Jain Journal 1970 10

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

Page 39

OCTOBER, 1970
successful completion, he would acquire the magic sword Surahasa. Candranakha had just arrived to see her son acquiring this weapon and to congratulate him on the occasion. Meanwhile the incident had taken place. When she saw the body of her son lying on the ground with head severed from it, she started lamenting pathetically. She took a vow to kill the killer of her son. Very soon she saw two beautiful human beings one of whom held the divine sword. She felt attracted towards them and forgot of her son and of her vow. She changed herself into a beautiful damsel and approached Rama first who passed her on to Laksmana. Laksmana rejected her as her person exhibited inauspicious marks. This infuriated Candranakha who now assumed her real shape and threatened to swallow both Rama and Laksmana. At this Laksmana raised the newly acquired divine sword. This terrified Candranakha who flew back to her husbands Khara and Dusana, to report the murder of their son and of her own molestation in human hands. This infuriated Khara who immediately rushed with his army to take revenge against the advice of his brother Dusana, who made a complete report to his brother-in-law, Ravana, not forgetting to mention about the beautiful damsel who was in the company of the human beings. Meanwhile Khara reached the place with his army and launched the attack, Laksmana resisting single-handed. While going to meet the enemy, Laksmana had advised Rama not to leave Sita till he would hear a lion-roar from him which he would do seeking help only under exceptional duress.
Ravana abducts Sita
When Ravana received message about the beautiful damsel, he could no longer remain in Lanka and rushed to the spot to see her. He indeed admired the courage of Laksmana in fighting the whole army single handed but more than that he admired Sita's superhuman beauty. He was so much infatuated by her beauty that he thought of abducting her and with this end in view he approached the magic power Avalokini to devise a way. Avalokini advised Ravana not to abduct Sita but nothing would dissuade him. So at last Avalokini submitted to Ravana's evil design and gave out a lion-roar from the battle field. As previously decided upon, Rama took it as a signal to start to help Laksmana. He rushed forth ; Sita was left alone.
When Rama came to Laksmana he found him vigorously and successfully meeting the enemy. Laksmana further told him that he never gave the signal and advised him to return quickly lest some evil should befall on Sita.