Jain Journal 1970 10

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

Page 40

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JAIN JOURNAL
But the evil was done in the brief interlude. Ravana carried off Sita. Jatayin sought to bar his way but found his wings chopped off by Ravana's powerful sword and fell. Sita lamented bitterly through the clouds. On hearing this, a Vidyadhara sought to resist but Ravana deprived him of his vidyās and hurled him down on the Kambu island.
Ravana now sought to persuade Sita to accept him but met with insulting rebuff. To kill her would defeat his very purpose. He could not force her against her wish as he was vow-bound not to do so. So the only course left to him was to bide his time.
When they reached Lanka Sita refused to enter the city or to take food till she got tidings from Rama. So she was kept in a park outside the metropolis where she sat on the foot of a Sisu tree.
siyae vuttu ‘ņa paisami patļaņe acchami etthu viule şandanavane jāva na suņami vatta bhattāraho tāva ņivitti majjhu āhāraho' tam nisuņevi uvavane paisāriya sisava-rukkha-mūle vaisāriya
When Rama returned to the cottage, he found it empty. Then he started a frantic search which was all in vain. At last he came across Jatayin who gave him the news of Sita and passed away. Rama was consoled by two Cāraṇa sages passing that way who gave sermons on the worthlessness of the earthly ties. For a moment Rama was in a mood to renounce the world but he soon changed his mind. Lamenting he wandered through the woodland beseeching news of Sita's welfare from wild animals and trees. Eventually he returned to his abode utterly exhausted.
Meanwhile Laksmana gained victory against Khara and Dusana killing both the demons in the encounter. He was assisted by Viradhita whose paternal kingdom had been usurped by the demons. When the fighting was over Laksmana came back and heard from Rama all the woe that had befallen them. Shortly their new ally Viradhita also arrived. He sent his whole army in search of Sita but it returned unsuccessful.
At Viradhita's suggestion they proceeded to the Alankara city of which the king was Candranakha's son Sunda. Sunda opposed them but