Ramayana-The Beginning: Notes, Question and Answers Class 8 English Book Lavender

Find here Notes, Question and Answers for the chapter 8 ‘Ramayna-The Beginning’ in Class 8 English textbook ‘Lavender’. For more resources click here.

Notes: Ramayana-The Beginning

Vocabulary Notes:

Epic: A long poem narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic figures. (महाकाव्य) Verses: Lines of a poem or part of a song. (श्लोक / पद्यांश) Exile: A state of being forced to live away from one’s native country. (निर्वासन) Austerities: Strict self-discipline and severe practices, often for spiritual purposes. (कठोर तपस्या) Sacrifice (Yagya): A religious ritual where offerings are made to the gods, often involving fire. (यज्ञ) Demon: An evil spirit or supernatural being, often portrayed as the enemy of the gods. (राक्षस) Defile: To make something unclean or impure, especially a sacred place. (अपवित्र करना) Fortitude: Courage in pain or adversity. (धैर्य) Renowned: Famous or well-known for something. (प्रसिद्ध) Relent: To give in or change one’s mind about a decision. (झुकना / मान जाना) Virtuous: Having or showing high moral standards. (धार्मिक / पुण्यात्मा) Blessed: Favoured or given happiness by a higher power. (धन्य) Renowned Warrior: A famous and skilled fighter or soldier. (प्रसिद्ध योद्धा) Tutelage: The act of training or guiding someone. (शिक्षा / मार्गदर्शन) Gracious: Courteous, kind, and pleasant, especially towards those of lower status. (कृपालु) Heritage: Valued objects and qualities passed down from previous generations. (विरासत)

Summary:

Short Summary:

The chapter from The Ramayana introduces the story of Prince Rama, the eldest son of King Dasaratha of Ayodhya. Sage Viswamitra comes to King Dasaratha, asking him to send Rama and Lakshmana to protect his sacred ritual (yagya) from demons (rakshasas). Though hesitant at first, the king agrees. Rama and Lakshmana, trained by Viswamitra, successfully defeat the demons Maricha and Subahu. Afterward, Viswamitra takes the princes to the court of King Janaka, where Rama lifts and breaks Lord Shiva’s divine bow, winning the hand of Sita in marriage. This marks the beginning of Rama’s heroic journey.

Long Summary:

Introduction to the Ramayana: The Ramayana is one of India’s two great epics, the other being the Mahabharata. It was written by Maharishi Valmiki in Sanskrit around the 5th century BCE. The Ramayana consists of about 24,000 verses divided into seven sections, called kandas. The name “Ramayana” means the journey of Rama. It tells the story of Prince Rama, his life, his challenges, and his ultimate victory over the demon king Ravana.

The Main Story of the Ramayana – the life of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya:

• Rama’s training under Sage Viswamitra.
• His marriage to Sita, the princess of Mithila.
• His exile to the forest for 14 years, ordered by his father King Dasaratha due to Queen Kaikeyi’s wish.
• Sita’s kidnapping by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.
• Rama’s battle with Ravana to rescue Sita.
• Rama’s triumphant return to Ayodhya and becoming king.

Different Versions of the Ramayana: Over time, the Ramayana has been translated into many regional languages. Some famous versions include:

• The Tamil version by Kamban.
• The Hindi version, Ramcharitmanas, by Tulsidas.
• The Bengali version by Krittibas Ojha.
  The story also spread to other parts of Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

The Story of Rama Begins:

King Dasaratha and His Sons: King Dasaratha ruled the kingdom of Kosala from Ayodhya. He had four sons, with Rama and Lakshmana sharing a special bond, and Bharata and Satrughna also being very close.

Viswamitra’s Request: One day, Sage Viswamitra visited King Dasaratha and asked him to send Rama to help protect a sacred sacrifice (yagya) from demons (rakshasas) named Maricha and Subahu. Initially, King Dasaratha was reluctant, worried about his son’s safety, but Viswamitra convinced him that Rama would be safe and should also be accompanied by Lakshmana. Dasaratha finally agreed.

The Battle Against the Rakshasas: Rama and Lakshmana were blessed by their parents and Sage Vasishtha before leaving with Viswamitra. The sage taught the two princes the use of powerful weapons, called astras, to defeat the rakshasas. When the demons Maricha and Subahu tried to disrupt the yagya, Rama and Lakshmana used the astras to kill them and save the ritual.

