30 - Banished

Summary

In this episode of 'Stories from India,' host Narad Monei delves into the Ramayana, exploring King Dasharath's decision to crown Ram and the political intrigue that leads to Ram's exile. The episode also features the tale of Gajendra, an elephant who survives a crocodile attack through divine intervention, highlighting themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and divine grace.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The podcast 'Stories from India' explores myths, legends, and folk tales from India, hosted by Narad Mone, a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge.
• 🏰 The story continues from the Ramayana, focusing on the political intrigue and family dynamics within the royal family of King Dasharath.
• 👑 King Dasharath, nearing retirement, decides to pass the kingdom to his eldest son, Ram, who is seen as the most capable and is an avatar of Vishnu.
• 🐘 The episode introduces a conflict between King Dasharath's wives, particularly Kaikeyi, who leverages her husband's past promises to demand that her son Bharat be made king instead.
• 🌐 Ram, displaying great humility and obedience, agrees to go into exile for 14 years, demonstrating his respect for his father's decision and his mother's wishes.
• 👨‍👦‍👦 Ram's brother Lakshman and his wife Sita decide to accompany him into exile, showing their loyalty and commitment to their family.
• 👑 Kaikeyi's actions are often criticized, but the script suggests a deeper look at King Dasharath's role in making rash promises that led to the exile.
• 🌳 The people of Ayodhya decide to follow Ram, Lakshman, and Sita into exile, showing their unwavering loyalty and belief in Ram's leadership.
• 🐊 The episode also tells the story of an elephant king named Gajendra, who survives a crocodile attack through divine intervention after praying to Vishnu.
• 🌺 Gajendra holds a lotus in his trunk while praying to Vishnu, which becomes a symbol of his devotion and leads to his salvation.
• 📣 The podcast encourages listeners to engage by leaving comments, reviews, or reaching out on social media, and teases upcoming episodes featuring new characters and stories.

Q & A

What is the podcast 'Stories from India' about?

The podcast 'Stories from India' is about myths, legends, and folk tales from India, hosted by a character named Narad Monei who is a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and knowledge.

Who is the main character in the 'Ramayana' narrative discussed in the podcast?

The main character in the 'Ramayana' narrative discussed in the podcast is Ram, the eldest son of King Dasharath and an avatar of Vishnu.

What significant event occurs in the podcast's narrative involving Ram?

In the podcast's narrative, Ram is set to be exiled for 14 years, a decision influenced by his stepmother Kai using her wishes owed to her by Dasharath.

Why does Kai want Ram to be exiled?

Kai wants Ram to be exiled because she fears that once Ram becomes king, her son Bharat would be sidelined, and she wants to secure the throne for her own son.

What is the significance of the 'House of Cards' reference in the podcast?

The 'House of Cards' reference is used to describe a political move executed by Kai, which is reminiscent of the manipulative tactics seen in the TV series 'House of Cards'.

What does the podcast suggest about the character of Ram?

The podcast suggests that Ram is a skillful warrior, a respectful and loving son, and someone who is willing to obey his parents' wishes, even if it means going into exile.

Who accompanies Ram into exile?

Ram's brother Lakshman and his wife Sita accompany him into exile.

What is the role of the character Mantra in the narrative?

Mantra is Kai's former nanny who influences Kai's decision to have Ram exiled, by reminding her of the power dynamics that could arise after Ram's ascension to the throne.

What is the moral dilemma faced by Dasharath?

Dasharath faces a moral dilemma between honoring the promises he made to Kai and doing what is right for his kingdom and his sons.

What is the story of the elephant Gajendra mentioned in the podcast?

The story of the elephant Gajendra is about an elephant king who survives a crocodile attack through divine intervention after praying to Vishnu, holding a lotus in his trunk.

What is the significance of the story of Gajendra in the context of the podcast?

