Week 3 Story: Sita meets Rama
Mithala was a lively and cheerful city. People crowded the streets, dancing and singing. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their lives without a care. The buildings were covered in gold and the streets in jewels. Everything seemed to glitter as the light reflected off of it. That's why Sita loved this city. It always felt like there was something to celebrate. This morning she was up in her balcony playing cards with her friends as she looked upon the people of her father's kingdom. She was proud to be the princess of a place like this, but she wondered if she would ever stop feeling so alone.
As she looked out over the balcony, something caught her eye. Two young, handsome men were walking through the streets. Sita was sure she has never seen them before. At that moment, one of the boys looked up at her and his eyes met her. Sita had never believed in love at first sight but as soon as she made eye contact with that boy, the breath was knocked out of her lungs. She felt like her knees would give way. Who was this boy and why did she feel so connected to him? Sita began to feel lightheaded and agitated. Her friends, worried by her obvious discomfort, insisted she lie down.
As Sita lay in bed she couldn't help but think about that boy. Something about him was so noble and she could tell he was someone special. Never had she seen a man so handsome, but she knew nothing good could come of thinking about him. For Sita could not get married. When she was younger her father had put out a decree stating that any man who wants to marry her must bend the bow of Shiva first. Shiva's bow was massive and Sita knew no normal man could bend it, let alone carry it. Therefore she had been led to believe she would never be married or find love.
A servant entered Sita's room, delivering a message from her dad. Sita's father requested her presence immediately, stating that they had some royal visitors in the square. Not wanting to leave her bed, she finally relented. As her carriage passed through the square she saw that Shiva's bow was being set up. She couldn't help but laugh a little. Who was the next poor man that thought he could bend the bow? Hundreds of men from all over had tried, some of them mighty warriors, yet none of them could bend it. Sita began to lose interest, nothing ever happened and either way there was only one man she wanted to marry.
When the carriage finally came to a stop and she came face to face with the man from earlier. Again, she could not breathe. He looked back at her in way that she knew her feelings were reciprocated. This just made her feel more lightheaded. How was it possible that a man like this could exist? She was both excited and nervous as questions clouded her mind. What was he doing here? Was he to try and bend the bow? What if he failed? If he did, Sita knew there was no way they could be together.
"Daughter, this is prince Rama from Ayodhya. He wishes to try for your hand in marriage." Her father said as the man smiled and nodded. He reached out his hand to shake Sita's, and immediately she could feel the connection from early. This man was her soulmate, she could feel it.This made her all the more worried for what could happen. A crowed had gathered and people were clamoring around, wondering if this man might be the one.
Rama began to make his way towards the bow and as he did the crowd became silent. In one smooth motion he had picked up the bow and began to bend it without any difficulty. Everyone was shocked. Sita could not believe her eyes but as the crowd started to cheer, the reality hit her. She was going to be married to this man! She knew this had to be fate or divine intervention for no man stood a chance against that bow. Yet here was Rama, standing before her with his arms outstretched. She took them, ready to begin their journey together.
Author's Note: I wrote this based off of the chapter in Narayan's Ramana where Sita and Rama meet. The book covers both perspectives but doesn't really explain how Sita feels about the rule her father made. I thought it would be interesting to focus on her thoughts through the whole chapter.
Bibliography:
Vālmīki, & Narayan, R. K. (1972). The Ramayana; a shortened modern prose version of the Indian epic by R.K. Narayan. Suggested by the Tamil version of Kamban. New York: Viking Press
Rama began to make his way towards the bow and as he did the crowd became silent. In one smooth motion he had picked up the bow and began to bend it without any difficulty. Everyone was shocked. Sita could not believe her eyes but as the crowd started to cheer, the reality hit her. She was going to be married to this man! She knew this had to be fate or divine intervention for no man stood a chance against that bow. Yet here was Rama, standing before her with his arms outstretched. She took them, ready to begin their journey together.
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| Rama bends the bow. Source: wiki |
Author's Note: I wrote this based off of the chapter in Narayan's Ramana where Sita and Rama meet. The book covers both perspectives but doesn't really explain how Sita feels about the rule her father made. I thought it would be interesting to focus on her thoughts through the whole chapter.
Bibliography:
Vālmīki, & Narayan, R. K. (1972). The Ramayana; a shortened modern prose version of the Indian epic by R.K. Narayan. Suggested by the Tamil version of Kamban. New York: Viking Press
Hey Joanna, I thought your story was great. This specific story was one of my favorites that we read, and I think you did a fantastic rendition of it. Another cool part about your story was your expansion on how Sita feels. The story itself doesn’t go into it much, but you do a good job of developing the story through the added thoughts.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanna!
ReplyDeleteWow: I loved this story while reading the Ramayana as well, and decided to write one of my weekly stories based on how Rama and Sita met. I loved your take on the story and how it was told solely from Sita's perspective. You did a really good job of expanding on her thoughts of the situation from the details from the story.
I wonder...: The part where Sita talks about her dad insisting that her husband has to bend Shiva's bow was a very integral part of the story, but you don't explain why he made that decree! Is there a reason for him wanting that?
What if....: Since the story is only told from Sita's perspective, it is totally understandable that you omitted some of of the details from the original story. I think it would help though if you included the reason for Sita's dad insisting on her husband being able to bend Shiva's bow or the significance of it. It would place more emphasis on Rama's ability to bend the bow.