week 5: reading notes Ramayana part A

Dasharatha is hunting in the dark and accidentally kills a young boy
When Dasharatha tells the boy's parents about what happened, he is cursed by the blind, old father
The father says that Dasharatha will also be parted from his son and that he will die grieving
Dasharatha marries 3 women but they couldn't give birth to a son
One of the wives, Kaikeyi, went to battle with Dasharatha and saved his life on the field, so he gave her 2 wishes whenever she wanted to use them
Dasharatha performs a sacrifice to the gods so that they will give him a son
Each of his wives gave birth to a son and although Dasharatha had promised long ago that Kaikeyi's son would rule next, Rama was favored and was in line to the throne
bc of this, Kaikeyi and Kaushalya, Rama's mom, had beef
Vishvamitra asks Rama for help and Dasharatha reluctantly sends him away
Rama wins Sita as his bride and Rama's siblings also get offered brides
Dasharatha deems that Rama will be the next heir and Manthara, Kaikeyi's servant, hears the news and tells Kaikeyi
Kaikeyi is happy for Rama until Manthara persuades her to make Bharata king
Dasharatha doesn't want to make Bharata king but he has to honor his wishes he granted to her so Bharata becomes king and Rama is sent into exile for 14 years
Rama goes into exile without questions with Sita and Lakshmana
Dasharatha rejects Kaikeyi and dies on the 6th night of Rama's exile, remembering the old curse
Bharata is distraught and refuses to rule, believing that the throne belongs to Rama

Indian Epics