The story of Gajendra symbolizes faith and divine intervention, showing that even in dire circumstances, one can find salvation through devotion and prayer.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Stories from India

The podcast 'Stories from India' is introduced by the host, Narad Mone, a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge. The show delves into Indian myths, legends, and folk tales. This week's episode continues the narrative of the Ramayana, focusing on political maneuvers and familial conflicts. King Dasharath and his four sons, who are avatars of Vishnu, are central characters. Ram, the eldest, is particularly highlighted for his skills and his internship with Rishi Vishwamitra. The host recommends previous episodes for context and sets the stage for the episode's plot, which involves a decision about the kingdom's succession.

05:01

👑 The Dilemma of Succession

King Dasharath, nearing retirement, contemplates his legacy and the future of his kingdom. He decides to pass the throne to his eldest son, Ram, a decision supported by his council. However, Kai, one of Dasharath's wives, influenced by her nanny Mantra, uses her wishes owed to Dasharath to demand that her son Bharat be made king and Ram be exiled for 14 years. This unexpected turn of events disrupts the planned succession and causes turmoil in the kingdom. Dasharath is left devastated, but Kai is adamant, leading to a significant change in the kingdom's future.

10:04

🌳 Ram's Exile and the People's Loyalty

Despite the sudden and drastic change in plans, Ram accepts his fate with grace, ready to begin his exile immediately. His brother Lakshman and wife Sita decide to accompany him, demonstrating their unwavering loyalty. As they prepare to leave, the people of Ayodhya express their support for Ram, even choosing to join him in exile. Ram, however, explains the logical flaw in their decision, emphasizing that he must be in exile alone. The people agree to wait for his return, showing their enduring loyalty and faith in Ram's judgment.

15:06

🐘 The Tale of Gajendra the Elephant

The episode concludes with a story about Gajendra, an elephant king, who is attacked by a crocodile while bathing in a lake. Despite the herd's inability to help, Gajendra prays to Vishnu, holding a lotus in his trunk. Vishnu responds to his plea, arriving and killing the crocodile, thus saving Gajendra. This tale serves as a testament to the power of faith and divine intervention. The episode ends with a teaser for the next story, involving Vikram and Bal, and a reminder for listeners to stay tuned for more adventures.

Keywords

💡Narad Muni

Narad Muni is a mythological character from Hindu mythology, known for his eternal life and vast knowledge. In the script, Narad Muni serves as the host of the podcast, guiding listeners through the stories of Indian mythology. His role is crucial in setting the context and tone of the podcast, as he introduces the narrative and characters from the epic Ramayana.

💡Ramayana

The Ramayana is one of the major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, which narrates the life of the god Rama. In the script, the podcast focuses on continuing the story of the Ramayana, highlighting key events and characters. The Ramayana serves as the central theme of the podcast, providing a rich tapestry of myths, legends, and moral lessons.

💡Dasharatha

Dasharatha is a king in the Ramayana, who is the father of Rama and his three brothers. In the script, Dasharatha is depicted as an aging king who is preparing to retire and pass on the kingdom to his eldest son, Rama. His decision-making process and the consequences of his choices are central to the narrative, illustrating the complexities of power and family dynamics.

💡Rama

Rama is the protagonist of the Ramayana and the eldest son of King Dasharatha. He is portrayed as a skilled warrior and a dutiful son. In the script, Rama's character is explored through his willingness to obey his father's decision, even when it leads to his exile. His actions and decisions are pivotal to the unfolding drama of the Ramayana.

💡Kaikeyi

Kaikeyi is one of King Dasharatha's wives and the mother of Bharata. In the script, Kaikeyi plays a significant role in the narrative by using her influence and the promises made to her by Dasharatha to ensure her son becomes king. Her actions lead to the exile of Rama, demonstrating the power of a queen mother in a patriarchal society.

💡Bharata

Bharata is the second son of King Dasharatha and Kaikeyi's son. In the script, Bharata is mentioned as the one who is made king in place of Rama due to Kaikeyi's intervention. His character is significant as it highlights the conflict between duty and familial love, as well as the consequences of political machinations.

