________________
82
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
grief becomes mad and wanders about carrying the dead body of Laksmana. Seeking this opportunity the sons of Rakṣasa Sunda invade Saketa but they are chased away by other two celestial beings namely, Kṛtāntavadana and Jaṭayu. The same celestials restore Rama to sanity. Thereupon Rama realises the truth about the worldly things. He performs the last rites of the dead body of Lakṣmaṇa, enthrones the son of Lavana and renounces the world along with Satrughna, Vibhīṣaṇa, Sugrīva, Nala, Nila, Viradhita and many others. In course of time he attains clairvoyance (Avadhijñāna). He repairs to the forest and observes various penances. He breaks his fast there with the food offered by Pratinandi, the king of the city of Syandanasthali (Sandanathali). During the course of his spiritual elevation, Sītā, the Prati-Indra tries to distract him from meditation to mar his progress and thus to cause his rebirth into her own abode, but in vain. Consequently Rama attains omniscience. He gets emancipated after leading ascetic life for a period of twenty-five years.
