Jain Ramayana Part 3

SR No.: 002023
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 518
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Story, & Literature
File Size: 24 MB

Page 118

106
JAIN RAMAYAN
Sita could not bear to hear all this. She became unconscious and collapsed on the ground. When she fell down unconscious, the atmosphere in the Devaraman garden became bleak and blighted. All the attendants came running to Sita and surrounded her. They sprinkled cool water on her face. Within a short time, she regained her consciousness but her heart-rending lamentations filled even the hard-hearted Rakshasa attendants with anguish. She kept lamenting thus for a long time. The hearts of those who had gathered there melted away in compassion.
"Dear child Lakshman! Where have you gone leaving my revered lord alone? Ah! Without you by his side my lord cannot live even for a moment. Fie upon me! I am an unfortunate woman. A wretched and despicable creature! On account of me my Lord Shri Ram and my brother Lakshman had to face this disaster but what is it that I can do? We cannot alter the decrees of Destiny. Where shall I go now? Dear Mother Earth! Be gracious towards me and receive me into yourself. I will reach your lap and lie there forever. Let my head break into pieces. I wish that this too, too, solid flesh would melt, thaw and disappear as vapour. Let my heart break into pieces. Now I do not wish to live even for a moment. I cannot live even for a moment separated from my dear lord Shri Ram and my child; my brother-in-law Lakshman." Her loud lamentations; her sobs and sighs filled the dark night that enveloped the earth.
One of the attendants. a Vidyadhar maiden had mastered a divine power called Avalokini. By means of this power, she could see the past, present and the future. She could visualise the secrets concealed in the womb of the future. The attendant pitied Sita who was in great misery. She went to a lonely place in the garden and sat down there in meditation. She invoked the divine power, Avalokini and the goddess appeared before her. She said to the goddess in a humble manner :
"O goddess! In this war between Ram and Ravan who will be victorious at the end? Will Lakshman die or come back to life? What will happen to the noble lady, Sita ?"