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424
JAIN RAMAYAN
"I am the presiding deity of this garden. Kindly tell me what service I may render to you."
"We are immensely pleased to have visited your garden. We are not experiencing any discomfort here."
"You are right but I wish to render a service to you and help you to achieve your objective. I will transform your army into women soldiers. I will transform you into extremely beautiful women."
Hearing the words of the god, Shri Ram and Lakshman were amazed.
“Why do you want to do this ?”
"Only to punish Ativirya who is unjust and wicked. He will be defeated by an army of women. That will be a great disgrace to him. The story of his disgrace will spread far and wide". Even without waiting for Shri Ram's reply the god transformed all of them into women. At once, Shri Ram and Lakshman became beautiful women. They looked at each other and laughted heartily.
A little later Shri Ram sent a message to Ativirya, "King Mahidhar has sent an army to assist you."
“Has not King Mahidhar come ?" “No”.
"Then where is the need for his army? He has become haughty. The day of his death is not far. He will surely taste death at my hands. Well, I will myself fight against Bharath. I do not need anyone's assistance. I will teach these fellows a lesson when the time comes."
Just then a minister said interrupting the conversation. "Oh king, King Mahidhar has not come. That does not matter but he has sent an army of women to assist you."
That was enough. The minister's words added fuel to the fire of his anger. Ativirya's anger flared up to the sky. He
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