ThailandStories.com - Ramakian Revisited

Introduction

The Thai Ramakian epic poem (which is also the subject of the Grand Palace Murals) tells how Pra Ram’s wife, Sita, is abducted by the giant Totsakan. In the original version, the monkey god, Hanuman and his monkey soldiers, go to Totsakan’s palace on the island of Lanka, fight several battles and win her back. In this version, you the reader, have to do it all yourself!

Instructions

This poem is a bit like one of those first-person-perspective computer adventure games - but it won’t keep a score, or remind you of the items you’ve collected - so you’ll have to use your memory (and avoid the temptation to cheat!) To ‘play’ the poem, first read The Prologue, then move on to Part I. In Part I, you can visit two of the four places listed. The stanzas in each part are not in any particular order, so just jump to the one you decide to read. Be warned, if you choose the wrong one, your quest may well be over before it has begun! The other stanzas will help you to collect items which may be useful in your quest (you already have a dagger and a water bottle). If you survive Part I, read the Interlude and move on to Part II, playing in the same way. If you survive Part II, move onto Part III and try to complete your quest. Another way to ‘play’ the poem is to read all the stanzas, and then work out what you must do to save Sita. The solution will be published next week.

Prelude

TOWERS of gold and Buddhist shrines surround you -

No wonder that you don’t know where you are!

Men in ornate costumes gather round you;

One says, “Our ruler, Pra Ram, Avatar,

Offers this quest: if you will seek afar,

Totsakan and his armies, maim and mar ’em,

And bring back Sita - you can have his harem!”

Part I. In Ayutaya

You can go to any two of the following places: I. The Armoury; II. The Astrologer’s Cell; III. The Harem; IV. The Lotus Pool; V. The Royal Palace.

I. The Armoury

You came here ’cos the king was very keen

That you should take something for your defence.

An AK47 or M16,

Or rocket-propelled grenade would have made sense -

But these inventions are some centuries hence -

The only weapon that you can ident-

-ify is a diamond-studded trident.

II. The Astrologer’s Cell

Dressed in a funny hat and flowing robe,

(A bit like Gandalf in “Lord of the Rings”)

Taking notes from his celestial globe,

He says at last, “Avoid the halls of kings!”

“Which ones?” “And deserts - among other things -

And giants! Oh! I wouldn’t like to be you! -

Just wear this cloak and no-one else will see you.”

III. The Harem

You can’t believe it! Girls in golden girdles

With cone-shaped crowns of gold on jet-black hair,

Gyrate as though they’re jumping over hurdles.

You find it very difficult not to stare

Because their lotus bosoms are quite bare.

One hits on you. You take her out to sh...show your appreciation of her,

But later, you find out she stole your dagger!

IV. The Lotus Pool

You’ve walked three leagues and you are feeling tired,

So you are pleased to see a lotus pool

Shaded by trees. It’s just what you desired

To help you rest and get your hot feet cool.

You settle down to doze, but oh! you fool!

Paklan the giant lives here and wants to meet you!

Foil him with cloak or trident or he’ll eat you!

V. The Royal Palace

The Lord Pra Ram, of Narai, Avatar,

Has called you to entrust you with something:

“When you find Sita, if you get that far,

Give to her this breast cloth and this ring,”

They’re secret tokens between queen and king -

Running away with the wrong man could cost her

Dear, but these will prove you’re no imposter.”

Interlude

THEN nine leagues further, you come to a river

Guarded by the water-nymph, Suwan.

She says, “I serve the glorious goddess, Siva,

And bar this river ford to every man.”

But when you tell her how your quest began,

She carries you across with airy finning –

The next stage of your journey is beginning!

Part II. In the Wilderness

You can go to any two of the following places: I. Busmali’s Baan; II. Mount Hemtiran; III. The Desert; IV. The Hermitage; V. The Short Cut.

I. Busmali’s Baan

Her beauty casts all others in the shade -

Busmali! She is fair to look upon:

Her belly sleek, her lotus breasts displayed,

Her eyes doe soft, her neck, so like a swan!

“Stay!” she begs you, but you must go on.

“I’d love to, but ’twould bring my goal no nearer.”