Rama’s Marriage to Sita:

The Challenge in Mithila: After the successful defeat of the demons, Viswamitra took Rama and Lakshmana to Mithila, where King Janaka had arranged a great sacrifice. King Janaka had a divine bow, gifted by Lord Shiva, and declared that whoever could lift and string the bow would marry his daughter, Sita. Many princes had attempted but failed to lift the bow.

Rama Lifts the Bow: When it was Rama’s turn, he effortlessly lifted the bow, strung it, and even broke it in half. This amazed everyone, and King Janaka was thrilled that Rama was the one who would marry Sita.

The Marriage of Rama and Sita: Messengers were sent to Ayodhya to inform King Dasaratha of the good news. The king travelled to Mithila for the wedding. After the sacrifice was completed, Rama and Sita were married in a grand ceremony. King Janaka blessed the couple and gave Sita to Rama, saying she would always support him like his shadow.

Theme:

The main theme of the chapter is duty, courage, and righteousness. It highlights Rama’s sense of responsibility and obedience towards his teachers and family, his bravery in protecting others from evil (like the rakshasas), and the moral values he upholds. The story also emphasizes the importance of devotion to dharma (the right path) and fulfilling one’s promises.

Moral and Message:

The moral or message of the chapter is that duty, righteousness, and loyalty lead to success and honour. Rama’s obedience to his father, his courage in protecting the yagya, and his commitment to dharma show that staying true to one’s responsibilities brings positive outcomes. The story also teaches that strength combined with humility (as seen when Rama humbly follows Viswamitra’s guidance) is the mark of a true hero. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of virtue, family values, and fulfilling promises as key to living a righteous life.

Question & Answers of Chapter Exercises

Time to answer

A. Choose the correct option. (See the book for full question)

1. Which of the following is correct about the people of Kosala?

Ans: The people of Kosala were happy, contented, and virtuous.

2. Why could no enemy come anywhere near to the land of Kosala?

Ans: Because the land was protected by a mighty army.

3. How was the relationship between the four sons of King Dasaratha?

Ans: They were devoted to each other.

4. What happened on the sixth day of Viswamitra’s yagya?

Ans: Maricha and Subahu started preparing to shower unclean things on the sacrificial fire.

5. Viswamitra had to complete one duty towards Rama. What was it?

Ans: To ensure Rama’s marriage with Sita.

B. Answer these questions.

1. What was Dasaratha’s reaction when the great sage Viswamitra arrived at his kingdom one day?
   Ans: King Dasaratha was honoured and respectful when Sage Viswamitra arrived. He stepped down from his throne, welcomed the sage warmly, and felt blessed by his presence.
2. What was the purpose of Viswamitra’s visit to Dasaratha’s kingdom?
   Ans: Viswamitra visited Dasaratha’s kingdom to request Rama’s help in protecting his yagna (sacrifice) from the rakshasas (demons) Maricha and Subahu, who were disturbing the ritual.
3. How did Rama and Lakshmana defeat the rakshasas?
   Ans: Rama and Lakshmana used powerful astras (divine weapons) taught to them by Viswamitra. Rama killed Maricha and Subahu and destroyed the entire army of rakshasas, protecting the yagna.
4. After the completion of the yagna, where did Viswamitra take Rama and Lakshmana and why?
   Ans: After the yagna, Viswamitra took Rama and Lakshmana to King Janaka’s palace in Mithila. He wanted Rama to try and lift the divine bow of Shiva, as the person who could do so would win Sita’s hand in marriage.
5. What was special about the bow in King Janaka’s palace?
   Ans: The bow in King Janaka’s palace was a divine and mighty bow of Lord Shiva. It was so heavy and powerful that no one had been able to lift or string it.
6. What happened when Rama stepped forward to lift the bow?
   Ans: When Rama stepped forward, he lifted the bow effortlessly. He not only strung it but pulled the string with such force that the bow snapped in half with a loud crash, like thunder.

Reference to the context

Read the lines from the story and answer the questions that follow.

‘You yourself have come seeking my dwelling. Is there anything in my power that I can do for you?”

a. Who is the speaker and who is being spoken to?

• i. Viswamitra is the speaker and King Dasaratha is being spoken to.
• ii. King Dasaratha is the speaker and Viswamitra is being spoken to.
• iii. Viswamitra is the speaker and Janaka is being spoken to.
• iv. Viswamitra is the speaker and Rama is being spoken to.

