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It is indeed fitting for Bharata to do such a thing, being endowed with extraordinary strength. His elder brother, equal to his father, has been insulted. ||56||
Having said, "I will come," the king, Prithvi-dhara, sent the messenger away. The king, Prithvi-dhara, consulted with Rama. ||57||
"Ati-virya is very difficult to overcome, so I will go to him in disguise." Having said this, the king, Prithvi-dhara, spoke. Rama, reassured, said, ||58||
"This task must be accomplished by us secretly. Therefore, O king, there is no need for great pomp and ceremony." ||59||
"You stay here and do your work. I will go to the enemy with your son and son-in-law." ||60||
Having said this, Rama, accompanied by Lakshmana and Sita, mounted his chariot and, with a large army, set out for Nandya-varta-puri, taking the sons of the king, Prithvi-dhara, with him. They traveled swiftly and stopped near the city. ||61-62||
After performing their ablutions, eating, and other bodily functions, Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita consulted with the sons of Prithvi-dhara. ||63||
In the midst of the consultation, Sita said to Rama, "O lord, although I have no right to speak in your presence, for what is the brilliance of a star in the presence of the sun? ||64||
"Nevertheless, O god, I am speaking out of a desire for your welfare. Even a gem born from a creeper is worthy of being taken." ||65||
Sita said, "This Ati-virya is very strong, has a large army, and is cruel. How can he be defeated by Bharata?" ||66||
"Therefore, quickly devise a plan to defeat him. For a task begun hastily is prone to doubt." ||67||
"Although there is nothing in the three worlds that you and Lakshmana cannot accomplish, it is praiseworthy to begin a task without abandoning the present one." ||68||
Then Lakshmana said, "O goddess, why do you say this? Tomorrow you will see Ati-virya slain by me in battle." ||69||
"My head is purified by the dust of Rama's feet. Even the gods cannot stand before me. What then of Ati-virya?" ||70||
1. Therefore, I will defeat him.