Doubts and Discussions from the Ramayan II - Page 36

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

Well, Chen2, K-L being taught the Ramayan is only implicit in Valmiki - none of the sargs (except 1-3) say anything about them being taught it.

From a poetic justice standpoint, I'm glad they're doing it. I don't know whom to root against - Rama, for allowing Sita to exile herself, or Hanuman, for all the torturous tests he put K-L thru. Remember, we did state that Rama should punish Hanuman, and now, here comes that chance. 👏👏👏 But both of them taking gigantic forms - we know that Hanuman was capable of this, but Rama?😲😲😲

One suggestion for the story here - Rama and Hanuman both make each other swoon, and then K-L appear in their divine form, and bless and revive them😈😈😈

Chen2

I don't think that Rama had that capability. Krishna and Vamana did, but Rama and Parashurama didn't. Or else, you don't think Rama would have taken such a form when confronting Kumbhakarna?

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

One suggestion for the story here - Rama and Hanuman both make each other swoon, and then K-L appear in their divine form, and bless and revive them😈😈😈

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

Chen2

I don't think that Rama had that capability. Krishna and Vamana did, but Rama and Parashurama didn't. Or else, you don't think Rama would have taken such a form when confronting Kumbhakarna?

Which version is it from? That's what researcher-in-chief here, Khalrika-di is supposed to find out.😆

As for whether it's true or not, I have a simple rule of thumb. If it's in Valmiki, it is, if not, it's not. Even Vyasa, if he comes up with something not in Valmiki, I don't accept. Therefore, from my pov, this simply didn't happen.

In today's episode, Shatrughan continues his preparation for his war w/ Lavanasura.

Shatrughan arrives @ Rishi Chyavan's ashram, and the rishi warns him to be careful while confronting Lavanasura. Shatrughan tells him that he has resolved to kill Lavanasura no matter what, and Rishi Chyavan praises his resolve, but emphasizes the importance of knowing his enemy. To illustrate this, he narrates to him the story of Lavanasura's battle w/ Shatrughan's ancestor Mandhata.

Now that story - Mandhata was on a world conquest, and was threatening Amravati (question: how exactly did Mandhata and his troops fly? They showed them walking amongst the clouds!) Indra, worried about his threat, approached Brihaspati, who suggested that he use strategem. At his sugggestion, Indra went back and told Mandhata that it was inane of him to try to conquer the heavens before he had fully conquered earth. When Mandhata demanded to know who was it that was left unconquered, Indra mentioned Lavanasura (Incidentally, Indra get's Lavanasura's identity right by describing him as the son of Ravan's sister Kumbheenashi 👍🏼). Mandhata assured him that he'd bring him Lavanasura's head, and headed towards Madhupuri.

Lavanasura was meditating on Shiva, when a general heads into his chamber. Lavanasura is furious with him for disturbing him when he's in his pujas, and then demands to know what it is. The general tells him that Mandhata is at his city gates, to which Lavanasura now chides him for wasting time in giving him this message (WTF was the messenger supposed to do - storm in screaming that Mandhata was at the gates? He'd have been accused of being a wuss).

Lavanasura decides to face Mandhata alone, much to the concern of his wife (where did she come from? How come she wasn't around when Lavanasura was entertaining Karkati?) He confronts Mandhata, and after the usual blowhard stuff between the 2 of them, he slays Mandhata w/ the trishul.

Rishi Chyavan concludes the story by emphasizing that there was no way Lavanasura could be defeated if he had his trishul with him. He told him that every morning, when Lavanasura went out hunting after his pujas, he did so w/o his trishul, and that that would be an opportune time to take him on.