Ans: ii. King Dasaratha is the speaker and Viswamitra is being spoken to.

b. Why had the person come there?

• i. to take King Dasaratha, the great warrior of Ayodhya with him
• ii. to take Rama, the eldest of Dasaratha’s sons with him
• iii. to take Laxmana, the eldest of Dasaratha’s sons with him
• iv. to take Rama, the eldest of Dasaratha’s son for marriage with Sita

Ans: ii. To take Rama, the eldest of Dasaratha’s sons with him.

c. What did the speaker offer to do?

• i. The speaker offered to accompany the visitor with his sons and do his bidding and serve
• his need.
• ii. The speaker declined to accompany the visitor as he wanted his sons to do the needful.
• iii. The speaker offered to accompany the visitor with his army and do his bidding and serve his need.
• iv. The speaker offered to accompany the visitor along with the people of Ayodhya and do his bidding and serve his need.

Ans: iii. The speaker offered to accompany the visitor with his army and do his bidding and serve his need.

d. Did the speaker comply with the other person’s request?

• i. The speaker was worried about his sons’ safety, so he didn’t accept the request.
• ii. The speaker was not sure about his decision, so he asked the person to come after some time.
• iii. The speaker took some time to think and later denied the person’s request.
• iv. The speaker hesitated in the beginning but eventually had to relent.

Ans: iv. The speaker hesitated in the beginning but eventually had to relent.

Time to think and answer

1. Would you say that both Rama and Lakshmana were dutiful and obedient wards? Justify your answer with examples. Answer in 80 words. value good values

2. All the major characters we came across in the extract from the epic were men of their words. Do you agree? Why/Why not? Answer in 100-120 words.

Answers:

1. Would you say that both Rama and Lakshmana were dutiful and obedient wards? Justify your answer with examples. (80 words)

Ans: Yes, both Rama and Lakshmana were dutiful and obedient wards. When Sage Viswamitra requested their help, they immediately obeyed their father, King Dasaratha, and followed the sage without hesitation. They protected the sage’s yagna by bravely fighting and defeating the rakshasas, Maricha and Subahu, showcasing their sense of duty. Their obedience is further shown when they respectfully asked for Viswamitra’s guidance and were always eager to fulfil any duty assigned to them.

2. All the major characters we came across in the extract from the epic were men of their words. Do you agree? Why/Why not? (100-120 words)

Ans: Yes, all the major characters in the extract were men of their words. King Dasaratha, though initially hesitant, kept his word and allowed Rama and Lakshmana to accompany Sage Viswamitra, honoring his duty as a king. Viswamitra himself was committed to protecting his yagna and trusted Rama to defeat the rakshasas. He fulfilled his promise by teaching the princes the use of divine astras. Rama and Lakshmana were also true to their duties, obeying their father and the sage without question, and successfully protecting the yagna. Each character showed integrity, fulfilling their promises and responsibilities, which reflects the high moral standards set by the Ramayana.

Time to study language

Change these sentences into the indirect speech.

1. He said, ‘I like this house.
2. Sagar said, ‘It rained last night.
3. ‘I met him five years ago, said Tara.
4. My mother said to me, ‘I am not feeling well today.
5. Rajesh said, ‘I don’t like soft drinks because they are bad for health.
6. The doctor said, ‘I can’t attend to this patient because this is a case of an accident and I need to call the police.
7. Divya said, ‘Thank you, Papa, for the books that you gave me on my birthday.
8. The old man said, “It is hunger that makes our food seem tasty, whether we are young or old, rich or poor.

Answers: Below are the sentences changed into indirect speech:

1. He said that he liked that house.
2. Sagar said that it had rained the previous/last night.
3. Tara said that she had met him five years ago.
4. My mother told me that she was not feeling well that day.
5. Rajesh said that he didn’t like soft drinks because they were bad for health.
6. The doctor said that he couldn’t attend to that patient because it was a case of an accident and he needed to call the police.
7. Divya thanked her father for the books that he had given her on her birthday.
8. The old man said that it was hunger that made their food seem tasty, whether they were young or old, rich or poor.

Time to learn new words

For each comparison using metaphor, write a comparison using a simile.

1. The basketball player is an ogre.
2. The soldier is a lion.
3. She is very bright.
4. Dhruv is an angel.
5. He was an angry beast.
6. She’s a busy bee.

