringing in some extra forces and using magic/trickery, Ravana was still losing every battle to Rama and his allies. One thing that did bug me a slight bit though, was when Ravana sent out Vishnu's trident that was supposed to be super destructive, but Rama just chanted a mantra and the trident was useless. I liked it much better when Rama countered Ravana's attacks with a specific asthra that could counter it. He could have easily had a single-use impenetrable shield or something, but instead the trident just failed because Rama said some magic words that had never been mentioned before.
Anyway, I also thought it was interesting that after the battle, Rama made Sita prove herself again, which even Narayan pointed out as self-contradictory based on his response to Sugreeva or Ahalya, who could both return to their spouses after explicit acts of infidelity.
Regardless,  I still really loved the ending, with its heart-pounding action, last-minute saves, and giant party to end it all. Narayan's commentary really came out on the last epilogue, describing how the author tries to draw out the end of the story, and I really liked learning that little bit.

And for my last reading notes for the Ramayana, VagaBuon Voyage!


Narayan, R. K. "The Ramayana" pp 131-171