Jain Journal 1970 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 23

JAIN JOURNAL
a vow not to bow his head before any one except a Jina. This has enraged the Superlord and hence the deadly war. He is escaping from the field with injuries. The fellow was rewarded and let off.
Rama, Laksmana and Sita entered Dasapura. They were duly received by the king who arranged a stately dinner in their honour. They were now allies of Vajrakarna. So Laksmana told Simhodara to come to a peaceful settlement with Vajrakarna and equally share his kingdom with him. This enraged Simhodara and in the encounter that followed Simhodara was defeated and taken a captive. The kingdom was divided between Vajrakarna and Simhodara. Laksmana agreed to marry three hundred girls offered by Vajrakarna and Simhodara when he would return after fixing up a suitable abode for Rama.
Then they reached the city of Kuvara. It was spring and the Nature was full of splendour. Kalyanamala, the king of Kuvara, was indeed a princess in the guise of a man. When they arrived Kalyanamala was out to enjoy spring sports. Enamoured at the beauty of Laksmana, she offered to share the royal seat with him and narrated the woe of the kingdom. Actually Valikhilya, her father, was the king of this city but as he was kidnapped by Rudrabhuti, the king of Vindhyas, she was protecting the kingdom and looking after the affairs of the state disguised as a man. Laksmana promised to take revenge on the king of the Vindhyas. The party was duly entertained. They spent the night there and left at the early hours of the morn leaving behind a note for Kalyanamala. At this she was greatly disappointed.
They proceeded towards Vindhyas and crossed the Narmada. It was a striking coincidence that king Rudrabhuti too had come there on a hunting expedition. When he saw Sita, he ordered his men to snatch her away. Before they could attack Laksmana stringed his bow and produced such a tremendous sound that they all fled. When the king came to know that the strangers were Baladeva and Vasudeva he at once fell at their feet. Valikhilya too was released.
Resuming their journey further, they crossed the river Tapi and arrived at Arunagrama. Because of long journey, Sita had become sorely thirsty and so they entered into the house of a brahmin named Kapila and drank water. While they were resting a while, the brahmin came back and seeing unknown people in his house he lost his temper. Laksmana too got enraged. Apprehending a breach of peace Rama left the place at once and entered into a deep forest where they stopped under a banyan tree.