“Then I will help you - take this magic mirror.”

II. Mount Hemtiran

Mount Hemtiran’s a foolish place to go

Because it’s home to Mangorn, a Thai dragon.

Nostrils like flamethrowers are all aglow -

It’s no good thinking you can put a bag on

His head, or douse them with a half-filled flagon!

He’ll barbeque you, roasting you alive -

You’ll need the cloak or trident to survive.

III. The Desert

A golden palace gleaming in the distance,

A crystal pool where naked girls relax –

But sadly it’s a mirage in this instance,

For you have wandered off the beaten tracks

Into a desert – a thing which Siam lacks! -

So where the hell are you? You feel thirst throttle,

And so you drain - then ditch - your water bottle.

IV. The Hermitage

Says Narot, rising from his meditation

Reluctantly, “What can I do for you?”

You say, “Sorry I broke your concentration,

But to kill Totsakan what must I do?”

“He’s strong, and he’s invulnerable too,”

He says, “Except to the inverted man.”

“A riddle! Thanks - but not much of a plan!”

V. The Short Cut

When have you ever taken a short cut

And it worked out? I bet the answer’s never!

And nor did this. You’re sitting on your butt,

Lost in the jungle, trembling with swamp fever.

I hope for your sake you’re a true believer

In God or Buddha, ’cos without a doubt,

You’re going to die - in game terms, you are OUT!

Interlude

THEN you see, across a stormy bay,

Where ordinary vessels dare not go,

The Isle of Lanka very far away,

But how to get across you just don’t know.

The royal bird Sadayu sees your woe,

And asks Sampati, his strong elder brother,

To take you on his back and fly you over.

Part III. In Lanka

You can go to any two of the following places: I. Fort Lanka; II. The Golden Pavilion; III. The Magician’s Tower; IV. The Palace Garden; V. The Sandalwood Palace.

I. Fort Lanka

What did you expect when you came here?

Where there’s a fort, there’s usually an army -

Totsakan’s giant warriors, I fear!

Use cloak or trident? No - you must be barmy!

Only the mirror is adequately charmy.

Just hold it up, that’s all you have to do,

And they’ll think you’ve a giant army too!

II. The Golden Pavilion

There, in the pavilion, you see

What you have sought so long - the lovely Sita,

And though made paler by her misery -

Pale as the moon - she still is softer, sweeter

Than any other woman. Can you greet her,

Showing ring and breast cloth? If you could, a

Grateful Sita would cry, “Praise to Buddha!”

III. The Magician’s Tower

You sneak into the tower past the guards,

And then ask the magician for advice.

He tells your fortune with Thai Tarot Cards;

Shuffles and pulls a card out in a trice:

“The Hanging Man,” he says, “will that suffice?”

“Is that th’ ‘inverted man’?” “It’s not - moreover,

It’s you! I’m hanging you upside down!” - GAME OVER.

IV. The Palace Garden

By accident you find the palace garden,

And try to rest beneath the banyan trees,

Little knowing that it has a guardian:

The giantess Phi Sua. She likes to squeeze

Her victims till they die, but when she sees

Your face, she fancies you - I’m not being strident,

But that is worse than death! Use cloak or trident!

V. The Sandalwood Palace

You see Totsakan with his concubines -

He’s huge and strong - an unequal contest!

But you must kill him to thwart his designs,

Or he will kill you - you must do you best!

You’ll need your water bottle for this test,

And the solution to Narot’s teasing riddle,

Or Totsakan will rip you down the middle!

Postlude

THEN you take Sita back home to Pra Ram.

He’s pleased to see you and to see his wife.

So is the monkey god-king Hanuman;

You’ve saved him a long journey and much strife.

Now you’re rewarded for risking your life:

You round up all the harem, eyes agape,

And take them to his other gift - Grung-teyp.

Afterword

Of course, in the original, it is Hanuman who saves Sita, not you - so you’ll have to do without that harem! However, I hope that your dream of the Ramakian epic will inspire you to read the original. An excellent translation, written by King Rama I in 1797, can be found at www.seasite.niu.edu/Thai/literature/ramakian/ramakian.htm

Ramakian Revisited

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