Ramayana: The Epic

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My Friend, our story begins long ago..

..when the Kingdom of Kosal was ruled by the great King Dashrath.

The mighty Dashrath..

..lived peacefully with his three beautiful wives..

..in his capital, Ayodhya.

He had all that he desired, all.. except children.

It was the only pleasure that God had deprived him off.

Upon advice from the royal sage..

..he performed ritual to obtain a son.

On completing the ritual.

King Dashrath was blessed with four hand some sons.

Ram from Queen Kaushalya, Bharat from Kaykai..

..and Sumitra's Laxman and Shatrughna.

Over time, Ram's reputations brave warrior spread far and wide.

So much so..

..that the great sage Vishvamitr..

..requested King Dashrath to send Ram..

..to protect his scared ritual from the dangerous demons, Tadka.

After this.

Sage Vishvamitr took Ram and Laxman to the Kingdom of Mithila..

..where King Janak was hosting, a swayamwar..

..a marriage contest to select a husband for his daughter, Sita.

The go al of the contest was to string the majestic bow..

..of lord Shiva in order to win Sita's hand in marriage.

Brave and mighty princes from all over India..

..could not even move it..

The King of Himpur, the mighty Rohit Kumar,

..is now approaching the podium.

The mighty, Rohit Kumar, has failed the test!

As a child my daughter Sita..

..would lift this bow with such ease..

..is there no prince, strong enough to even string it now..

Is there no warrior in this world..

..capable of winning my daughter's hand?

I, the King of Mithila, Janak, with great sadness, announce..

..the closing of the contest of my daughter Sita's marriage.

Because there is no man on this earth worthy of her hand.

Wait!

This earth is not devoid of brave warriors!

As long as the son's of Dashrath live.

My brother Ram, has slain the ferocious Tadka!

Congratulations!

Lord Ram, the son of Dashrath has won..

..King Janak's daughter, Sita's hand in marriage!

Ram and Sita's marriage showered good fortune all over Ayodhya,

Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna..

..also got married to Sita's sisters,

Urmilla, Mandvi and Shruta Kirti.

Ayodhya had never seen such happiness before.

The entire kingdom celebrated.

Everything was in order.

The people now looked to Ram, as the future king of Ayodhya.

King Dashrath was growing old.

Kaykai.. I think Ram is now ready, to take over Ayodhya.

I should retire now..

You're right, my Lord.

And this is the right time, too..

..for the an no uncomment of your successor.

And, Ram will be the best choice.

But Bharat and Shatrughna are not here!

So what.. Ram is the eldest and he..

He has all the qualities of a King.

I'll make the announcement today.

Hear One!.. Hear All!..

I have great news to the people of Ayodhya!

The King of Kings, the mighty Dashrath..

..has decided to crown the Prince Ram as King!!!

Please accept my greetings, oh future queen of Ayodhya.

What's wrong my Queen.. Have I hurt you in some way?

How can I trust a prince?

Tomorrow you may find someone more beautiful..

then she will be your Queen.

Why do you say that Sita?

I know that this plight can be unbearable for a woman.

I have seen my own mother suffer through all of these miseries.

I know, the other woman in the house is like poison.

You don't know Sita, but long ago,

I have taken a vow that I will only be with one woman.

And believe me, no other woman can deter me from this vow.

I will have only one woman in my life and that woman is you!

My lord, I too promise you,

be it rain or shine, I will always be with you..

Now will you be my Queen Sita?

But life is never just a bed of roses.

The good days were gone..

..and misfortune was slowly creeping its way into the Kingdom of Ayodhya.

Here it comes! And look I win!

You lose again.

Huh.. enjoy my lady, laugh your hear out.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

What did you say?

Eh..er Only if you spare my life, O'Queen.

My Ram will be crowned tomorrow.

There is nothing to be afraid of.

Speak.. speak without fear.

This crowning will bring misfortune for you!

What nonsense Manthra!

I only want the best for you O'Queen.

You and your son Bharat are like my family!

People in this palace are conspiring against you.

Conspiring? What do you mean?

Once Ram is crowned King,

Kaushalya and Sumitra will reveal their true colours to you.

They both are, jealous of the King's love for you..

..they are jealous of you..

No no.. My Ram will never let this happen.

You keep singing Ram's praises and..

..the moment he becomes King, he will only listen to his mother

..and will throw you and Bharat out of Ayodhya.

Even the King Dashrath won't have a say.

Do you remember the great war of Shamrasur?

Hmmm..?

You saved the King's life..

..and for that, he had granted you two boons.

Hmmm..

Which you are still holding, O'Queen.

Now is the time to ask for them.

Now come to the point!

Hmm.. I agree with you..

..they dare to plot against me..

..but why only fourteen years.. why no t death?

No.. no my Queen!

Ram is very popular.. there could be a rebellion.

Fourteen years will rob him of his youth..

..he will be forgotten by then.

And there are Rakshas in the forest..

Who knows, they might just finish him off, O'Queen..

A stubborn Queen Kaykai, put her foot down.

She forced King Dashrath to declare..

..her own son Bharat as King, and banish Ram from the Kingdom.

I have to honour my father's promise..

..please let me go..

I will see who dares to steal your birth right!

I will kill Bharat!

And if father comes in the way, I will..

Stay calm Laxman.

I don't want a tainted kingdom through immoral means.

Prepare for my departure.

This is my order.

I too will come with you.

I have taken a vow, to be with you always..

But Sita.. - If I break my vow, I will surely die.

My son..

..this is my bad luck..

..my misfortune..

Forgive me my son..

..forgive me..

Don't say such things father..

Fourteen years shall pass by in a blink of an eye.

I beg you father, let me go.

No, no! You are a warrior.

On the strength of your sword rule Kosal my son.

Nothing like this has ever happened in our family, father..

And Ram, will never let it happen in his life.

I'll go.

Ram!

Don't go Ram!..

Ayodhya is yours.

Disobey me son..

Ram.. my son..

Don't go..

Don't go.. Ram..

Don't go..

Ram.. Ram..

Please let me come with you Ram..

..who else will look after you there my brother!

Carry on my lord, your duty is of prime importance.

I will wait for you.

Ram, Laxman and Sita proceeded towards Chitrakoot.

Kevat, who was a devout follower washed their feet in reverence.

And helped them cross the river Ganges in his boat.

Chirakoot's unmatched natural..

..beauty helped them forget their sorrows..

But, misfortune continued to shroud Ayodhya.

And King Dashrath who had lost the will to live died, sadly.

However, the noble Bharat refused..

..to be part of his mother's conspiracy.

He traveled to Chitrakoot to plea with Ram to return to Ayodhya.

The righteous Ram stood his ground.

But so did Bharat..

..he returned to Ayodhya with Ram's slippers.

The Kingdom of Ayodhya still remained under Ram.

Destroying evil on the way and..

..guiding people towards virtue..

..the three noble souls traveled together, across high mountains..

..through deep forests for ten long years.

Eventually they met the great sage Agastya..

..who gifted the two brothers with divine weapons.

The bows of Lord Vishnu..

..and quivers that would never run short of arrows.

Ram was now invincible.

And then they headed to Panchvati.

Thirteen years had passed.

Laxman and Sita were looking for ward tore turning to Ayodhya.

However Ram sensed that fate still had ore in store for them.

Who's this charming young man?

And what are you doing in this forest?

I am Dashrath's son Ram, lady.