💡Lakshmana

Lakshmana is Rama's younger brother and a key character in the Ramayana. In the script, Lakshmana is depicted as a loyal companion who decides to accompany Rama into exile. His character embodies the themes of brotherly love and loyalty, showing the strength of familial bonds.

💡Sita

Sita is Rama's wife and a central female character in the Ramayana. In the script, Sita is shown to be devoted to Rama, choosing to accompany him into exile despite the hardships. Her decision underscores the themes of love, sacrifice, and the strength of women in the epic.

💡Exile

Exile is a recurring theme in the Ramayana, particularly in the context of Rama's life. In the script, Rama's exile is a pivotal event that sets the stage for the epic's journey and adventures. The concept of exile is explored in terms of its emotional and physical implications, as well as its impact on the characters and their relationships.

💡Gajendra

Gajendra is an elephant king in the script, who is saved by Vishnu after being attacked by a crocodile. His story serves as a moral tale, illustrating the power of faith and divine intervention. Gajendra's character is used to convey the message of hope and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

💡Vishnu

Vishnu is a major deity in Hinduism, often depicted as the preserver of the universe. In the script, Vishnu is mentioned in the context of Gajendra's story, where he saves the elephant king from the crocodile. Vishnu's role highlights the divine aspect of the epic, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the mortal and divine realms.

Highlights

Introduction to the podcast 'Stories from India' which discusses myths, legends, and folk tales of India.

The host, Narad Mone, is a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and knowledge.

The podcast continues the narrative of the Ramayana, focusing on political maneuvers and familial conflicts.

The story of an elephant surviving a crocodile attack through divine intervention is highlighted.

Background on King Dasharath, his wives, and his four sons, who are avatars of Vishnu, is provided.

Emphasis on Ram, the eldest son, as a skilled warrior with an internship under Rishi Vishwamitra.

Recommendation to check previous episodes for a deeper understanding of the story so far.

Dasharath's contemplation on his successful rule and the next steps for his kingdom.

The decision to make Ram the successor is unanimously agreed upon by the council.

The patriarchal society's influence on the decision-making process regarding the successor.

Kai's conversation with Mantra and the manipulation that leads to a change in her support for the successor.

Kai's use of her wishes to change the successor from Ram to Bharat, causing a significant shift in the kingdom's future.

Ram's acceptance of his exile and his readiness to leave immediately, showcasing his character.

Lakshman and Sita's decision to accompany Ram into exile, emphasizing their loyalty and commitment.

The people's decision to follow Ram, Lakshman, and Sita into exile, showing their unwavering support.

Ram's logical explanation to the people about the nature of exile and their decision to wait for his return.

The story of the elephant king Gajendra and his encounter with a crocodile, leading to divine intervention.

The moral of the story about Gajendra, emphasizing the power of prayer and faith in times of crisis.

Closing remarks and a preview of the next episode's story involving Vikram and Bal.

Invitation for feedback and engagement with the podcast through various social media platforms.

Acknowledgment of the music source and a tease for the next week's character, the pole star.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

