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The Rāmāyana Version of Guņabhadra
139
we know Guņabhadra (or his predecessor whom he follows) is the first poet to represent Sitä as Rāvana's daughter.
Gunabhadra omits altogether the court-intrigue of Kaikeyi by making her Lakşmana's mother. He wants to show, however, the progress of the story. There is no reason to send Rāma and party into exile so possibiy he invents the idea of Vārāṇass being the former capital of Dasaratha; and Rāma etc., with his father's permission go there to look after the subjects there - so long neglected. And he shows the Citra-kūta. as the scene of Sita's abduction by Rāvana.
