1. Translation: R.K. Narayan
THE RAMAYANA
CHAPTER 2 “THE WEDDING”

2. PLOT
Rama, Laskhmana, and Viswamithra travel to Mithila to meet the King
of Janaka.
Sita, the King’s daughter, and Rama’s eyes meet from afar and they
feel in instant attraction. They do not speak to each other and do not
know who each other are.
The next day, Rama, Laskhmana, and Viswamithra go to the
assemblyhall to meet the King of Janaka who is immediately taken by
Rama, wanting him to marry his daughter.
Rama strings the bow of Shiva and breaks it in the process, granting
him the King’s daughter.
A wedding and celebration quickly follows and they both marry.

3. KEY QUOTES/SCENES
“They had been together not so long ago in
Vaikunta, their original home in heaven, as
Vishnu and his spouse Lakshmi, but in their
present incarnation, suffering all the limitations
of mortals, they looked at each other as
strangers.” (23)
Rama strings the bow in order
to marry the King of Janaka’s
daughter and breaks it in half.
“Now I return to you Rama and Lakshmana. Their
achievements are immeasurable, but there is much more
ahead...” (32)

4. THINK….
What does this story
reveal about the beliefs
in the after life?
Is the extravagance of
this wedding
comparable to modern
weddings?
How does Rama
compare to Achilles?