hello and welcome to stories from India

a podcast where we talk about myths

Legends and folk tales from

India I'm your host narad monei and I'm

a mythological character myself I have

the gift of eternal life and knowledge

of the past the present and the

future by profession I'm a traveling

musician and a

Storyteller so the way I'm doing my job

is by

podcast this week we'll pick up where we

left off in the

ramayan we'll see a nanny who executes a

very House of card style political move

we'll also see a father conflicted

between his love for his wife and his

love for his

son the character this week is an

elephant that manages to survive a

crocodile attack thanks to some divine

intervention so far on the ramayan we

have met King dasharath his three wives

and four

Sons the sons are all avatars of wish

and primarily amongst them is the eldest

Ram after whom the ramayan is

named Ram is a very skillful

Warrior he's also had an internship with

the Rishi

vishwamitra and took care of a pest

problem for

him vishwamitra took him and lakshman on

a study tour which ended up with the two

Prin princess married to a couple of

princesses I recommend checking out

previous episodes 6 7 15 16 and in

particular episode

24 I've linked all of these in the show

notes we begin at the palace where the

four princes were all grown up and

married right about then bhat one of the

sons was at his mother's Kingdom on a

holiday dasharath was still in charge of

running the

kingdom but he was now getting

old he looked back at his time as

ruler and yes he had definitely checked

all the pre-retirement

boxes one Kingdom well ruled

check people who paid their taxes but

were still happy

check vishwamitra was now a powerful

Rishi friend

check three wives who could stand by him

through anything

check four Sons now all avatars of

Vishnu

check so the next stage in his life

could

begin all he had to do now was to hand

over the Reigns of the Kingdom to the

most capable of his

sons

now that retirement was definitely the

path forward the choice of successor was

a

no-brainer it had to be Rah the eldest

of his

sons he consulted with his

councel and yeah they agreed

unanimously all four princes were

equally capable but Ram was more equal

than the rest to borrow a

phrase now a father making a decision

about his children would normally

consult with the

mothers but this was a very patriarchal

society so he made the decision and let

his wives

know all three of his wives were of

course

thrilled Rah was the perfect son to all

three of them he always treated them

with immense respect and

love

well all of them were thrilled except k

k k k was initially thrilled as well but

that soon changed when she had a

conversation with

Mantra now you might recall that dharat

owed KK a couple of pretty big

wishes and Mantra knew about them see

episode 24 promises made hearts

broken yes Kay k was happy when she

heard the news from her ex Nanny

Mantra Mantra was a very old woman she

had been bat's Nanny just as she had be

K as was the custom K gifted a necklace

to the

messenger Mantra was an old lady and had

no use for a

necklace but she could have just sold

it she

didn't she threw away the necklace in

Anger now if you're a servant of the

queen you normally don't throw aside an

expensive gift like

that unless you pretty much raised the

queen from when she was a

baby k was

surprised but not

offended what's wrong Mantra she

asked Mantra told

her making Ram the next king when parat

was

away this was just a Prelude to exiling

or even killing bat

no way said Ki Ram would never do that

to his

brother maybe not

Ram what about

kelia she'll be the queen

mother K did hesitate this

time yes the rule stated that the queen

mother had more power than all the other

queens Mantra even reminded her of the

suku and Duku story from episode

26 where the favorite wife and her

daughter were really quick in evicting

the other residents of the

household Mantra

persisted and Kai seemed to be giving

in but what can I do about it asked

K Mantra replied you cly need me to

solve every problem for you tarat made

two unconditional promises to you surely

you haven't forgotten

those that was

enough Kai immediately requested Dash's

presence in her rooms in a way that

amounted to a

summons dasharath was agitated to learn

that Kai was cashing in her two IUS

and she wasn't asking for a new Chariot

or a vacation or

something what she wanted would change

their lives and the lives of everyone in

the Kingdom

forever she wanted parat to be made King

and for Ram to be exiled for 14

years in Ancient India like life

expectancy was not great so the teenage

Ram would be pretty much old by the time

he

returned if he returned at

all at least that's what Ki was

thinking dharat was

devastated but Kai would not listen to

him even the fact that the coronation

party invites were already sent out with

Ram's name on it and all the balloons

and the big congratulations Ram cake and

all the table

settings nothing changed her

mind this was like trying to do a last

minute substitution at the altar when

