Rama

===Youth, family and friends===
{{main|Bharata (Ramayana)|Lakshmana|Shatrughna}}
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| quote ={{IAST|Śrī Rāma Jaya Rāma Jaya Jaya Rāma}} ({{Lang-sa|श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम}})
| source = — Chant of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] containing thirteen syllables. It is known as {{IAST|Śrī Rāma Tāraka mantra}} ({{literal translation|The Rama [[mantra]] for [[Moksha|Salvation]]}}).<ref>{{Citation |author=Sadguru Sant Keshavadas|title=Ramayana at a Glance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3XIatVGyjmQC|page=15 |year=1988 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publications|isbn=9788120805453}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 30%
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[[File:An early 20th century Hindu deity Rama painting.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Rama is portrayed in Hindu arts and texts as a compassionate person who cares for all living beings.<ref name="hindery106">{{cite book|author=Roderick Hindery|title=Comparative Ethics in Hindu and Buddhist Traditions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-FswBLvTkvQC&pg=PA98 |year=1978|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0866-9|pages=106–107}}</ref>]]
Rama had three brothers, according to the ''[[Balakanda]]'' section of the ''[[Ramayana]]''. These were [[Lakshmana]], [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]] and [[Shatrughna]].{{sfn|James G. Lochtefeld|2002|p=555}} The extant manuscripts of the text describes their education and training as young princes, but this is brief. Rama is portrayed as a polite, self-controlled, virtuous youth always ready to help others. His education included the [[Veda]]s, the [[Vedanga]]s as well as the martial arts.<ref name="Dalal2010p326">{{harvnb|Dalal|2010|pp=326–327}}</ref>

The years when Rama grew up are described in much greater detail by later Hindu texts, such as the ''Ramavali'' by [[Tulsidas]]. The template is similar to those found for [[Krishna]], but in the poems of [[Tulsidas]], Rama is milder and reserved introvert, rather than the prank-playing extrovert personality of Krishna.{{sfn|James G. Lochtefeld|2002|p=555}}

In the kingdom of Mithilā, Rāma wins a bow-stringing contest and thus the hand of king Janaka's daughter Sītā. After getting married, Rāma takes her back to Ayodhyā.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Goldman |first=Robert P. |title=The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki: An Epic of Ancient India |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=1984 |volume=I: Bālakāṇḍa |pages=248–263}}</ref>

While Rama and his brothers were away, [[Kaikeyi]], the mother of Bharata and the second wife of King Dasharatha, reminds the king that he had promised long ago to comply with one thing she asks, anything. Dasharatha remembers and agrees to do so. She demands that Rama be exiled for fourteen years to Dandaka forest.<ref name="Dalal2010p326" /> Dasharatha grieves at her request. Her son Bharata, and other family members become upset at her demand. Rama states that his father should keep his word, adds that he does not crave for earthly or heavenly material pleasures, and seeks neither power nor anything else. He informs of his decision to his wife and tells everyone that time passes quickly. [[Sita]] leaves with him to live in the forest, and [[Lakshmana]] joins them in their exile as the caring close brother.<ref name="Dalal2010p326" />