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THE KILLING OF RAVANA
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When Rama had been sprinkled with sandal-water by Sugrīva and others, he recovered consciousness, sat down near Saumitri and, lamenting, said:
"What pains you, child? Speak. Why do you remain silent? Reply by raising an eyebrow even. Please your elder brother. These watch your face, Sugrīva and others, your followers. Why do you not reply with word or glance, you dear to the sight! Surely you do not speak from embarrassment at the thought, 'Rāvana left the battle-field alive.' Therefore, speak. I shall fulfil your wish. Oh, miserable Rāvaṇa, stay! stay! where will you go? I shall soon start you on the long journey.'
When Raghudvaha stood up, twanging his bow, the lord of the Kapis addressed him respectfully: "Master, it is night and the Rākṣasa has gone to Lanka. Our master is here, injured by a blow with a spear. Regain selfcontrol. Know that Daśānana is as good as killed. Consider only a means of restoring Saumitri." Rāma said again: "My wife has been kidnaped; my younger brother killed. Still Rāma survives. He is not torn into a hundred pieces. Friend Sugrīva, Hanumat, Bhāmaṇḍala, Nala, Argada, Virādha and others, go now to your own houses, all of you. Friend Bibhiṣaṇa, you were in great sorrow from the kidnaping of Sita and the killing of Saumitri, since you had not accomplished your purpose. But, at dawn, friend, see your brother, an enemy in the guise of a brother, being led by the path of my own brother. At dawn, after satisfying you, I shall follow Lakṣmaṇa. For without Lakṣmaṇa what good to me are Sītā and life?" Bibhiṣaṇa said: "Why this weakness, lord? For a man, even though struck by that spear, lives for a night. Try with all kinds of charms, spells, et cetera to find a remedy for the blow before dawn appears."
Raghava agreed; and Sugrīva and the others made seven walls with four gates around the two Raghavas by means of a vidya. At the gates in the east stood Sugrīva, Pāvanañjayi, Tāra, Kunda, Dadhimukha, Gavākṣa, Gavaya
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