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JAIN RAMAYAN
dawn; and as soon as the sun appeared in the east, in his journey over the earth, they left Pathal Lanka, flew to Lanka and created havoc there; and then safely returned home. This became a routine with them. This activity of attacking Lanka continued for some time. King Vaishravan and his warriors became agitated over these continual attacks on Lanka. Perturbed thus, once, Vaishravan sent a messenger to the City of Swayamprabha.
The messenger went straight to the court at Pathal Lanka and stood before Sumali. Grand-father, Sumali gave him a proper seat; and asked him.
"May I know the purpose of your visit ?"
"Oh thou king of the Rakshasas ! I have brought a message from Vaishravan, the King of Lanka.”
"What is the message. Let me know it”.
"Oh King! The king of Lanka has sent a message to you requesting you to restrain the movements of your undisciplined grand-sons. Please advise them not to lose their self-control. They do not know their real abilities and are ignorant like a frog in the well. They do not know the power of the King of Lanka. Even pride and arrogance have a limit. Your grandsons have been creating havoc in Lanka, in a fradulent manner. Until to-day, we have been treating them as suckling infants and have not harmed them. But if even after this, they continue to roar about like bulls and to behave irresponsibly, we shall not hesitate even a little to make them lick the dust like your elder brother, Mali. Please bear this in mind."
On hearing this irrelevant and irresponsible prattle of the messenger, Dashmukh was furious; and his fury shot up. He flared up with impetuous anger. At once, he roared angrily and
said:
“Who is this stupid fellow, whom you call Vaishravan ? Probably, he is not aware of the abilities and prowess of Dashmukh Ravan. That Vaishravan is a wicked scoundrel who has grabbed another's Kingdom and has been exercising an un
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