28 May written-Ram decides upon ashwamedh yajna

Tan

There is nothing in the original Valmiki re: Kaushalya, or indeed anyone else, suggesting to Rama that he re-marry. And of course, the whole time, Rama & Lakshman knew where Sita was, Kush & Luv knew they were Rama's sons, and so on. Every author since Valmiki has dramatized the story by distorting it in the process, making it look like there was a mystery to the whole thing, when there wasn't.

One question here, suspending one's disbelief re: this story wrt its deviation from the original: if K-L thought that what Rama did was wrong and unjust, how/why would it change if & when they knew that he was their father? After all, dharma transcends all relationships, like it did w/ Vibhishan. Either what Rama did was right, or wrong. If what he did was wrong, as K-L believe, why would it magically become right the moment they came to know that he was their father? Somehow, Sita's concern doesn't make sense - except for her being upset at her kids opposing her hubby.

Another point: Valmiki too was a recipient of the invitation. If that's the case, how exactly is that reconciled with him still being in his ashram and telling the kids about the invitation?

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

Tan

There is nothing in the original Valmiki re: Kaushalya, or indeed anyone else, suggesting to Rama that he re-marry. And of course, the whole time, Rama & Lakshman knew where Sita was, Kush & Luv knew they were Rama's sons, and so on. Every author since Valmiki has dramatized the story by distorting it in the process, making it look like there was a mystery to the whole thing, when there wasn't. And the height was Valmiki suggesting Sita going back to Ayodhya. 🤢 Was the same thing shown in the previous Sagar version?

One question here, suspending one's disbelief re: this story wrt its deviation from the original: if K-L thought that what Rama did was wrong and unjust, how/why would it change if & when they knew that he was their father? After all, dharma transcends all relationships, like it did w/ Vibhishan. Either what Rama did was right, or wrong. If what he did was wrong, as K-L believe, why would it magically become right the moment they came to know that he was their father? Somehow, Sita's concern doesn't make sense - except for her being upset at her kids opposing her hubby. True ! But I think it will be justified that it was his Rajdharm and he was not wrong. I don't remember what they showed in the earlier serial. By all means it is going to be repeated. But then was it not "Sita ne Ram ka tyaag kiya" as per this version, rather than "Ram ne Sita ka tyaag kiya" ? 😕

Another point: Valmiki too was a recipient of the invitation. If that's the case, how exactly is that reconciled with him still being in his ashram and telling the kids about the invitation? I think it is just showed that preps are about to begin, and once Valmiki recieves the invite, probably he'll start for Naimisharanya.

Tan

I think you're right about K-L, although in Valmiki itself, there is absolutely nothing about how they responded. Incidentally, I disbelieve the part where it says that the next day, they sang the remaining future part of the Ramayan (the part from Sita's passing to Rama's passing) to the audience there - despite being proficient in the Vedas, they must have been too traumatized to do any such thing.

Chen2,

I overlooked your previous question about whether the previous serial showed Valmiki suggesting that Sita return. He didn't, but he did tell her that the people of Ayodhya needed to be made to repent for what they had done, which is why their singing would be needed. He also assured her that her sons would be united w/ their father, and she'd get to see him again, and that seemed to satisfy her.