Jain Journal 1972 01

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

Page 38

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JAIN JOURNAL
vinced by arguments, still less suppressed by force. Rather, any such move had a perverse consequence. Rama was apprehensive of the larger social consequence. For, if he himself would not give up Sita in fulfilment of the popular demand, adultery would be rampant and it would be impossible to check it. Expedience and duty rather than conscience therefore guided his decision and Rama decided to exile Sita, no matter what irreparable personal loss this might mean to him. So he ordered his commander to take Sita and discard her in the wilderness. This was a cruel decision indeed and Laksmana would not agree. But Rama was adamant.
Sita was totally in the dark about the decision and she took her departure as the outcome of her own express desire. But when the news was broken to her in the wilderness by her escort, she bewailed and broke down. This was a shocking blow to an innocent heart. But such was the royal order. Sita remained there utterly horrified. Luckily Vajrajangha, Rama's brother-in-law from his sister's side was passing by that way. He soon recognised Sita and came to know all that had happened. He took Sita with him and sheltered her with full dignity in his palace as his own sister. Here Sita gave birth to the twins -Lavana and Ankusa.
Exploits of Lavana and Ankusa
Lavana and Ankusa grew as mighty warriors. They were now grown to full age. So Vajrajangha sought the hands of the daughters of the king Prithu for Sita's sons. Prithu, however, refused. So Vajrajangha marched against him. There was a severe battle in which Prithu was defeated and was obliged to give his two daughters. Lavana and Ankusa then conquered many other kingdoms, some even those that had not yielded to the mighty arms of the king of Ayodhya. The two were the worthy sons of the worthy father. Meanwhile they came to know from the sage Narada of the wrong that Rama had done to their mother. So they decided to take revenge. They marched on Ayodhya and laid seize of the city. Rama and Laksmana accepted the challenge. There was a severe battle in which the heroes of the Lanka war were worsted by two young men. The situation was now pretty desparate. To save it Laksmana hurled the cakra ; but to the surprise of all, the cakra would do no harm to the young men and came back to its own master. It was then repeatedly discharged but with no improved outcome. At this point the eternal Narada descended there and clarified the situation. He even chastised Rama for entering into en