Answers: Below given are the comparisons using similes:

1. The basketball player is like an ogre.
2. The soldier is as brave as a lion.
3. She is as bright as a star.
4. Dhruv is like an angel.
5. He was as angry as a beast.
6. She’s as busy as a bee.

Study Skills

Use punctuation marks like full stop, question mark, exclamation mark, comma, apostrophe, em dash, en dash and hyphen and rewrite these sentences. Use capital letters, wherever required.

1. the 100 year old statue carved by the renowned french artist now decorates my room
2. i took the punjab himachal roadways bus to travel to shimla
3. the schools summer vacation is from may 1 30
4. the tall building cast a shadow a long one in the morning
5. my mother attended the benaras hindu university from 1980 1985
6. the pandavas were five brothers yudhishtira bhima arjuna nakula and sahadeva
7. all the employees in my team carry a never say die attitude
8. the first golden rays of the sun on the snow capped himalayas was an awe inspiring scene

Answers: Punctuated sentences are given below:

1. The 100-year-old statue, carved by the renowned French artist, now decorates my room.
2. I took the Punjab-Himachal Roadways bus to travel to Shimla.
3. The school’s summer vacation is from May 1–30.
4. The tall building cast a shadow—a long one—in the morning.
5. My mother attended the Benaras Hindu University from 1980–1985.
6. The Pandavas were five brothers—Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva.
7. All the employees in my team carry a never-say-die attitude.
8. The first golden rays of the sun on the snow-capped Himalayas were an awe-inspiring scene.

Time to listen

Listen to an extract from the Ramayana that recounts the event that took place as King Dasaratha and his retinue were returning after the wedding of Rama and Sita.”

Now, complete these sentences on the basis of what you just heard.

1. On their way back, Dasaratha and his party ………………….
2. Parasurama stood before them ………………….
3. Parasurama wanted Rama to ………………….
4. Parasurama was vengeful because ………………….
5. Rama asked Parasurama whether ………………….

Answers: The part needed to complete the sentences are given below:

1. …were greeted by a great storm that uprooted trees, shook the earth and sent clouds of dust into the sky until they hid the sun and covered the earth with all-enveloping darkness.
2. …with a bow on one shoulder, a battle-axe on the other and an arrow shining like lightning in his
   hand.
3. …string his bow, which was that of god Vishnu himself, so he could be adjudged worthy of battling
   with.
4. …his father was killed by a king.
5. …he should use the bow he has just strung to destroy his powers of locomotion or consume the fruits
   of his tapas.

Time to speak

Imagine you were present as a courtier in King Janaka’s court when Rama lifted the bow and won Sita’s hand. Narrate the sequence of events that led to the wedding from the time Viswamitra came to the court with the two princes.

Ans: As a courtier in King Janaka’s court, the moment Viswamitra arrived with the two princes—Rama and Lakshmana—was truly memorable. Everyone in the court, including myself, was filled with anticipation. King Janaka warmly welcomed the sage and the two princely brothers, who stood tall and graceful.

Viswamitra introduced the young princes, explaining how they had bravely defeated the rakshasas and protected his yagya. King Janaka then mentioned the great challenge he had set for Sita’s marriage—only the one who could lift, string, and bend the mighty bow of Lord Shiva would win her hand.

The bow was brought in, a massive and sacred weapon, placed in a large iron box and transported on an eight-wheeled carriage. Many princes before had tried and failed to even move it. As the bow was revealed, the tension in the court grew. Everyone was eager to see if anyone could succeed.

When Rama stepped forward, all eyes were on him. He approached the bow with confidence. With effortless grace, he lifted it, much to everyone’s astonishment, as though it were no heavier than a garland of flowers. He bent and strung the bow, and as he pulled the string back, the bow snapped with a loud crash that echoed like thunder across the hall.

There was a collective gasp, followed by a shower of flowers from the heavens. King Janaka, thrilled, proclaimed Rama as the one worthy to marry his beloved daughter, Sita. Soon after, messengers were sent to Ayodhya to inform King Dasaratha and seek his blessings for the marriage. The court was filled with joy and celebration as preparations began for the wedding, which was soon to take place after the yagya. It was truly an unforgettable event!

Time to write

A notice is usually written to inform people about an event or an activity, such as a competition, a picnic, a meeting, a show or an exhibition.

You are Pranjal, the Head Boy of Amity School, Dehradun. Your school is organising a play on Lord Rama’s life. Draft a notice informing the students about the date, timings and venue of the event.

Ans: A sample Notice is given below: