Synopsis
Dasarata from Ayodya had four sons: Rama, Bharata, Laksmana and Satrugna. One day an ascetic named Wiswamitra requested that Dasaratha help him to repel a demon attack on his hermitage. Then Rama and Laksmana departed.
In the hermitage, Rama and Laksmana destroyed the demons and proceeded to the Mithila country where a swayambara was being held. The visitor of the swayambara was to be given the king's daughter, Sita, in marriage. The participants were told to draw the bow that had accompanied Sita in her birth. Not a single one was successful except for Rama, then they got married and returned to Ayodya. In Ayodya, Rama was prepared to become the king, because he was the eldest son.
However Kaikeyi, another wife of the king Dasaratha, invoked the king's oath to her asking for her son Bharata to become king. Dejected, king Dasaratha granted him the kingship. Rama, Sita and Laksmana were made to leave the palace, and, grieving intensely, king Dasaratha died.
The new king Bharata sought out Rama. He felt he did not deserve kingship and asked Rama to return to Ayodhya. Rama, however, refused and gave his sandals to Bharata as the symbol of his authority.
Bharata returned to the palace with Rama's sandals. Rama with his two companions went to the woods to live there. During their stay, a female demon called Surpanaka saw Laksamana and fell in love with him and disguised herself as a beautiful woman. Laksmana was not interested in her and even cut off the tip of her nose when she threatened to grow violent. She was enraged and told this to her brother, Rawana the demon King of Lanka. Surpanka told Rawana of the beauty of Sita and thus persuaded him to kidnap Sita.
Sita saw a beautiful deer and asked Rama to catch it. Rama obliged entrusting Laksmana to protect Sita. Rama was gone for a long period, and Sita, growing worried convinced Laksmana to leave her and go in search of Rama. Rawana seized the moment to abduct Sita and take her to Lanka.
Then Rama and Laksmana tried to get her back. In their endeavor they got help from the King of the Monkeys Hanuman.
In the end Rawana was killed. Rama and Sita then returned to Ayodya where Rama was coronated.
Read more about this topic: Kakawin Ramayana