the wedding was already well

underway asking bat to be king was easy

but how could he possibly ask Ram to

leave the palace and go into

Exile k

was not willing to

budge she had the IUS from dharat and

the legal department found no

loopholes tarat was going to have to

give

in he called Rah over and SED the whole

story

out Rah handled it really

well if it's 14 years I'd better get

started right away way he said the

sooner I begin the sooner I'll be

back he addressed Kai you know Mom you

could have just ordered me to go I would

have

gone you might think that this was a

parting shot to make Kai think she had

wasted one of her

IUS but that was not Ram's

intention he meant it he really would

have followed Kai's order

ERS lakshman who was Ram's brother and

His companion on his internship with

vishwamitra decided that he would go

too the two were a team and you can't

just break up a

team sitha Ram's wife wanted to go along

too she had sworn to be with her husband

in sickness and in

health she would wasn't about to back

out of what was essentially a 14-year

long camping

trip as much as RAM wanted them to hang

back in

Comfort he couldn't refuse his brother

or his

wife to tell the truth it would be a bit

boring without anyone

else as they left the palace they wore

simple clothes not Royal

ones they did want to attract the

attention of Highway Men including

perhaps former colleagues of the author

valmiki the people of the Kingdom had

made a

decision Rah was going to be their King

whether K or dharat or Ram himself

wanted it or

not they would follow RAM lakshman and

sitha into

Exile this touched Ram's heart

but he had to point out the logical

flaw

aoda was a people not a

place Ram couldn't be in Exile if aoda

joined him everywhere he

went the people understood when he

explained this they could

relate they had just watched Thor

Ragnarok where Thor comes to a similar

realization

about

ascard with a heavy

heart they decided to

wait 14 years was long but not terribly

long they would endure

it it would not be

bad Rah told them to treat King Bat just

the way they had expected to treat

Ram if Ram trusted parat that was good

enough for

them they hung back as the brothers and

Sia headed out of the

Kingdom meanwhile Speedy Messengers had

been dispatched to fetch bat

back Kai was on cloud

nine she had in effect bent the whole

Kingdom to her

will kelia was

sad but she had confidence in her

son he had packed some musquito repent

and a few cans of food he would manage

for a few days at

least dasharath was bedridden

now in grief he cried for his

son just the way Shan's parents had said

he

would RAM lakshman and Sia left the

Kingdom on foot and wandered through one

Forest after

another we'll end it here but they will

go on to have all kinds of Adventures

meet all kinds of creatures make all

kinds of friends and some

enemies that's what the rest of the

ramayan is going to be

about a couple of notes on the show K is

often vilified for her role in banishing

Ram but very little focus is on

dharat who made some rather rash

promises dharat in trying to protect Ram

seems like the opposite of another king

we' have encountered on this

podcast yayati from episode 28 his girl

Friday yayati had no hesitation in

grabbing his son's youth from

him the character this week is an

elephant an that manages to survive a

crocodile attack thanks to some divine

intervention once upon a time there was

an elephant King called

gajendra I know elephants are a

matriarchal society and there isn't

really a

king but consider this a bit of an

exception gajendra along with his herd

lived on Mount

truta or the mountain with Three

Peaks one day as he was bathing in the

lake a crocodile grabbed his

leg Kendra tried to free

himself but as most people know

crocodiles have incredible bite force

and they don't just let

go when the herd realized he was done

for

they walked away thinking they couldn't

help

him curiously none of the other

elephants thought to try stepping on the

crocodile gajendra was in pain and

trumpeted until he was

horse but the crocodile was definitely

not letting

go gajendra then prayed to Vishnu the

Creator and in doing so

he held in his trunk a Lotus that he had

the presence of mind to pluck from the

lake that changed

everything Vishnu arrived at the scene

and swiftly decapitated the

crocodile that's all for this week if

you have comments or suggestions please

leave a comment or a review on the site

sfip podcast.com or tweet at SFI podcast

you can also find me on Instagram and

Facebook be sure to subscribe to the

show to get notified automatically of

new

episodes thanks to all you listeners for

your continued

support the music is from purple

planet.com that's

purple-planet.com

next week we are back with Vikram and

Bal we'll see why when you're the king

you you should be careful whom you

delegate a task

to they might do exactly the opposite of

what you

want the character next week is a

prince who is also a star in our night

sky it's the pole

star I'll see you next

[Music]

week

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