Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part E

I continued on with the reading of the modernized Ramayana this week. This has been one of the best reads that I have had in a long while. As always, I took notes over the story that I liked the most.

• The story of Arjuna leaving for the Himalayas is really cool
• Yudhi told him of the mantras that were needed for him to leave
• It is interesting to see Arjuna begin his quest to wield the weapons of the gods
• It was saddening to see the departure of the brothers
• The description used in this section is second to none
• The amount of detail that goes into describing the mood and what the characters are experiencing is amazing
• I have long wanted to capture this sort of writing style
• I was impressed with the descriptions of Arjuna and the armor he was wearing
• I found the practice of fasting to be interesting
• The progressive levels of fasting seemed to connect his mind, body and spirit even more
• He ate fruit every few weeks
• As a result his body began to glow and he was pure and connected with himself
• The battle scene that takes place between Arjuna and Siva is intense
• No matter what Arjuna did he could not harm the hunter
• He was confused by this and he unleashed every attack imaginable
• Nothing was working and did not phase the hunter
• The ending is cool as Siva reveals his true self to Arjuna
• His weapons are given to Arjuna to carry out his will

(An inside look at the Stockholm Public Library. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love, and Wisdom by Krishna Dharma. Source: Vedabase.