Book II: Ayodhya Kanda
The Ramayana begins with a description of the beautiful city of Ayodhya, the capital of the kingdom of Kosala. The king of Ayodhya is Dasaratha, a wise and just ruler. He has three wives, Kaushalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. Kaushalya is the mother of Rama, the eldest son. Sumitra is the mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna, the younger twin brothers. Kaikeyi is the mother of Bharata, the youngest son.
One day, Dasaratha decides to hold a contest to find a suitable husband for his daughter, Sita. Many princes from all over India come to Ayodhya to participate in the contest. Rama is the only one who is able to string the bow of Shiva, the supreme god. This proves that he is the strongest and most powerful of all the princes.
Dasaratha is overjoyed and announces that Rama will be the next king of Ayodhya. However, Kaikeyi is jealous of Kaushalya and wants her own son, Bharata, to be king. She uses her magic powers to make Dasaratha promise that Bharata will be king and that Rama will be exiled for fourteen years.
Dasaratha is heartbroken, but he is bound by his promise to Kaikeyi. He sends Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita into exile in the forest. The people of Ayodhya are devastated by Rama's exile. They mourn his departure and pray for his safe return.
The Ramayana is a long and complex epic, but this is just the beginning of the story. Rama's exile is just the first of many challenges that he will face. However, he is a brave and righteous hero who will always triumph over evil.
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