Summary: Dasharatha, who rules over Koshala from the capital city of Ayodhya, sacrifices a series of animals in order to gain favor from the gods. He is promised four children among his three wives.
At this same time, Brahma had made Ravana invulnerable to demons, but this backfired. Ravana began to oppress other gods and ruin sacrifices. To combat Ravana, Vishnu chose to divide himself into four parts- a part for each of Dasharatha's sons- so that one day he may fight Ravana. The sons are born: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna.
Notes: Gods in Indian culture can make mistakes, accept sacrifices, and make promises to humans. Additionally, they can split themselves into multiple pieces that I assume weakens them for the time but will ultimately make them stronger? This would make sense, as the four sons need time to grow up and become stronger themselves.
"Thataka" by Donald A. Mackenzie: Source
Summary: Rama and Lakshmana battle against a rakshasa. Even when it turns invisible, Rama is still able to shoot with his bow to kill the monster. Rama then gets celestial weapons that appear when he thinks of them. He needs them the next time a band of rakshasas attack, and Rama obliterates them.
The battles are not described in-depth as though the book is a movie. Rather, it says they fought and simply tells the outcome. That's pretty interesting. I wonder if this serves to discourage violence rather than glorify it?
"Rama Wins Sita" by Romesh Dutt: Source
Here we see the challenge proposed in any great story- do the one thing that no one else in the world has been able to do. Like the Sword in the Stone, Rama picks up the bow, pulls back the string, and snaps it with a loud thunder-like crash that lets everyone know the challenge has been completed. He's now promised Sita, who he knew he loved the moment he laid eyes on her.
"Manthara and Kaikeyi" by Donald A. Mackenzie: Source
Manthara hates Rama and convinces Kaikeyi, the mother of Bharata, that Bharata should rule rather than Rama. Knowing that Kaikeyi is still owed two promises because she at some time in the past saved the life of the king, Manthara convinces Kaikeyi to ask the king to make Bharata his heir and exile Rama.
This is like the trope of the evil-step mother. The good and obvious route is subverted due to the scheming of the evil step-mother character. I'll probably use this trope.
"Dasharatha's Karma" by Donald A. Mackenzie: Source
Dasharatha was cursed far back in his past when he accidentally killed a blind hermit's son. Left with no ability to care for himself, the hermit cursed the Dasharatha "so wilt thou suffer in like manner, sorrowing for a dearly beloved and righteous son." Just before Dasharatha dies, he thinks of this curse.
This reminds me of the trope of a genie or prophet where they say something that can be interpreted in a number of ways. When the truth occurs, the prophecy seems obvious, but it's not what the character expected- like Oedipus Rex. Creating some sort of fun/creative prophecy could be interesting in one of my own stories.
Dasharatha is cursed in a manner comparable to Oedipus Rex's prophecy
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