Jain Journal 1970 07

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

Page 24

JULY, 1970
Now when they were there, it was about to rain very heavily. On seeing this, a yakşa, Putana by name, erected a city named Ramapuri by the strength of his magic power and dedicated it to Rama so that he along with his consort and brother would not be harrassed by the downpour. He also presented Rama jewels and ornaments.
When Rama, Sita and Laksmana were living in the magic city, news reached the brahmin Kapila that the king of the new city fulfilled the wishes of anyone who bowed before a Jina. So Kapila became a Jaina covert and came before the king. But when he saw Laksmana there, he fled in panic. He was soon caught and brought before Rama. Rama fulfilled his heart's desire and bestowed enormous riches on him.
Now, Rama and his party reached Jivantanagara. Mahidhara was the ruling monarch here. He had a daughter Vanamala by name. She was already betrothed to some prince. Meanwhile Bharata had sent a request to king Mahidhara to give his daughter to Laksmana when the latter arrived in his city. This had indeed created a difficult situation. Meanwhile, the princess had heard about Laksmana and she was keen to marry him and none else. But since that was not going to be, one day she secretly left the palace and was about to hang herself from a tree. The chance arrival of Laksmana, however, saved her. Laksmana brought his new acquisition to Rama. While they were thus talking, the guards who were let loose in search of the princess encountered her there in the company of strangers and surrounded them. Presently the king too arrived with his army ready for fight. When the king came to know who the strangers were, he was highly pleased and offered his daughter to Laksmana.
Meanwhile a war was under preparation between Bharata and king Anantavirya of Nandavarta. Bharata had demanded the submission of the latter as his feudatory which he had refused. Since king Mahidhara was feudatory under the king Anantavirya, the latter had sent a request to him to join on his side in the war.
Rama planned to capture Anantavirya by stratagem. With Laksmana and eight others he dressed himself like a court panegyrist (cāranagāyaṇa-vesu-karebi) and went to the court of king Anantavirya to give a performance of dance and music. In the course of the performance they began to sing in praise of king Bharata. This enraged Anantavirya who took out his sword. But Rama gave him no time to strike. He jumped upon him and captured him. At the request of the queens Rama released him but demanded that he must submit to Bharata.