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105
32 Rāma moves through the forest with the corpse of Lakşmaņa
alone? Why do you desire to perform the funeral of a person who is alive? Go away and perform the funeral of your own brothers. My brother Laksmana will live a long life. Come on my brother, do not get annoyed with me for the folly of these imbeciles. Talk with me. You must not get angry like an indecent and lowborn person." Having said this, he lifted the mortal corpse of Laksmana on his shoulders and left.
The sudden and unexpected death of Lakşmana had a deep impact on Rama. He swooned and remained unconscious for hours, and when he regained conciousness, he lamented. His unwillingness to accept the fact that Lakşmana was no more finally led to delirium. Rama began to address his brother as if he was alive. He would say, "Arise, O my brother Laksmana, my young sons, who should have shouldered the responsibility of administration with you, think that you are dead. They have left me and followed the footsteps of their mother. I feel lonely and therefore you must awake from this prolonged slumber ! get up! get up at once." Bibhisana would frequently hear this and feel disturbed. Once he said, "My lord Rama, you are braver than the bravest and more valiant than the most valiant, why are you not accepting the truth that King Laksmana is no more. Your timidity is repulsive and obnoxious. Come, let us perform the funeral of our beloved Lakşmana." Hearing this, trembling with anger, he shouted, "Why don't you leave me and my brother
Rama would bathe the body and anoint it with oil and sandalwood. He would himself serve meals to Lakşmana, who was no more. He would embrace, kiss, change the clothes and rest near the body all the night. We must remember that the body of a vasudeva is made up of certain particular molecules and therefore the rigor mortis and decomposition does not set in for atleast six months after the death. In case of other mortals, the rigor mortis and decomposition starts within a few minutes.
Jatāyu's efforts to enlighten Rāma
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