Extra Credit Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part B

Public Domain Edition of the Ramayana, Part B

by Multiple Authors from Various Sources: M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.

Notetaking Strategy: Focus on One Character: Lakshmana

• Personally, I think Lakshmana is an underrated character. He truly is a hero with great strength and love. This is first seen in Part A of PDE Ramayana when Lakshmana would not leave Rama's side when Rama was exiled; but, his Lakshmana's character further evolves in Part B and it is evident he is a good man. 
•  Lakshmana's physical strength
• He fought in battle with any enemy that faced him. 
• He fights with courage and he never backs down nor does he even seems to think about backing down.
• He wins all his physical battles.
• Bharata, his older brother, regards him as "powerful"."
• He protects his brother, Rama, and especially his sister-in-law, Sita. 
• Lakshmana's ability to love
• Lakshmana's "love story" is the love between brothers. He will do anything for his brother, Rama.
• He is also very obedient to Rama. Throughout the episodes, I have imagined Lakshmana as a big, tough guy with huge muscles and cannot be told what to do. However, in Episode 30. Battle with Khara, Lakshmana was just told once by his brother to leave his side in battle to take Sita to a safe place and guard her. I did not think Lakshmana would listen. I at least thought he would put up a fight against Rama. However, he did not. Instead, he was obedient and followed his brother's command immediately.
• Besides when Rama told Lakshmana to not help him fight a battle in Episode 30, Lakshmana ALWAYS fought by his brother against the enemies. Truly, these enemies were never Lakshmana's enemy. These enemies were usually against Sita or Rama (or the fact that Rama and Sita were married); however, since Rama fights in battle, Lakshmana will aid him. 
• Lakshmana is never jealous. Personally myself, as a younger sibling, I easily get jealous of the attention that my older sibling gets. 
• Rama is always seen as the hero. Rama is seen as the sinless man who practically has a halo on his head. This is recognized by many.
• With a sibling who is seen as perfect, I am surprised Lakshmana does not have anger or jealousy towards Rama. Instead, Lakshmana only has undeniable love for his brother.
• While I do think Lakshmana is an unsaid hero, he obviously is not perfect and has his own faults. His biggest fault in my opinion was leaving Sita alone in Episode: 34. The Chase. Eventhough, Sita pushed Lakshmana to leave her (in order to find Rama who Sita was worried about), Lakshmana should have stayed. 
• Lakshmana already had a gut feeling that sometimes there were deceitful deer in the forest who lures people away, and it was likely the deer Sita wants and Rama is after is actually a dangerous deer. He should have trusted his gut. 
• We should always trust our gut.
• At first, Lakshmana argued against Sita when Sita told him to go after Rama. However, he then caved and did as Sita wanted and went looking for Rama. It was soon after that Ravana took Sita away from the brothers. 

"Rama, Lakshmana, and Kabandha"

While this image is not from any story in Ramayana, Part B, I think it accurately describes the love between the two brothers, Lakshmana and Sita. They will always fight beside each other, for each other.

(The Picture Ramayana, circa 1916-1924)

Bibliography: Public Domain Edition of the Ramayana, Part B; Multiple Authors from Various Sources: M. Dutt, R. Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder.