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The Completion of the twenty-one day fast
45
“Dear goddess! You are speaking the truth. I too have had such experiences. Now, you devise some means of enabling her to have a union with me. There should not be even a moment's delay in this matter. You, at once, meet her and make the necessary arrangements. We should not lose an opportunity that comes our way. Time and tide waits for no man.”
"As commanded by you, my lord !"
The empress of the empire of Lanka, Mandodari agreed to be Ravan's messenger and decided to go to the Devaraman garden. Ravan went back to his palace and kept eagerly awaiting Mandodari's arrival.
Poor Ravan! He believed that Sita was really cheerful because of a change in her mind. He thought that what Trijata had said was true. Oh ! Sita's cheerfulness was thus mistaken and misunderstood. A man interprets an event in a way that is favourable to him. Sita's cheerfulness led Ravan on the wrong path. He mistook a mirage for water and began running after it. He began building castles in the air. He began dreaming sweet dreams regarding Sita and in order to secure Sita's favour. he began to act thoughtlessly and decided to stake his status. his prestige, his honour, his fame and his imperial splendour for her favour.
Mandodari !
Thoughtless and foolish Mandodari ! She decided to discard all sense of propriety and shame out of her blind adoration for her husband. She forgot the splendid traditions of the Rakshasa race and decided to act as Ravan's messenger, not realising that this action of hers would be a stain upon the glorious history of the Rakshasas. She followed the wrong policy of acting according to her husband's wishes without realising whether her husband's policy was right or wrong. Though she knew very well that Sita had been brought by force and though she despised Ravan she forgot the duty of advising him to act sensibly and justly. It is likely that she did not scrutinize her husband's policy. It is also likely that she knew that her husband was wrong. She probably did not like to speak out the bitter truth
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