Jain Ramayana Part 1

SR No.: 002021
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 452
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Mythology, & Story
File Size: 21 MB

Page 37

Lanka: Its Decline and Rise
haughty, thinking thus, "I have laid flat my enemies; and have achieved a tremendous victory. Now, no one can escape from me unscathed; and no one can shake me. But any seed lies concealed in the soil; and is not visible. In the same manner, when, once, the seed of enmity is sown; though it may not be outwardly visible, a thorny plant grows out, assumes the shape of a monstrous tree and grows a poisonous fruit, and brings about dreadful consequences.”
Just as the flames of fire cannot he checked; the news of the death of his son reached the ears of the king of Ratanupur. The rising anger of Ashaniveg, the emperor of Vidyadhars grew intense. On account of anger, his face grew red and began to flame out. In order to take revenge against his enemies for having killed his son, he marched, with his vast army to the Vanardweep and attacked it. His heroic warriors destroyed the forests and gardens of Kishkindha; and laid them waste. They shattered to pieces all the defences of the Vanardweep. Roaring like lions, Kishkindhi, his younger brothers, Andhak and Sukesh, the king of Lanka came into the battle-field. A tumultous war broke out between the two parties. The battle-field was covered with bleeding dead bodies. Everywhere blood flowed in floods. Ashaniveg stood at the head of the army and directed the military operations himself. His terrible war-cries struck terror into the hearts of the monkeys; harassed and vanquished them. His angry and piercing eyes were looking for Andhak who had killed his son. Nearby, Andhak was engaged in routing and destroying the army of the Vidyadhars. Fighting in a ferocious manner, he was slaying the soldiers of the Vidyadhar army; and he approached Ashaniveg. Seeing Andhak before him, Ashaniveg grew furious and pounced upon him like a wild and ferocious lion pouncing upon a deer. With one single stroke, he cut off the head of Andhak. As soon as Andhak was slain there arose deafening cries of dismay and distress from the Vanara army. They ran helter-skelter mortally terrified. Sukesh and Kishkindhi also ran away to the Pathal Lanka, to save their lives. Having thus avenged his son's death and after having laid waste the Vanardweep, Ashaniveg returned to Ratanupur.
While Kishkindhi was in Pathala Lanka, two sons were