Under the BanyanOld stories, illustrated and annotated

The Ramayana, issue 4 of 10

The Two Boons

A promise can be a weapon.

Why this issue matters The turning point of the whole Ramayana. Rama is to be crowned in the morning, and by nightfall he is leaving for fourteen years in the forest. The lesson
Who's who

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The Two Boons, cover
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The Two Boons, page 31

The lesson of issue 4

The same face at crowning and exile

A promise made long ago becomes a weapon in Kaikeyi's hands, and Dasharatha is trapped by his own word. Valmiki notes that Rama's face did not change: he heard of the crown and of the exile with the same calm. He does not argue or blame. Sita and Lakshmana refuse to stay behind, and we see that love is also a choice.

To think about

When plans you counted on fell apart, what helped you stay steady?

Notes on the tellings

Where this issue follows Valmiki, and where other tellings differ. Each note also appears on its page.

  • Page 8 In Valmiki, Kaikeyi first rejoices at Rama's coronation. She gives Manthara a jewel and says she sees no difference between Rama and Bharata.
  • Page 9 In Valmiki, Manthara acts for her own reasons. Later tellings add causes: a goddess clouding her mind, or a childhood grudge against Rama.
  • Page 11 Valmiki says Kaikeyi carried the wounded, senseless king out of the battle and protected him. He does not say how; showing her driving the chariot is our choice, not Valmiki's words.
  • Page 14 Issue 1 opened with Narada naming this moment: a queen claims two boons, and a king bound by his word sends his son away.
  • Page 24 In Valmiki, Varuna gave these weapons at Janaka's great sacrifice. In Issue 3, Rama gave Vishnu's bow into Varuna's keeping.
  • Page 26 Sagara's son Asamanja was named in Issue 2, at the Ganga. Here his story is told in full.
  • Page 31 When Dasharatha married Kaikeyi, he promised her father the kingdom as her bride-price. Valmiki reveals this only later, in Rama's own words, and does not say outright that the throne would pass to her son.
  • Page 31 In Kamban's Tamil Ramayana, Manthara, called Kooni, remembers a clay pellet young Rama shot at her and bears a grudge. Valmiki's Manthara acts from loyalty and fear.
  • Page 31 In the Adhyatma Ramayana, and in Tulsidas, the gods send the goddess Sarasvati into Manthara's mind so that Rama can fulfil his purpose. Valmiki has no goddess here.
  • Page 31 Sumantra's rebuke of Kaikeyi, and Vasishtha's when Sita is made to wear bark, are found only in the vulgate. In the critical edition the king himself says Sita need not wear bark.
  • Page 31 Valmiki does not tell how Lakshmana parted from Urmila. The tale of her fourteen-year sleep is later folk tradition.