Ramayana (Study Guide)

RAMAYANA -- Study Guide (Questions)
Chapter 1
1. The prologue talks of several things in life that are part of devotion to duty and righteous behavior. Name at least two of those.
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2. What does the prologue say this tale will reveal?
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3. What race of people did King Dasaratha come from?
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4. What was the one thing King Dasaratha lacked?
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5. What did the king sacrifice as an offering to get what he wanted?
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6. How many wives did the king have?
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7. What do the gods believe will happen if the wicked king Ravana is not destroyed?
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8. What is the name of the creator?
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9. What did Ravana not ask protection from?
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10. Who is the preserver of life on earth?
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11. What was Vishnu willing to do in order to destroy Rama?
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12. What did the king give to his wives in order to get sons?
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13. What else did the gods create to help Vishnu destroy the wicked Ravana?

14. Who was Rama’s constant companion?
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15. Who is the king of the gods?
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16. To whom is King Janaka married?
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17. Who is the destroyer of life on earth?
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18. What does Rama need to do to win King Janaka’s daughter?
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19. Whose child is Sita?
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20. What happened to the bow when Rama lifted and drew it?
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21. After her marriage to Rama, Sita becomes the queen of what quality?
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Chapter 2
1. Why did King Dasaratha want to give up his throne to Rama?
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2. What advice does King Dasaratha give Rama about being a king?
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3. Why was King Dasaratha obligated to leave his throne to the oldest of his sons?
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4. What effect did the nursemaid’s words have on Bharata’s mother?
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5. What does the king promise Bharata’s mother?
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6. When did the king grant his wife two rewards?
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7. What two things does the wife ask for as her two rewards?
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8. What would be the greatest of crimes to the king?
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9. Bharata’s mother tells Rama to be loyal to his dharma. What does the word dharma mean?
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10. How long does Rama have to live in the wild forest lands?
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11. What kind of clothes does Rama need to wear?
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12. What is part of his destiny, according to Rama?
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13. According to Rama, what must he do to follow the way of dharma?
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14. According to Sita, why does she decide to go with Rama?
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15. Why does King Dasaratha die five days after Rama leaves?
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Chapter 3
1. Why does Bharata refuse to rule his father’s kingdom?
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2. Where does Bharata go in search of Rama?
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3. According to a wise man whom Bharata meets, where does each man’s destiny take him?
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4. Where does Bharata find Rama living?
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5. According to Bharata, why is it Rama’s duty to rule the kingdom of Kosala?
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6. According to Rama, why can’t he claim the throne of the kingdom?
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7. How does Bharata need to rule, according to Rama’s advice?
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8. What special request does Bharata make of Rama?
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9. What four things does a holy hermit give to Rama?
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10. Who are the Rakshasas?
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11. Why did the hermit give Rama the weapons?
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12. Who falls in love with Rama in the forest?
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13. Why does Rama refuse the become the savage maiden’s husband?
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14. What does Lakshmana do when the savage maiden attacked Sita?
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15. How many Rakshasas does Rama kill with his bow and arrows?
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Chapter 4
1. What does Ravana want to do when he hears about the destruction of his army?
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2. Why did Ravana’s adviser, Maricha, object to his plan?
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3. What was Maricha’s plan to capture Sita?
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4. Why does Sita want Rama to capture the deer?
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5. What does Lakshmana think the deer really is?
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6. What happens when Rama kills the deer?
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7. What does Sita want Lakshmana to do when she hears the supposed “Rama’s cry”?
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8. In what shape (disguise) did Ravana appear to Sita?
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9. What have Ravana’s courage and skill made him?
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10. What does Ravana use to carry Sita to his kingdom?
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11. How does Sita leave a trail so Rama would find out about her?
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12. Who found Sita’s tokens?
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13. What plan does Sugriva devise to find Sita?
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14. Who is Hanuman?
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15. What did Hanuman try to do when he was a child? Why?
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16. What does Rama give Hanuman to show Sita if he finds her?
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17. Which quarter of the earth was Hanuman supposed to search?
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18. What form (shape) does Hanuman transform himself into in order to perform his secret mission in Lanka?
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19. Where does Hanuman find Sita?
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20. What did Ravana offer Sita if she accepted him?
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21. What does Hanuman tell Sita about Rama’s only goal?
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22. How long has it been since Sita last saw Rama?
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Chapter 5
1. What are the names of Ravana’s two brothers?
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2. According to the younger brother, what evil omens has Sita brought to their land?
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3. What advice does Vibhishana give Ravana in order to avoid war?
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4. Why does Vibhishana join Rama and the monkeys?
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5. What did Rama promise Vibhishana in return for his help?
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6. How was the bridge connecting India and Lanka created?
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7. Why didn’t Rama kill Ravana when he had a chance?
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8. What does the monster Kumbha-karna do with the creatures he catches?
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9. How did Rama end Kumbha-karna’s life?
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10. Why does Indra, king of the gods, help Rama?
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11. How many heads does Ravana have?
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12. What does Rama use to kill Ravana?
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13. Why does Rama publicly renounce Sita?
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14. Has Sita been unfaithful to Rama? How do you know?
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15. How does Sita demonstrate (prove) her innocense?
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16. What does Rama find out about his real self?
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17. What does Rama find out about Sita’s real self?
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18. Who is Agni?
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19. Why does Sita forgive Rama?
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20. What is Rama’s last wish?
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21. What special gift does Hanuman ask for?
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22. Who is Yama?
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23. How long did Rama and Sita rule the kingdom of Kosala?
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Chapter 6
1. Why does Rama feel the need to renounce his devoted wife a second time?
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2. Where does Rama tell his brother to take Sita?
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3. Why does Sita feel she is being punished a second time?
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4. Who does Sita give birth to?
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5. How did Valmiki know the story of Rama?
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6. How many cantos (sections) does the Ramayana have from beginning to end?
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7. How does Rama recognize his own sons?
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8. Why does Sita wish to leave the earth?
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9. Who embraces Sita and places her on a golden throne?
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10. How many years did Rama reign without Sita?
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11. In which form did Rama enter heaven?
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12. Who is Vishnu?
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13. Who is Brahma?
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