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THE ABANDONMENT OF SĪTĀ
309 flowers on Madhu's body and chanted, "Long live the god Madhu."
The spear assumed the form of a divinity and told Camara about Satrughna's slaying of Madhu which had taken place through trickery. Then Camara, angered by his friend's staying, started out. himself. Questioned by Venudārin, lord of the Tärksyas (Suparņas), "Where are you going?” he explained, "I am going to kill my friend's slayer, Satrughna, living in Mathurā.” Venudārin said again: "The spear, which was received from Dharaṇa by Rāvaņa, was overcome by Saumitri, an Ardhacakrin of maximum merit. He killed Rāvaņa. Of what importance was Madhu, Rāvana's footman? Satrughna killed Madhu in battle at Lakşmaņa's order.” The Indra Camara said, "At that time the spear was overcome by Saumitri through the maiden Visalyā's power. Now her power has gone, as she is not celibate. All the more for that reason I shall go to kill my friend's slayer, lord.”
Camara said this angrily and went to Satrughna's territory and saw all the people there happy with good government. With the idea, “I shall attack Madhu's enemy first with calamities among the people,” he spread numerous diseases among the people. Informed by his family-divinity of the cause of the diseases, Satrughna went to Ayodhyā to Räma and Lakşmaņa. At that time Råma, Lakşmaņa, and Satrughna paid homage to Deśabhūşaņa and Kulabhūṣaṇa who had come there. Rāma asked, "Why was Šatrughna so determined on Mathurā?" and Deśabhūşaņa said:
Šatrughna's former births (192-214) "Śatrughna's jiva was born in Mathurā, many times. He became a Brāhmar, Sridhara, handsome, a follower of sādhus. One day as he went along the road, he was observed by the chief-queen, named Lalitā, and because of passion she had him conducted into her presence with a desire for dalliance. The king came unexpectedly and
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