While this narration was going on, one of Lavanasura's spies was peeping thru the window (I love this Tom Clancyesque twist to this story👍🏼) Shatrughan spots him, and immediately shouts out to his general to capture him, but the spy flees. Rishi Chyavan reassures him and tells him of a secret route to Lavanasura's fort, so that he can still get there undetected. In the meantime, the soldier goes in pursuit of the spy, and gets to the hidden cave first, and decides to intercept him there. The story ends here with this cliffhanger. (Fantastic job, Sagars - after all the boring stuff you tortured us with for several weeks, nice to watch a thriller overlaid over the Ramayan. Can't let Shatrughan fight a boring war, can we 👏👏👏)

The scene then drifts to Ayodhya, when Sumitra approaches Kaushalya, concerned about Shatrughan's safety, and the new Shrutakirti too arrives at the scene. Kaushalya re-assures her that Rama wouldn't have sent him had he been unsure of his success. Rama too arrives there and appeals to Sumitra-mata and Shrutakirti to be patient, and have courage and confidence in him, as that will be his underlying strength. (As I noted elsewhere, I'm glad to see that Sumitra is still around, but still miffed that she wasn't shown on Thursday).

Originally posted by: Chandraketu

In today's episode, Shatrughan continues his preparation for his war w/ Lavanasura.

Shatrughan arrives @ Rishi Chyavan's ashram, and the rishi warns him to be careful while confronting Lavanasura. Shatrughan tells him that he has resolved to kill Lavanasura no matter what, and Rishi Chyavan praises his resolve, but emphasizes the importance of knowing his enemy. To illustrate this, he narrates to him the story of Lavanasura's battle w/ Shatrughan's ancestor Mandhata.

Now that story - Mandhata was on a world conquest, and was threatening Amravati (question: how exactly did Mandhata and his troops fly? They showed them walking amongst the clouds!) Indra, worried about his threat, approached Brihaspati, who suggested that he use strategem. At his sugggestion, Indra went back and told Mandhata that it was inane of him to try to conquer the heavens before he had fully conquered earth. When Mandhata demanded to know who was it that was left unconquered, Indra mentioned Lavanasura (Incidentally, Indra get's Lavanasura's identity right by describing him as the son of Ravan's sister Kumbheenashi 👍🏼). Mandhata assured him that he'd bring him Lavanasura's head, and headed towards Madhupuri.

Lavanasura was meditating on Shiva, when a general heads into his chamber. Lavanasura is furious with him for disturbing him when he's in his pujas, and then demands to know what it is. The general tells him that Mandhata is at his city gates, to which Lavanasura now chides him for wasting time in giving him this message (WTF was the messenger supposed to do - storm in screaming that Mandhata was at the gates? He'd have been accused of being a wuss).

Lavanasura decides to face Mandhata alone, much to the concern of his wife (where did she come from? How come she wasn't around when Lavanasura was entertaining Karkati?) He confronts Mandhata, and after the usual blowhard stuff between the 2 of them, he slays Mandhata w/ the trishul.

Rishi Chyavan concludes the story by emphasizing that there was no way Lavanasura could be defeated if he had his trishul with him. He told him that every morning, when Lavanasura went out hunting after his pujas, he did so w/o his trishul, and that that would be an opportune time to take him on.

While this narration was going on, one of Lavanasura's spies was peeping thru the window (I love this Tom Clancyesque twist to this story👍🏼) Shatrughan spots him, and immediately shouts out to his general to capture him, but the spy flees. Rishi Chyavan reassures him and tells him of a secret route to Lavanasura's fort, so that he can still get there undetected. In the meantime, the soldier goes in pursuit of the spy, and gets to the hidden cave first, and decides to intercept him there. The story ends here with this cliffhanger. (Fantastic job, Sagars - after all the boring stuff you tortured us with for several weeks, nice to watch a thriller overlaid over the Ramayan. Can't let Shatrughan fight a boring war, can we 👏👏👏)

The scene then drifts to Ayodhya, when Sumitra approaches Kaushalya, concerned about Shatrughan's safety, and the new Shrutakirti too arrives at the scene. Kaushalya re-assures her that Rama wouldn't have sent him had he been unsure of his success. Rama too arrives there and appeals to Sumitra-mata and Shrutakirti to be patient, and have courage and confidence in him, as that will be his underlying strength. (As I noted elsewhere, I'm glad to see that Sumitra is still around, but still miffed that she wasn't shown on Thursday).