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JAIN RAMAYAN
twenty four years! There is no need to fear anything. I will personally lead the army into the battlefield; and then I will see who are really heroic and patriotic and who are not. I will make the kings of the south Lick the dust in the twinkling of an eye. You need not worry."
Sumukh was stupefied by the words of the queen; and kept staring at her. The Queen's irreppressible enthusiasm and unexampled heroism inspired inordinate courage and confidence in Sumukh. He began to sway with heroism.
"Commander Sumukh! We cannot waste even a single moment. See that the four gates of Ayodhya are closed; and keep at every gate one thousand soldiers to guard it. Be ready with the remaining one thousand soldiers”.
The commander Sumukh saluted the queen and went away.
After that, the queen again clapped her hands; and when the door-keeper appeared before her, she ordered him to inform the officer in charge of the horses to appear before her.
The officer appeared before the queen within a short time; and saluted her.
“How many horses are there in our stables ?”
"Ten thousand, oh great queen”. The officer said in a polite · manner.
“How many horses do the citizens have ?” “Our citizens have about twenty five thousand horses”. “Very good! Keep ten thousand horses ready in our stables. As soon as the officer went away, the queen called the door“As commanded by the queen !” The officer retreated.
As soon as the officer went away, the queen called the doorkeeper; and said;
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