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 98

86
JAIN RAMAYAN
way and knocked the smoke out of their heads. When Ravan was fighting alone in the midst of a vast army of enemies, his newly married wives were experiencing great agitation and worry. Their agitation reached the highest point of intensity. But for Ravan it was not a war but a game........ an entertainment. He wanted, to give it an extensive form; in other words, he desired to prolong the war to tease, taunt and torture his enemies. But visualizing the mental state of his newly-wedded wives, he decided to end the war. As a consequence of this decision, he stopped using ordinary weapons and began using efficacious magical and supernatural devices.
At once, he released the Prasvapana astra (a device) which went ferociously hissing and swishing towards Amarsundar and the other Vidyadhars striking mortal dread in their hearts. On account of the swishing sound of the Prasvapana astra, the entire atmosphere became pervaded with dread. As Ravan kept advancing against them, the eyes of the Vidyadhars grew heavy and drowsy. Their hands and legs were rendered absolutely powerless. They lost control over them; and the weapons in their hands fell down. The faces of the warriors of the enemyarmy grew pale with a mortal dread. It was as if chaos, which by heavenly doom, had lain in endless gloom, woke up and covered them all with its mighty wings; and cried "havoc".
Padmavathi and the other Vidyadhar damsels were astounded and thrilled by Ravan's supernatural heroism. They realized that they had married a man of extraordinary valour and heroism; and their hearts overflowed with a feeling of joy.
Again Dashmukh Ravan placing two steps ahead released another tremendously efficacious device. The result was there appeared everywhere countless terrible cobras hissing with their hoods held up. Black snakes, pale snakes, and spotted snakes rose in millions everywhere. In a moment, there appeared countless snakes.... big ones, long ones, large ones, and all went hissing and clung to the bodies of his enemies. Thus, within a moment, Dashmukh Ravan bound all his enemies with the Nagastra (the snake-device). Just as cattle are bound and drawn, he bound the Vidyadhars and kept dragging them to inflict