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On the Banks of Rewa...
163
"I hope King Sahasrakiran is hale and hearty. It is a long time since I met him. But I can never forget him even for a moment. What message has he sent me ? Please tell me".
When the messenger remembered Sahasrakiran who was now a Rajarshi, suddenly, the tears flowed from his eyes. King Anaranya's eagerness became acute. There fell a damp on his cheerfulness. He impatiently asked the messenger. "I think all are well at Mahashmati ?”
The messenger somehow controlling his grief said with great difficulty.
“What shall I say? My lord, your dear friend, Sahasrakiran received initiation into the Sadhudharma".
“What did you say ? Has our dear friend become a Sadhu?”
Suddenly, he became serious. All in the court were silent. Everywhere sorrow and agitation appeared. Anaranya remembered the past events which he had forgotten through a lapse of time. He was immersed in profound thoughtfulness.
At once, he remembered his determination, to take to the life of a sadhu along with Sahasrakiran.
What else remained ? Without delaying even for a moment, he got ready to adopt the path of Sadhudharma; and to act according to his word. Accordingly, he handed over the responsibility of ruling over the country of Ayodhya to Prince Dashrath; and took to the Samyamdharma.
Ravan bowed with veneration to the Munis, Shatabahu and Sahasrakiran. He placed Sahasrakiran's son on the throne of Mahishmati; and set off on his march of victory through the sky.
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